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Three groups pull together

Several groups marked Invasive Species Week by pulling yellow flag iris stems from Little White Lake.
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Little White Lake residents Carmen and Troy Massey return to dock with a large harvest of yellow flag iris

Several groups marked Invasive Species Week by pulling yellow flag iris stems from Little White Lake.

The White Lake Stewardship Group, Shuswap Trail Alliance and the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society partnered for this event, which included some 20 people, multiple canoes, kayaks and waders to clean up areas infested with yellow flag iris, a wetland aquatic plant.

Two researchers from TRU who are investigating the control of yellow flag iris attended, as well as a BC Parks Ranger.

“This was our third year at trying to get rid of them, so instead of trying to dig them up, we are cutting the heads off,” says Little White Lake resident Carmen Massey, who notes that the digging process often released a little piece of the plant into the water, allowing rhizomes to escape.

A small sliver of a rhizome can grow into a new plant, plants that are poisonous and can cause skin irritation.

Massey says cutting off the heads will prevent the plants from setting seed and keeps them from getting sunlight.

“We’re hoping the native cattails and bullrushes will thrive and push the iris back.”