Cusheon Lake property dweller Sandy Brainerd’s eye was caught by a “pretty purple flower” by her dock one day recently, but she soon realized it was not one she’d want to encourage.
She was pretty sure it was purple loosestrife, a fast-spreading, water-loving plant designated a provincial noxious weed by the B.C. Weed Control Act.
“I got my fork and dug the whole thing out,” she said.
She then took it to the Salt Spring Island Conservancy office to get it positively identified and so staff could advise others of its appearance at Cusheon Lake.
Brainerd has continued to scan the lake with her binoculars to see if any more of the plants show up, and hopes other islanders will be on the lookout for it.
“The more eyes we have looking for it the better.”
Doreen Hewitt, past president of the Beddis and Cusheon Area Residents Association (BACARA), said information about Brainerd’s find was shared by another BACARA member. Hewitt said yellow flag iris is also of concern in Cusheon Lake.
Islander Roger Brunt identified and removed a large infestation of purple loosestrife from Ganges Creek back in 2016.
“I got rid of nearly all of it around Barb’s Buns in the creek there,” he recalled, noting he has recently observed a large clump at the north-east corner of Atkins and Rainbow roads.
“It’s unusual because there is no creek there,” he said.