Hillslope Invasive Species Removal and Restoration Plan for Neek Point Park, Nanaimo, British Columbia

Abstract

Neck Point Park, located in the City of Nanaimo, British Columbia, is an environmentally sensitive area with a range of habitat types, including Garry Oak meadow, rocky seashore headlands and bluffs, marine beaches, and early to mature forest types. This restoration project concentrated on a 250m2 portion of the park on a moderate slope (35°), which had become overrun with a monoculture of Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor) and a growing thicket of Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus Armeniacus). The invasive species were encroaching on the newly restored Garry Oak meadow at the top of the slope.
Data were collected utilizing mapping tools, a literature review, a vegetation survey, soil analysis, a slope stability assessment, a wildlife assessment and coarse woody debris (CWD) survey. In addition, legal considerations, including relevant City of Nanaimo bylaws were reviewed, as well as species at risk, ecosystems at risk, and the Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory (SEI).
The goal was to remove the invasive species and develop a plan to revegetate the slope with native species to restore the area to a higher ecological function. The neighboring Garry Oak associated ecosystem (Douglas-fir/Shore Pine/Arbutus site association) was used as a contemporary reference area to determine the desired future condition. Work to remove the invasive species took place primarily in May, June, and July 2014, with the remainder of the work scheduled for autumn 2014. This report outlines the planning stages and work to July 2014, as well as sets a preliminary plan for the completion of the project by spring 2015.