Abstract
Wilson Farm South is a 50-ha section of ƛ ̓éxətəm Regional Park, located in the traditional territory of the kʷikʷəƛ ̓əm First Nation, in what is now Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. Formerly used for agricultural activities, the site has transitioned into an old field ecosystem since farming ended in 1983. Today, Wilson Farm South supports a mix of open meadow, riparian, forest, and marsh habitats and provides important wildlife habitat and recreational trails adjacent to an urban landscape. The site contains critical habitat for several federally listed species at risk, including the Oregon forestsnail (Allomone townsendiana). Since the mid-1990s, Wilson Farm has been managed by Metro Vancouver and has undergone several habitat management and restoration initiatives, including old field management and ecological offsetting projects associated with off-site regional transportation improvements. While past efforts have improved habitat conditions in parts of the site, invasive species and altered hydrology remain key challenges. Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) and Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) dominate much of the area, forming dense monocultures that suppress native vegetation and reduce biodiversity. Native plant species occur primarily around the periphery of the site and in small, scattered patches within the fields. Notable species include salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), and hardhack (Spiraea doulas). There is also a low abundance of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), which is an important forage plant for the Oregon forestsnail. An extensive agricultural drainage ditch network has disrupted natural hydrology by reducing water retention and connectivity to the Coquitlam River. The negative effects of these stressors are further compounded by adjacent urban land use and climate change. Drainage ditches exhibit low and turbid flows, further constraining overall habitat function. These altered conditions have also influenced soils, which are inferred to be poorly drained, acidic, and generally low in nutrient availability. Historical soil maps, past studies, and regional datasets suggest that soils are predominantly mineral, with accumulations of organic matter in the upper horizons. The primary goal of this restoration plan is to facilitate a transition from an invasivedominated landscape to a biodiverse mosaic of open field, shrub, and forest habitats that support native wildlife, vegetation, and long-term ecological function. Restoration actions will focus on manual invasive species management, site preparation through the addition of soil mounds and coarse woody debris, and revegetation with a diverse assortment of native trees, shrubs, forbs, and graminoids. Initial efforts will be focused in a pilot study area to the south, to assess effectiveness of treatments across a 12.3 ha section of the site. Treatments will be implemented incrementally to maintain habitat availability during restoration and to enhance conditions for species at risk, particularly Oregon forestsnail.