Noxious Weed Program

	NEW PROGRAM HELPS LANDOWNERS BATTLE WEEDS More help is now available to local land owners and managers who have invasive plants on their property. The East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council (EKIPC) and its partners have introduced the new Private Land Invasive Plant Assistance Program (PLIPAP). The Program will assist land owners, occupiers and managers by providing the guidance, resources and financial support necessary to manage invasive plants on private lands. Program options include: Sprayer Loan Out New Invaders Rebate Cost Sharing's Rebate Herbicide Rebate To learn more or obtain application forms, contact the EKIPC Coordinator Marty Hafke at 1-888-55-EKIPC, visit www.ekipc.com or email coordinator@ekipc.com Program Mission The mission of this program is to ensure that land occupiers effectively shoulder their responsibility to control noxious weeds on their land. Program Purpose The purpose of this program is to protect the natural resources of the East Kootenay from being irrevocably impacted by the invasion of noxious weeds. Resources such as wildlife habitat, rangelands, agriculture, aesthetics, recreational opportunities and property values can be severely diminished by weed infestations. The ecological balance and biodiversity of our natural systems can be impacted by uncontrolled noxious weed invasion. Once noxious weed infestations have become firmly established, many of these resource values cannot be fully restored. The responsibility to control noxious weeds rests with the owner or occupier of the land. The Weed Control Act of the Province of British Columbia is enabling legislation which provides a mechanism for people in the local area to determine whether to enforce the obligation to control weeds, in what way, for which weeds, under what circumstances, etc. The Act enables Regional Districts to take on this function by establishing a Weed Control Committee which can plan, implement and enforce a weed control program. Program Objectives: Public Education - provide education to the public on weed issues in the area and the effect on the area's natural resources. Planning Effective Control - help land managers understand their responsibilities to control noxious weeds and assist them in developing effective weed control programs. Coordinating Efforts - assist organizations in coordinating their efforts to undertake effective and efficient weed control programs. Enforcement - enforce the provisions of the Weed Control Act to ensure that property owners and land managers shoulder their responsibility to control noxious weeds on their lands. Contact: For more information about the RDEK's Invasive Plant Program contact: Chris Bosman Recreation and Control Services Supervisor cbosman@rdek.bc.ca Tel: (250) 489-2791 Fax: (250) 489-3498 For more information on the East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council, please contact: Marty Hafke EKIPC Coordinator coordinator@ekipc.com Tel: 1-888-55-EKIPC


For more information on weeds, visit Weeds BC