| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
In 1999, the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program initiated restoration activities at two sites in the East Kootenay Valley. One site is located in the IDFdm2 biogeoclimatic zone at Bull River (North Fontaine Pasture) and the other in the IDFxk biogeoclimatic zone at Stoddart Creek North. Both sites had pre-treatment plots installed in 1999. Slashing occurred at North Fontaine in 1999 as well as a broadcast burn in 2000. There were two treatment units within the North Fontaine treatment area, one forested unit that was subject to slashing and burning and an open unit subject to slashing only. Stoddart Creek was harvested in 2001, slashed and sloop burned in 2002. Effects of restoration were assessed though monitoring of the understory and overstory plant community. Post-treatment monitoring occurred at North Fontaine in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2009. Posttreatment monitoring occurred at Stoddart Creek in 2004 and 2009. The two restoration sites provide examples of differential responses to restoration activities. Vegetation response at North Stoddart Creek has been generally positive. Overstory structure provides the key elements needed for high value Bighorn Sheep habitat. In the understory, bunchgrass and forbs have increased significantly since 1999. Although there has been an overall negative trend detected in shrub cover, there was a significant increase observed from 2004 indicating potential recovery of the shrub layer. There was no observed increase or decrease in the level of non-native species cover on site. Based on monitoring completed to date, it appears that restoration has been successful at North Stoddart Creek. At Bull River the overstory has been successfully restored, but changes in the understory have not been as positive. Despite a significant increase in bunchgrass presence there has also been a significant increase in 3 nonnative species (cheatgrass, bluegrass and sulphur cinquefoil) and a decline in the presence of two key shrub species (Saskatoon and chokecherry). Results at Bull River have likely been affected by wildlife and livestock use at the site. Despite differences in data collection and collectors between years, significant trends have been detected at both sites highlighting the value of long-term monitoring. Future monitoring should focus on confirming trends detected in 2009. Detection of trends in 2009 indicates there may be value in analyzing plant community response at the Trench level. Broad level analysis will provide valuable information on plant community response to restoration, the timing of plant community response and the effect of management activities on that response. |
