19 Wing Comox has partnered with the Coastal Invasive Plant Committee (CIPC) to control Scotch broom growing on DND lands at Goose Spit.
CIPC (a non-profit society) is providing a 5-person crew and they are cutting and chipping broom in sensitive areas, along driftwood and tree stands.
19 Wing is providing an operator and tractor to machine mow and mulch broom in the dense broom areas in the northern section.
The goal is to cut all broom on DND-controlled lands on Goose Spit. Pesticides will not be used.
Goose Spit is described by BC Ministry of Environment as a coastal sand dune ecosystem at risk because of human development and invasive non-native species. The Scotch broom has impacted the abundance and diversity of native plant species in this sensitive coastal sand dune ecosystem.
The broom control project will assist in the recovery of native plant species such as yellow sand verbena and black knotweed. Broom control at this time of year will not affect the endangered sand verbena moth that resides at Goose Spit. The sand verbena moth is known to occur at only 3 locations in Canada and is protected under the federal Species at Risk Act.
Work is being conducted during normal working hours from Monday to Friday until 30 Oct.
The public is welcome to walk the intertidal beach around Goose Spit, but for your own safety please avoid walking on DND lands.
FMI: Lynne Atwood M.Sc. R.P.Bio, Program Coordinator Coastal Invasive Plant Committee,
Ph: (250) 743-6972, Email: Lynne.Atwood@coastalinvasiveplants.com
Details on CIPC - http://www.coastalinvasiveplants.com/index.php
General info - http://www.ecobc.org/index.cfm?act=org&org_ID=648
Sand verbena moth - http://www.ecobc.org/index.cfm?act=org&org_ID=648
Coastal sand dune ecosystem - http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/sand_dunes_brchr06.pdf
-30-
For more information please contact the 19 Wing Public Affairs Office, Sgt Eileen Redding (250) 339-8263
