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
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