Innovative Management of New Zealand Pigmyweed in the Caledonian - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Innovative Management of New Zealand Pigmyweed in the Caledonian Canal Dr Olivia Lassiere www.scottishcanals.co.uk Environment Manager Sharing Best Practice event, Nature Scot, Battleby www.scottishcanals.co.uk 27th February 2020

• Scottish Canals • The problem in context • Finding a solution • Progress report • Questions www.scottishcanals.co.uk

Scottish Canals- who, what, where?

Scottish Canals- who, what, where? 4 aqueducts 8 road bridges 2 rail bridges 1 million visits to the Kelpies pa

Canals are for everyone- free 24hr access 22 million visits per annum

Scottish Canals- who, what, where? Since 2010 9078 houses 8415 FTE jobs 9218 construction jobs

Environmental Management

Environmental Management

Canal invaders – non-native species terrestrial

Canal invaders – non-native species aquatic

The problem – New Zealand Pigmyweed • Crassula helmsii • Australian Swamp-stonecrop • Native- NZ, Australia • Listed Schedule 9 WCA 1981 • Grows in water to 3m + terrestrially • Vegetative reproduction • Introduced 1911, rapid spread 1970s • Causes flood risk, displaces native aquatic plants, reduces amenity use

The Site – Caledonian Canal

The Problem -1

The Problem - 2 Inverness Caledonian Canal – East District 2016 2018

A UK and Europe-wide problem Doubling every 3-5 years in 3000 occurrences England…Scotland?? 1000 + miles rivers 31,000+ lochs

The Challenge in context

Market solutions not effective • Physical Gap in the market • Environmental • Biological

Funding timeline 2016 2018 ?? ££

Seeking funding support

Finding a solution- Can Do Innovation Fund project • Phase 1 Proof of Concept July 2019 to March 2020 • £150k, split between 4 challenge solvers

Finding a solution- Can Do Innovation Fund project Contract requirements • Develop and test innovative management techniques to control the spread of, and eradicate NZP • To assess, measure and report the impact of techniques • Technique be marketable in the UK/Europe. • Techniques to be cost effective, safe, environmentally acceptable, practical and applicable to a range of aquatic and terrestrial habitats • Commercially viable for key users

Can Do Innovation Fund project 4 challenge solver teams

Can Do Innovation Fund project Treatment techniques Team Suction dredging Light exclusion Hand weeding Heat

Project launched July 2019 50 years since moon landing

Can Do Innovation Fund project Phase 1 ends April 2020 Methods under test

Cost estimates £/m2

I News November 2019

Next steps Phase 1 Review of Phase 1 Phase 2 Proof of reports Prototype and concept Invitation to submit demonstration complete Phase 2 proposals Up to 18 months April 2020 2020-22 New funding application

Any questions? Olivia.Lassiere@scottishcanals.co.uk 07712 010899 Dr Olivia Lassiere Environment Manager