SLIDE 1 www.scottishcanals.co.uk
www.scottishcanals.co.uk
Innovative Management of New Zealand Pigmyweed in the Caledonian Canal
Dr Olivia Lassiere
Environment Manager
Sharing Best Practice event, Nature Scot, Battleby
27th February 2020
SLIDE 2
- Scottish Canals
- The problem in context
- Finding a solution
- Progress report
- Questions
www.scottishcanals.co.uk
SLIDE 3
Scottish Canals- who, what, where?
SLIDE 4 Scottish Canals- who, what, where?
4 aqueducts 8 road bridges 2 rail bridges
1 million visits to the Kelpies pa
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Canals are for everyone- free 24hr access
22 million visits per annum
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Scottish Canals- who, what, where?
Since 2010 9078 houses 8415 FTE jobs 9218 construction jobs
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Environmental Management
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Environmental Management
SLIDE 9
Canal invaders – non-native species terrestrial
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Canal invaders – non-native species aquatic
SLIDE 11 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
SLIDE 12
The Site – Caledonian Canal
SLIDE 13
The Problem -1
SLIDE 14 The Problem - 2
Inverness Caledonian Canal – East District
2016 2018
SLIDE 15 A UK and Europe-wide problem
3000
Doubling every 3-5 years in England…Scotland?? 1000 + miles rivers 31,000+ lochs
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SLIDE 17
The Challenge in context
SLIDE 18 Market solutions not effective
- Physical
- Environmental
- Biological
Gap in the market
SLIDE 19 2016
££
??
Funding timeline
2018
SLIDE 20
Seeking funding support
SLIDE 21 Finding a solution- Can Do Innovation Fund project
- Phase 1 Proof of Concept July 2019 to March
2020
- £150k, split between 4 challenge solvers
SLIDE 22 Finding a solution- Can Do Innovation Fund project
Contract requirements
- Develop and test innovative management techniques to control the spread
- f, 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
SLIDE 23
Can Do Innovation Fund project 4 challenge solver teams
SLIDE 24 Team Suction dredging Light exclusion Hand weeding Heat
Can Do Innovation Fund project Treatment techniques
SLIDE 25
Project launched July 2019 50 years since moon landing
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SLIDE 27 Can Do Innovation Fund project Methods under test
Phase 1 ends April 2020
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SLIDE 31 Cost estimates £/m2
SLIDE 32 I News November 2019
SLIDE 33 Next steps
Phase 1 Proof of concept complete April 2020 Phase 2 Prototype and demonstration Up to 18 months 2020-22 Review of Phase 1 reports Invitation to submit Phase 2 proposals
New funding application
SLIDE 34 Any questions?
Dr Olivia Lassiere
Environment Manager
Olivia.Lassiere@scottishcanals.co.uk 07712 010899
