The Duncan Lardeau focal area was added in Year 5 (2023-2024) of Kootenay Connect Priority Places. Consequently, the project results reported for this area are based on its first year of funding.
Year 5 (2023-24)
As part of a long-term project to restore wetland and beavers on the Duncan-Lardeau floodplain, this project carried out live-staking of willow along a waterway locally known as the Argenta Slough. There were three primary objectives for this endeavour: (a) To increase structural (and species) diversity, in an otherwise grass-dominated habitat; this is expected to be of particular benefit to a variety of birds; (b) To eventually provide food for beavers (though may need to be protected in the short term), and; (c) To eventually out-compete Reed canary-grass (RCG). Experience in other areas has shown densely planted willow can dominate over RCG once established.
