CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C – There’s another character on the city’s list of unwanted residents.
According to a press release from the City of Campbell River, yellow flag iris is a pretty, pushy invasive plant that has made it to the top three on the list of invasive plants in the area.
Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, yellow flag iris was introduced to Canada in the 19th century as an ornamental plant for ponds and water gardens. It has since spread to many waterways, including ditches, marshes, streams, shallow ponds and estuaries.
Since 2012, the City has been tackling the plant on Baikie Island with help from the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Greenways Land Trust. To date, more than 20 tonnes of iris have been removed. In 2017, the City funded approximately $2,500 for removal from Baikie Island City. Greenways Land Trust secured an additional $8,825 from the National Wetland Conservation Fund.
In July, council approved amendments to the Environmental Protection and Public Nuisance bylaws, aimed at regulating noxious weeds and invasive plants. The new amendments mean penalties for anyone harbouring the floral fugitives.
Residents can now be fined $250.00 for planting noxious weeds or invasive plants, failing to keep property clear of the specified plants and failure to remove them on a regular basis – or when ordered to do so.
The city advised residents who are trying to dispose of the plant to “bag and take remnants” of the plant to the CR Waste Management Centre for disposal at a reduced tipping fee of $65.00 per metric tonne.
Because of their ability to spread, the city said this species should not be placed in a backyard compost, curbside yard waste program or taken to the yard waste drop off centre on Willis Road.
Please report yellow flag iris infestations to the city via email to [email protected].
Contact: Terri Martin, Environmental Specialist 250-286-5711
