Welcome to our new website!
Invasive plants can cause serious harm to the environment, economy and communities within the Peace River Regional District. All owners or occupiers of land within the PRRD have a responsibility to control listed invasive plants on their property. Federal and provincial legislation as well as PRRD bylaws enforce invasive plant management.
Please email us your completed report form and include plant photos and detailed location information. You can also call 250-784-3200 or 800-670-7773 to report an invasive plant. We can only spray on properties owned and operated by the PRRD. You can also report an invasive species to the Province of BC.
You can report invasive plants in person. Please bring samples to the Peace River Regional District Office or mail us at PO Box 810, 1981 Alaska Avenue Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4H8. You can also download the Report Invasives app, they will review and coordinate with an invasive species specialist for follow-up activities. Download free reporting app:
When infestations are reported to the PRRD, our team provides the necessary education and outreach to both the reporter and the applicable land occupier. If required, warning tickets may be issued and the Province is notified for further compliance and enforcement action.
The PRRD does not treat federal, provincial or private lands. We use hand-pulling, spot-spaying and re-seeding practices on lands owned and occupied by the PRRD.
Led by two committees, including the Invasive Plant Committee, our Invasive Plant Program safeguards our economy and environment from invasive plants and helps manage infestations.
The Invasive Plant Program's Strategic Plan and Profile of Invasive Plants Monitoring Committee (SPPIP) is available for review. If you're interested in managing noxious weeds and invasive plants, email us with your request to join the SPPIP.
Invasive plants are non-native species that thrive because they lack natural predators. They can take over, damage crops and harm the environment by reducing biodiversity and degrading habitats. Some even carry diseases, lower property values and pose risks to people and wildlife. The most harmful ones, known as noxious weeds, are controlled by legislation.
These noxious weeds spread quickly, outcompete native species and disrupt natural ecosystems. They're tough to manage and hard to get rid of, which means ongoing expenses for landowners and governments. Some cause allergies, are toxic, worsen farming conditions, raise wildfire risks and damage recreational spots.
How You Can Help
To ensure effective and quick action against invasive plants, it's important to stay informed and proactive. By following these steps, you can help to manage and control invasive plant species.
Regularly monitor areas you visit for changes in plant composition, as these changes may indicate the presence of invasive species.
If you suspect an invasive plant, report it to the appropriate authorities for intervention.
Please review the Plant ID Booklet and make sure to learn about our native and rare plants. Be mindful that some native and rare plants, which may also appear sporadically like invasive plants, could be classified as Species at Risk. For more details, refer to the Species at Risk website.
For accurate identification, collect the entire plant, including roots and press it in a book. Avoid using bags as samples wilt quickly.
Take clear photos of the plant on a plain background, making sure to capture the size and location of the infestation.
Prevention of invasive plants and noxious weed infestations requires preventative steps to limit the transfer of seeds. For a full list of management practices by plant, refer to the Plant Identification Booklet. Here are some steps you can take:
Best practices based on various industries within the region. Make sure to clean equipment between sites, as well as tarp or cover grain, hay and other agriculture loads when transporting and harvesting hay before weed seeds are viable. Although tarping is not viable for large scale removal of hay and straw, tarping and covering of hay is suggested to eliminate the potential of spreading seeds through transport.
The PRRD ranks invasive plants by how invasive they are. These rankings are based on research, technical advice and insights from the Invasive Plant Program team. To identify invasive plants and be mindful of your gardening choices, visit PlantWise. You can also download or request our Plant Identification Booklet by contacting our offices in Dawson Creek or Fort St. John.
The following list represents invasive plants likely to spread quickly to vulnerable areas or valuable crops. The goal is to eliminate these plants from the area using integrated pest management.
Burdock is a tall plant known for its sticky burrs that cling to clothes and animals. Its roots are a deep brownish-green and look almost black on the outside. The plant has purple flowers that grow on the ends of prickly leaves and these flowers bloom from June to October.
If you see this plant:
Comfrey has a stem with leafy, bristly hairs at the top and large, rough leaves at the bottom. It is poisonous to livestock. The plant is easily identified by its clusters of drooping yellow or purple flowers, which grow on short, curved stems. These bell-shaped flowers bloom all summer long.
If you see this plant:
Common tansy is a flowering plant with finely divided, fern-like leaves and small, flat-topped, yellow, button-shaped flowers. These flowers bloom from mid to late summer. The plant has a smooth stem that grows between 50 to 150 cm tall. Both the leaves and flowers are poisonous if eaten in large amounts. Tansy has a strong, camphor-like smell with a touch of rosemary.
If you see this plant:
Green foxtail is a yearly plant that spreads by seeds and grows in clumps. Its smooth leaf sheath has short, upward-pointing hairs, especially near the "collar" area. The flat leaf blades can grow up to 25 cm long and 6 to 18 mm wide, with pointed tips. When mature, the plant's head looks like a fuzzy, tapered cylinder covered with tiny upward barbs.
If you see this plant:
Orange hawkweed has upright stems, usually without leaves, that are covered in bristly hairs. The stems grow between 15 to 90 cm tall and contain a milky sap. Its flowers are bright orange-red with petals that have square or notched edges. You can identify this plant by the long, bristly hairs and black glands at the base of the flowers. It’s the only hawkweed with orange flowers, but despite its beauty, it’s not a good choice for garden decoration.
If you see this plant:
Russian thistle is a bushy summer plant with many thin stems that turn woody as they grow. It’s best known as "tumbleweed." When the plant dries out, its base stem snaps off in the fall or early winter, allowing it to roll in the wind and spread its invasive seeds as it tumbles. Watch for this plant from July through October, and recognize it by the spiny, pointed leaves at its base.
If you see this plant:
Spotted knapweed is a plant that lives for around two years. It has black spots on the leaves near the base of the flower. The stems are covered in fine hairs and can grow between 20 cm to 1.3 meters tall. You can easily identify it by its purple to pink, and occasionally white, flowers. They bloom from June to October. After flowering, watch out for small brown oval seeds, 1 to 3 mm long, with a faint pale line, as they can stick to your clothes.
If you see this plant:
Yellow hawkweed is a long-lasting plant that can grow up to 90 cm tall. When damaged, it releases a milky sap. Its flowers grow in tight, flat-topped clusters, with petals fused into a strap-like shape. The leaves are mostly near the ground and are hairy, while the stems have thick hairs at the base and thinner hairs toward the top.
If you see this plant:
Contact Us
Environmental Services
1981 Alaska Avenue,
Dawson Creek, BC
V1G 4H8
Stay Informed
Sign up to receive newsletters on important regional news and events
This website uses cookies to enhance usability and provide you with a more personal experience. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Privacy Policy.
