While winter has still not released us from its grasp, spring is upon us.
Soon native wildflowers will be shaking off winter’s remnants and start reaching for the warm rays of spring’s sun.
However, lurking among our freshly emerging native plants are some pretty imposters.
That’s right; spring is also the time when the region’s invasive plants begin another campaign to conquer an ecosystem near you.
To help slow or stop the spread of these invasive plants, the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) operates an Invasive Plant Management service.
The function follows an integrated pest management approach involving public awareness through educational and enforcement initiatives; spraying and hand pulling; inter-agency coordination region- and province-wide; and other options.
Within the Invasive Plant Management function, is our Landowner Assistance Program.
This program is free of charge and available to residents of the Cariboo Regional District in an effort to assist them with invasive plant control; it involves management advice, herbicide dispensing, equipment loans and private property treatments.
The herbicide dispensing program is available to residents within the CRD. Qualified private property owners are eligible to receive a demonstration amount of herbicide to help control the invasive plants on their land.
The equipment loan program provides assistance to landowners by offering spray equipment, including backpack, skid tank, and ATV tank sprayers for short-term loan outs.
Certified CRD Invasive Plant Management staff will conduct an initial site assessment and treatment of qualified private properties for invasive plants during the operational season.
These programs are available annually from May to August.
For information about these programs and services, contact the Invasive Plant Management Program at 1-800-665-1636 or visit our website www.cariboord.bc.ca
