Pesticide Use Permit Issued by the Province for Invasive Knotweed Control

The Ministry of Environment and Parks has issued a Pesticide Use Permit (PUP) to support the eradication of invasive knotweed along the Sooke and Charters Rivers.

The work will be carried out by T’Sou-ke Nation, acting as the agent for the Ministry of Forests. The project is intended to eradicate existing knotweed populations and prevent the invasive plant from spreading beyond its current locations.

Knotweed is designated as a noxious weed under the BC Weed Control Act. The proposed treatment area is estimated to cover a maximum of 0.15 hectares.

The permit is valid from July 27, 2026, to July 26, 2029.

See below for details of the PUP.

Permit # 402-0694-25-28

Permit Holder: Ministry of Forests, 441 Columbia St, Kamloops, BC V2C 2T3

Agent: T’Sou-ke Nation, 1000 Soses Snanet Road, Sooke, BC, V9Z 0C1

Contact: admin3@tsoukenation.com

A Pesticide Use Permit (PUP) has been issued to the T’Sou-ke Nation the by the Ministry of Environment and Parks for the purpose of eradicating knotweed in the Sooke and Charters Rivers. The PUP allows for the operational use of herbicides Habitat Aqua (PCP #32374, Active Ingredient: Imazapyr) and RoundUp WeatherPRO (PCP # 33653, Active Ingredient: Glyphosate), within the Pesticide Free Zone (PFZ) on knotweed species (Reynoutria spp.). These are provincially designated Noxious Weeds under the BC Weed Control Act. The treatment areas will include sites along the Sooke and Charters Rivers. The total area proposed for herbicide treatment will be an estimated maximum area 0.15 hectares.

The goal of the project is to eradicate existing populations of knotweed and prevent knotweed from expanding outside of its current areas on the Charters and Sooke Rivers.

Pesticide applications of aquatic herbicide Habitat Aqua will be done by targeted foliar application by backpack-mounted sprayers. If plants cannot be effectively treated by foliar spray methods, stem injection of Roundup WeatherPRO may be required. The addition of drift shielding with tarps may be used to prevent contact with surrounding non-target vegetation. Two surveys of the knotweed sites will be conducted each year when the plants are large enough for the herbicide to be effective. Most treatments will occur during the first survey pass, with any missed plants or new growth treated in the second pass.

The proposed duration of herbicide use, under the Pesticide Use Permit, is July 27, 2026, to July 26, 2029.

Copies of the PUP and a map of the proposed treatment sites can be viewed at https://tsoukenation.com/invasive-knotweed-control/ or at the T’Sou-ke Nation Office, 1000 Soses Snanet Road, Sooke, BC, V9Z 0C1

For more information or to view a copy of the permit and maps, contact the agent listed above.

Map 1. Knotweed Locations to be Treated in 2026.