Blackie Spit Park: Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Plan - City of Surrey

• Maintain view of estuary from all purpose trail at the southwest end; build low off-trail viewing
structure.
3.0 Management Prescriptions
3.1 Initial Enhancement Requirements
• On the west side of the unit in the area by the trail north of the fence:
• Remove broom, knotweed, and blackberry by cutting and shallow rototilling.
• If necessary, mow/cut areas twice annually for two years to retard the growth of
blackberries and other species.
• Between years, plant a winter cover crop such as fall rye or winter wheat to provide
nutrients, and compete with the invasive species.
• In the spring of the third year:
• Rototill cover crop into soil (5-8 cm deep).
• seed with a pasture mix of low-growing grasses and clover such as a modified version
of the DF&WT’s set-aside mix, or other mix suited to the local conditions.
• Plant native shrubs and small trees as indicated below.
• In the southwest corner, south of the east-west fence:
• cut blackberries back along the trail to a maximum width of 3 metres.
• plant native trees and shrubs in the currently vegetated area between the blackberries and
the new channel.
Shrub/tree planting specifications
Plant 0.19 ha (1650 m 2 south and 250 m 2 north of fence) at a 2 m spacing between plants, for a total
of 475 plants. Plant in late fall. Newly planted shrubs and trees will need watering for at least the
first two summers, until established. If success is less than 80% after two years, replace unsuccessful
plants.
Plant the following species in the proportions indicated:
Douglas maple 5% (24)
Choke cherry 5% (24)
Rowan 5% (24)
Saskatoon 10% (47)
Red-osier dogwood 15% (71)
Nootka rose 30% (142)
Snowberry 30% (142)
3.2 Ongoing Maintenance Requirements
• Annually, cut blackberries south of the east-west fence back to a maximum 3-metre wide border
along the all purpose trail;
• Annually, cut blackberry and any other invasive species by hand on the east side, east of the
north-south fence to prevent encroachment into new areas or domination of other shrubs;
• Check every other year, and when required remove invasive species from all other areas.
Blackie Spit Park: Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Plan – Management Unit 11 57