Thanks to the RNS students who attended ER 338 Adaptive Management Methods for Ecological Restoration course by Dr. Nancy Shackelford, for lending their hands and time. We have so much fun planting forty new species into the riparian area of Mystic Vale.
Community engagement events are finally happening!
I’m excited about having you all join my restoration efforts, I would like to thank our amazing community partner:
-SER International Student Chapter Club -Invasive Species Council of BC -Dr. Nancy Shackelford- Restoration of Natural Systems Program Director
What to Bring: Yourselves! And some water. All tools and necessary equipment will be provided, but if you have a favourite pair of loppers or gloves, feel free to bring them.
The landscape will evolve from initial revegetation to mature vegetation. The goal is to develop self-sustaining ecosystems with an acceptable degree of biodiversity and a relative number of native species as early-stage targets.
The specific objectives to be achieved through the implementation of this plan are:
Habitat enhancement will be conducted to construct landscape patterns to initiate the development of a functioning ecosystem.
Figure # 2 Landscape design sketch
Areas targeted for initial invasive species removal include six planters located on the upper level of the Sump House, a circular area around the stairs and small patches located over Haro Rd (See figures #2 – # 3 for details).
Figure # 3 shows the main area target for invasive species removal and planting
1) Site preparation
The project site will be altered to prepare it for additional human intervention during site preparation, activities include:
The Compacted soils would be loosened. After removing non-native plants (See Table # 3 for Invasive species targets and methods of removal), natural burlap will be placed to control weeds and help retain moisture. Topsoil will be placed over the burlap, followed by seeding and planting of native species and mulched to prevent erosion (See Table # 2 list for more details).
2)Native species revegetation
Disturbed areas will be immediately seeded or planted following the completion of site conditioning work. Vegetation species will be selected to match site-specific conditions. Seeds and plants would be purchased from Satin Flower Nursery. Species were chosen to overlap in bloom times from spring to fall, providing a range of flower sizes, shapes and colours. Depending on weather conditions, the stock should be planted in spring (March to April).
It is recommended to plant shrubs and trees on the edges of the creek to provide long-term stability, prevent erosion, and promote habitat connectivity.
The following native species are recommended for revegetating with the benefit of enhancing wildlife habitat values:
Table #2 List of natives species, habitat requirements and pollinator uses.
Species |
Height |
Flower colour |
Flower season |
Sun |
Soil |
Pollinators |
Red Columbine (Aquilegia formosa) |
Less than 1 m |
Red |
May-Aug |
Sun to partial shade |
Normal to moist |
Bees, hummingbirds |
Great camas (Camassia leichtlinii) |
Less than 1 m |
Blue |
Apr-Jun |
Sun |
Normal to moist |
Bees and butterflies |
Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) |
1-1.5 m |
Pink |
Jun-Sep |
Sun |
Moist |
Bees, hummingbirds |
Woodland strawberry () |
Less than 1 m |
White to cream |
may-Aug |
Partial shade |
Normal to wet |
Bees |
Coastal strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) |
Up to 0.25 cm |
White |
Apr-Jun |
Partial shade |
Moist to Dry |
Birds |
Canada goldenrod (Solidago lepida) |
Up to 1.5m |
Yellow |
Aug-Sep |
Sun |
Dry to moist |
Bees |
Douglas aster (Symphyotrichum subspicatum) |
Less than 1m |
Yellow-Purple |
Jul-Sep |
Sun to partial shade |
Normal to wet |
Bees and butterflies |
Fringecup (Tellima grandiflora) |
Less than 1m |
White to cream |
Apr-May |
Partial shade |
Normal to moist |
Hummingbirds |
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) |
Up to 4 m |
Pink |
May-Jun |
Sun |
Moist |
Bees, Birds and small mammals |
Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) |
Up to 0.30 cm |
White to pink |
Apr-Jun |
Partial shade |
Dry to moist |
Butterflies, small mammals and hummingbirds |
3) Invasive Plant Management
Invasive weed control should be ongoing management activities within the area. Table #2 contains a list of non-native species targeted during this project, priority, removal method and considerations. The preferred removal method is hand pulling at the seedling stage to control the spread in sensitive areas such as thin soil and mossy sites where native species are present. Dead plant material should be removed for safe disposal transported off-site wrapped in tarps to prevent the seeds from being distributed en route. For the first couple of years, mechanical treatments will require aggressive management to reduce weed density and create openings where desirable species can become established. Routine manual weeding should be conducted during the growing season (May to September) to ensure that all species are targeted and reduce the number of invasive plants that go to seed. Seeding and planting any disturbed areas with suitable native species (See Table #2) to prevent recolonization by invasive weeds. Before starting invasive species removal, the site should be inspected for avian activity, especially if removal happens during avian nesting season—Vancouver Island nesting is zone A1. The general nesting period approximately begins from March 30th until August 16th (Environment Canada, 2018). If a patch is confirmed as a nesting site for native birds, removal should be avoided until the end of the nesting season.
Table 3. Non-Native Species targeted for removal from the site
Species |
Priority |
Removal method |
Considerations |
English Ivy (Hedera helix) |
High |
Vines growing as ground-cover: hand-pulled Vines growing up trees should be cut at about 1 m above ground level to kill the upper portions. |
It is also important to pull individual seedlings before they become established. |
Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) |
High |
Manual control: loppers (can also be used as tongs to pull the cut cane out) |
If patch is used as a nesting site for native passerine birds, remove the patch gradually and avoid nesting season. |
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) |
High |
Hand pulling |
CAUTION: Highly poison. Wear protective clothing and avoid direct skin contact with the plant. |
Daphne (Daphne laureola) |
Medium |
Hand pulling |
CAUTION: Wear protective clothing and avoid direct skin contact with the plant. |
Common chickweed (Stellaria media) |
Low |
Hand pulling |
It is important to removed from the site as it can reroot from stem nodes in moist areas. |
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) |
High |
Hand pulling |
CAUTION: Wear protective clothing to avoid puncture wounds from the spines. |
Red dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) |
Low |
Hand pulling |
To control Purple Dead-nettle mulch in fall with layers of cardboard, followed by a layer of leaves. |
Creeping buttercup (Ranuculus repens) |
Medium |
Dig out with a fork-type tool |
Removing all of the runners, roots and growing points. Digging is most effective from fall to spring while the soil is moist and roots won’t break off as much. |
European Holly (Ilex aquifolium) |
Medium |
Small plants (up to 3 centimetres in diameter) removed by hand can be effective when the soil is moist. Small seedlings should be pulled soon after they first appear. For sprouts that don’t come out easily by hand, digging around the plant with a shovel or pick will help loosen the soil |
4)Maintenance
Regular maintenance is critical to the success of this enhancement plan. The importance of care during the plant establishment period cannot be overstated. The site should be inspected regularly to identify problems and maintain them as necessary. Maintenance may require:
5)Public engagement
Due to the active use of the site, installing interpretive signs is recommended to educate the public about sensitive ecosystem areas. High pedestrian traffic levels around the site would benefit the project because the educational signage will be prominent and read more people. The site is found inside the campus perimeter and will be an excellent opportunity for hands-on interaction from classes, including faculty and students.
Interpretive signage should include the history of the site and species names, including Coast Salish traditional names informed by community members.
The implementation and monitoring phases are great times to involve volunteers. Volunteers can help reduce implementation costs, provide community support, and bring a social dimension to work.
Special issues
The site should be monitored annually to control the possible recolonization of nonnative/invasive plants.
Monitoring program
This plan is based on an adaptive, phased management approach to ensure project goals and objectives are achieved over the long term. Monitoring the success of various revegetation treatments following preliminary phases will direct future treatments based on the lessons learned.
Setting Photo points stations.
Repeated photographs taken from the exact location are a quick and inexpensive way to assess project success qualitatively. Photo points combined with quantitative data provide a valuable assessment of progress toward meeting objectives.
Short term (0-5 years)
To compare the effectiveness of project implementation, monitoring plots could be established within the treated areas. Species, height and vigour of each planted individual should be recorded within each plot, as well as an estimate of existing vegetation cover. GPS coordinates, planting techniques, site preparation methods and photographs should also be recorded. Every year, the site should be re-measured to determine the most appropriate treatment methods for future phases.
Long term (5+ years)
Natural regeneration will be underway by this time, and vegetation communities may start to change. The transects established to determine baseline conditions should be re-measured following treatment to assess the effectiveness of the treatments on vegetation. These attributes can be added in future monitoring studies as the physical and biological complexity of the ecosystem develop.
Literature Cited
Doucet, S. (2012). A valuation of Mystic Vale’s ecosystem services. (Unpublished directed studies report.) University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada. Retrieved from http://www.urbanecology.ca/documents/Student%20Technical%20Series/Doucet.p df
Environment Canada. (2018). Nesting Periods. Retrieved from: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/avoiding-harm-migratory-birds/general-nesting-periods/nesting-periods.html
GOERT (Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team). 2002. Best Practices for Invasive Species Management in Garry Oak and Associated Ecosystems: Evergreen Blackberry (Rubus laciniatus) and Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus/discolor/procerus). Invasive Species, Publications and Resources, GOERT. Available at http://www.goert.ca/publications_resources/invasive_species.php
Harrop-Archibald, H. 2007. University of Victoria natural features study Bowker creek, Cunningham Woods, upper Hobbs Creek/Mystic Vale. (Unpublished report). University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada. Retrieved from https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/Natural%20Features%20Study%20Ph ase%201.May31-07.pdf
McDadi, O., & Hebda, R. J. (2008). Change in traditional fire disturbance in a Garry Oak (Quercus garyana) meadow and Douglas-fir (Psuedotsuga menziesesii) mosaic, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: A possible link with First Nations and Europeans. Forest Ecology and Management, 256, 1704-1710. M’Gonigle, M., & Starke, J. (2006). Planet U: Sustaining the world, reinventing the university. Gabriola Island, Canada: New Society Publishers.
M’Gonigle, M., & Starke, J. (2006). Planet U (p. 270). Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers.
University of Victoria. (2003). Campus Plan 2003 (Unpublished university policy document). University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada. Retrieved from https://www.uvic.ca/campusplanning/assets/docs/campusplan2003.pdf
The landscape design will focus on removing invasive species and reestablishing native plant species that will promote species diversity, community structure, and ecological function in the enhanced areas of the Project.
Site Description
The Sump house is located on the Haro Road right of way, property of Oak Bay District, Occupying the traditional territory of the Coast Salish People of the Songhees First Nation. Latitude 48.45813° N and Longitude 123.31015° W, at 60 meters above sea level. The plan includes a total area is approximately 380 m² currently vegetated with non-native species.
Climatic conditions of the site are associated with Temperate Coniferous Rain Forest Biome, positioned in the Georgia Puget Basin Eco-district, Easter Vancouver Island Ecoregion and Pacific Maritime Ecozone. The district of Oak bay is based predominantly in the Coastal Douglas Fir Biogeoclimatic zone (CDF), subzone Moist Maritime (mm). Some of the indicator plant species for the CDFmm zone in a climax community are Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Grand Fir (Abis grandis), Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum), Salal (Gaultheria shallon), and Oregon Grape(Berberis nervosa). The presence or lack of indicator species can be used as a gauge of how intact specific ecosystems are in particular ecological conditions.
The weather of Vancouver Island is dominated by low-pressure systems in winter and high-pressure systems in the summer. Solar radiation and hours of bright sunshine decrease from the southeast to the northwest. Summer and winter temperatures are mild, and extremes are rare. Average annual temperatures are relatively mild and range from approximately 9 Celsius to 10.5 Celsius.
The site is specifically located within the rain shadow of the Vancouver Island Ranges and Olympic Mountains, making it substantially drier. Water deficit is expected during the summer months, especially in July. Precipitation falls during the winter. The area receives approximately 650 millimetres of rainfall per year, with less than 5% snowfall. The freeze-free period is relatively long, up to 230 days along the coast.
The Sump house is adjacent to the Upper part of the Hobbs Creek watershed, which drains into Cadboro Bay (Harrop-Archibald, 2007). This riparian area is a second-growth forest (Harrop-Archibald, 2007). The surrounding topography is valley-like, with moderately steep slopes ranging from 20° to 30° (Doucet, 2012). The soils are typically dark gray gleysolic with a pH of 4.7 in the L and A layers (McDadi & Hebda, 2008). Facing west is the South Woods property of the Universidad of Victoria to the southwest, the CJVI property and dog park to the south, and a residential neighbourhood to the east.
The Upland area is dominated by Common Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Grand fir (Abis grandis) and Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata). The understory is composed of Osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis) and ground cover Miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata).
The riparian zone is characterized by Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) and Red Alder (Albus rubra). The understory is composed of Oceanspray (Holodicus discolour), Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), and the ground layer includes Sword fern (Polystichum munitum), Fringecup (Tellima grandiflora) and Oregon beaked moss (Kindbergia oregana)
Invasive species observed comprise European Holly (Ilex aquifolium), English ivy (Hedera helix), Daphne (Daphne laureola), Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum), Common chickweed (Stellaria media), Red deadnettle (Lamium purpureum), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) and Creeping buttercup (Ranuculus repens).
Observations of resident fauna include black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), Eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) -both species are non-native to Vancouver Island-, Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), House Finch (haemorhous mexicanus), Pileated woodpecker (Bryocopus pilaetus), Common Ravens (Corvus corax), Hutton’s vireos (Vireo Huttoni), Dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), Annas Hummingbird (Calpyte anna), House wrens (Troglodytes aedon), Banana slugs (Ariolimax columbianus) and Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)
Cultural History
The site is on the traditional territories of Strait Coast Salish peoples, including WSANEC and Lekwungen families (Harrop-Archibald, 2007). These people regarded Mystic Vale as sacred (Doucet, 2012). There was an array of ceremonies and rituals that took place here (Doucet, 2012). Mystic Vale was considered to bring fertility, and traditions for girls entering womanhood were common (Doucet, 2012). The Chekonein Family Group occupied the land until 1911, when families were forced to re-settle in Esquimalt.
Land uses and Impacts on Site Ecological Integrity
From the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, the land was heavily logged, farmed, developed, and used for military purposes (HarropArchibald, 2007). Mystic Vale was logged by the Hudson Bay Company and is currently a secondary forest (University of Victoria, 2003). Now has a trail running through it, connecting with Hobbs Creek. The area is commonly used by the public, including dog owners, bikers and runners.
This site is a landscaped ecosystem; creating a novel site of potential ecological and educational value is a more realistic objective. The site has some significant limiting factors that reflect its history of high levels of disturbance. The presence and abundance of invasive species are high. The invasion of English ivy, Poison Hemlock and Himalayan blackberry into the site area poses a long-term challenge, as these species are known to recolonize without ongoing control.
Title: Mystic Vale Sump House habitat enhancement, through invasive species removal and native species planting in Oak Bay District.
Study Area: Sump house located at Mystic Vale, Haro Road Right-of-Way, property of Oak Bay District. Lat: 48.45813° N Lon: 123.31015° W. The total area is approximately 380 m².
Background
Many fragile ecosystems exist in Mystic Vale, which have declined over the past few decades due to urban development, invasion of non-native species and climate change. The proposed project aims to enhance the habitat of the Sump House and surrounding area, through the establishment of native plants on the Sump House planters. The proposed site will provide the perfect location for educating the public on the importance of native plants, and indigenous uses and deepen our understanding of the importance of the natural environment that surrounds us. The high levels of pedestrian traffic around the site would benefit the project because the educational signage will be highly visible and likely to be read by more people. The site is found inside the campus perimeter and will be a great opportunity for hands-on interaction from classes, including faculty and students.
Project Goals
-To enhance the habitat by removing invasive plants.
-To increase biodiversity by planting native species that will also attract wildlife.
-To improve riparian habitat by increasing stream-bank vegetation cover.
-To provide a place for community members to learn about plant knowledge.
-To create a place of quiet in a natural environment where people come to spend time in the presence of nature.
Project Targets
Cooperators
Methods
Complete ground inspection form, which includes a site survey to identify types of ecosystems, site series, and vegetation composition. Map invasive species and design a management plan. Design of native vegetation plantings. Manual removal of invasive species. Planting of native species.
Timetable
Activities |
Dates |
Planning: -Proposal -Fundraising |
February 15, 2022 February 28, 2022 March 1, 2022 |
Design: -Site assessment -prescription development |
March 1 to 10, 2022 |
Implementation: -Clean up and site preparation -Seeding and native species planting -Signage installation |
March 14 to 31, 2022 April 1 to 8 2022 |
Community Engagement Events: -Invasive Species Pull-out -Nature Walk |
April 25, 2022 May 23, 2022 |
-Restoration report submission |
August 30 2022 |
Deliverables
Prescription of restoration
Conceptual landscape design
Restoration project final report.