Have Invasive Plants on Your Property ? Help is here

By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: March. 17, 2012

With the growing season soon upon us, the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSISC) is announcing a cost sharing program for private lands with generous funding from the Community Foundation of Whistler. 

This pilot program will rebate private landowners up to 50 per cent of the cost of control of giant hogweed & Japanese knotweed, two of the highest priority invasive species in the corridor.

Those two plants were recently added to the BC Weed Control Act. 

Giant hogweed, which contains poisonous sap, is a serious health threat.  The sap sensitizes skin to ultraviolet radiation and results in severe burns and may cause temporary or permanent blindness.  

Japanese knotweed, on the other hand, can have serious environmental and economic impacts. 

This extremely aggressive plant can devastate riparian systems, degrade native plant and wildlife habitat, be a safety concern along roadways (affecting sightlines) and damage infrastructure. 

In the United Kingdom, Japanese knotweed reduces property values and in some cases, people have been unable to secure a mortgage or insure their property due to knotweed infestations. 

It is conceivably only a matter of time before this is the case within the Sea to Sky corridor.  Early detection and control is the best way to mitigate damage. 

 “This program is a great opportunity for those who don’t know who to turn to with this issue,” says Swerhun.

Maximum rebates are $500 – $1,000, depending on size of property and sensitivity of location, and are issued based on funding availability and the order the applications are received.  Conditions that would need to be met to qualify for the rebate include:

• Contacting SSISC no later than June 1, 2012 for appointment to determine maximum rebate/scope of work
• Invasive plants treated are giant hogweed and/or Japanese knotweed
• All treatment must be carried out by a SSISC Invasive-free Certified company or the SSISC itself (See list of Certified companies below)
• Any herbicide treatment must additionally be done by a Certified Licensed Pesticide Applicator & follow all local bylaws
• The treatment area must be within SLRD electoral areas C & D (includes Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton) or Lions Bay

To apply, you can either fill out and submit a ‘Request for Assistance Form’ found on the SSISC website (www.ssisc.info), or call or email Kristina at 604-698-8334 or ssinvasives@gmail.com before June 1st.