Work is underway to battle an invasive species from taking over a popular B.C. park.
Visitors to Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park this week may notice some much-needed work being done to control the spread of invasive woody shrubs.
"The invasive shrubs are not native to the grasslands in Kal Park," said a spokesperson for the Friends of Kal Park that is overseeing the project. “If left to multiply, in a few years, the invaders will crowd out native flowers like the balsam arrowroot (Okanagan sunflower) that have evolved on the landscape since the last ice age departed about 10,000 years ago.”
Work will begin near the Cosens Bay Trail, between the beach and Cosens Bay Road. The project to save the native flowers and grasslands is made possible by grants from the North Okanagan Conservation Fund and FortisBC.
The flagging has been placed on eight species of woody exotic ornamental species that are crowding out native plants like this arrowleaf balsamroot surrounded by a thicket of Common Privet.
Wildlife and wind have spread the seeds of these woody invaders into the park from ornamental landscape plantings on nearby properties.
Over 150 dog rose plants have been identified in areas along Cosens Bay Trail.
Work begins Monday along Cosens Bay Trail and will move to other locations in the park Wednesday and wrap up by Saturday.
Watch for brightly-clad work crew using utility vehicles, brush saws, chainsaws and backpack sprayers.
Some activities may lead to short-term closures of sections of trail to ensure the safety of the public and the crew.
Visit the Friends of Kal Park’s Facebook page for more information, including updates to the work areas, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/926435014094942/.
