John Dean Provincial Park
– 9 of 11 broom zones are mint;
– 2 of 11 broom zones are controlled and require further attention;
– All meadows are maintained at less than 1.5yrs growth; and
– 30min per zone is required to maintain the achievement.
Since 1991, Jarrett has been taking action: firstly removing the old-growth broom, and now their babies. Today the hard work is done! For future volunteers, the below tables describe the time and commitment required to maintain the achievement (approx. 36hrs each year).
THE 11 BROOM ZONES AT JOHN DEAN PARK
ZONE | MEADOWS | CLASSIFICATION | PRIORITY |
1 | Airport Radar Tower | Flagship Presentation | Priority 1, Internal |
2 | Upper Thomson Cabin Trail | Special Place | Priority 1, Internal |
3 | Coast Guard Radar Tower | Flagship Presentation | Priority 1, Internal |
4 | Pickles’ Bluff | Flagship Presentation | Priority 1, Internal |
5 | ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ Trail | Flagship Presentation | Priority 1, Internal |
6 | Woodward Trail | Flagship Presentation | Priority 1, Internal |
7 | Surveyors’ Trail | Trail-side Viewpoint | Priority 2, Boundary |
8 | West Viewpoint | Trail-side Viewpoint | Priority 2, Boundary |
9 | West Block | Special Place | Priority 1, Internal |
10 | Entrance Road | Special Place | Priority 1, Internal |
11 | Upper Gail Wickens’ Trail | Special Place | Priority 2, Boundary |
The seedbank at John Dean Park is now largely exhausted. Noteworthy, few parks within the region have received such a long-time commitment towards the complete removal of broom.
A monthly commitment of 30min per zone is required to sustain the achievements. It’s now my great hope that a person or family adopt each zone. If you have a favorite spot you’d like to care for, contact Jarrett @ jarrettteague@yahoo.ca // 250-642-3031 // firstly a BC Parks “Volunteer Agreement” form needs to be completed and then we can start…
– Broom Sponsor (encouragement / financial)
– Broom Companion (2nd year & 1-2 zones)
– Broom Supervisor (3rd year & 3+ zones)
– Broom Principal (4th year & all zones)
ZONE | LOCATION | BACKGROUND | SITUATION |
1
2017 mint |
Airport Radar Tower:
a) West side of road, main b) East side of road |
Flagship Presentation
1995, initial removal
Major removals occurred
2011, Jarrett adopted the meadow; seed bank not exhausted, requires monthly attention
2012-current, maintained at -11” |
99% done
Maintained quarterly
Adjacent broom within MOT compound; unreliably cut
Removal actions required, 30min per month / 12hrs annually
|
2
2017 mint |
Upper Thomson Cabin Trail:
a) Center east side b) Base of slope c) Lower shelf |
Flagship Presentation
1996, initial removal, Jarrett adopted the meadow
Seedbank not exhausted |
99% done
Maintained quarterly
Removal actions required, 30min per month / 12hrs annually |
3
2017 mint |
Coast Guard Radar Tower:
a) East of entrance road b) South metal fence line c) Lower-middle treeline d) North at wood fence |
Flagship Presentation
1991, initial major removals occurred
1997, Jarrett adopted
1998-cruuent, maintained at -11” |
99% done
Maintained quarterly
Seed bank exhausted
Requires 30min per month / 6hrs annually
|
4
2017 mint |
Pickles’ Bluff:
a) Bluff, center area b) Bluff, lower south end c) Bluff, lower north end d) Meadow, below and north e) Meadow south of steps f) Meadow far south of steps g) Meadow north of steps
|
Flagship Presentation
1991, initial removal
1992-98, Major removals occurred
1999, seed bank exhausted
2000-current, maintained at -11” |
99% done
Maintained quarterly
Requires 30min per month / 6hrs annually
|
5
2017 mint |
ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ Trail:
a) Fern Dell Trailhead b) East of trail, long ridge c) Lower eastern meadow d) Surrounding Forest
|
Flagship Presentation
1993, initial removal
Dr. Bryce Kendrick adopted; Many thanks Bryce who pulled in this location: 1995-2013
2008, seed bank exhausted
2009-current, maintained at -11” |
99% done
Maintained quarterly
Requires 30min per month / 6hrs annually |
6
2017 mint |
Woodward Trail:
a) Triangle Junction meadow b) Triangle Junction, area below and SW c) Ridge below Woodward d) Lower SE Gary oak Meadow e) Ridge above Woodward |
Flagship Presentation
1993, initial removal
1999, Seed bank exhausted
Major adjacent seed bank on private property; ongoing action required forever
2000-current, maintained at -11” |
99% done
Maintained quarterly
Requires 30min per month / 3hrs annually
|
7
2017 clear |
Surveyors’ Trail:
a) Viewpoint b) Viewpoint tree line c) Below viewpoint in forest d) Behind house e) Eastern meadow f) Eastern meadow in forest g) Above Surveyors’ Trail h) Above Surveyors’ Trail, north meadows
|
Trail-side Viewpoint
1992, initial removals
Ongoing removals by a few Friends occurred; many thanks to Dr. Bryce Kendrick who pulled in this location: 1995-2013
2015, Jarrett conducted a 26hr 100% removal throughout the entire area; committed to long-term monthly removals
Major adjacent seed bank on private property; ongoing action required forever
2015-current, maintained at -11” |
2015, 99% removed
Maintained monthly
Requires 30min per month / 6hrs annually |
8
2017 clear |
West Viewpoint:
a) Lower shelf b) Lower shelf, outer perimeter |
Trail-side Viewpoint
1991, Initial pull; inconsistent removals occurred
2015, Jarrett conducted a 100% removal throughout the entire area; committed to long-term monthly removals
2015-current, maintained at -11” |
2015, 99% removed
Forest broom within sight has been removed
Maintained bi-annually
Requires 15min per month / 3hrs annually
|
9
2017 mint |
West Block:
a) Upper, above relocation b) Lower, above the multiple drainage channels c) Central meadow |
Special Place
1996, initial removal
Inconstant removals occurred
2011, seed bank exhausted
2011-current, maintain at –11” |
99% done
Checked quarterly
Requires 2hrs annually |
10
2017 mint |
Entrance Road:
a) Upper Slektain Meadow b) Meadow below road corner c) Meadow above fire hydrant d) High ridge above road e) Overhang cliffs at road f) Meadow above Montfort West staircase
|
Special Place
1993, initial removal
maintained at -11” |
99% done
Maintained bi-annually
Requires 15min per month / 3hrs annually |
11
2017 clear |
Upper Gail Wickens’ Trail:
a) South trailhead of Barret Montfort East b) Former viewpoint c) Haldon Park, center meadow |
Special Place
2002, initial removal, inconsistent removals occurred
2006, last seeded; Jarrett adopted the zone
|
99% done
Maintained bi-annually
Adjacent broom on private properties
Removal actions required, 30min per month / 12hrs annually
|
1) Since 1991, Jarrett has removed broom and committed to all broom zones;
2) Despite the parks exceptional situation; baby broom produces seeds during its third year. Therefore it’s essential that all broom be removed immediately to hedge against the 35mth deadline. For example, if a meadow is cleared of 12mth broom, the 36mth regrowth countdown is reset;
3) Jarrett is networking towards a multi-volunteer Broom Succession Plan. Thus far neither the Friends of John Dean Park or an induvial has emerged;
4) For autumn 2017, the broom at John Dean Park is under a 11mth level. Today, a new volunteer inherits a zero debt & zero deficit workload; and
5) Interested in a favorite spot? Contact Jarrett @ jarrettteague@yahoo.ca // 250-642-3031
EASY ASSESMENT | DEBT, DEFICIT, OWN
Jarrett’s 2015 thinking
STAGE | EFFORT | AGE/HEIGHT | THREAT | CONTROL |
7 | no concern | 49mth / +31” | seed generating | abandonment |
6 | failure | 48mth / +30” | seed generating | rejection of duty |
5 | setback | 36-47mth / 24-29” | seed producing | negligence of duty |
4 | debt | 24-35mth / 18-23” | growth | attention |
3 | deficit | 12-23mth / 12-17” | growth | care |
2 | routine | 3-11mth / 6-11” | babies | love |
1 | mastered | 1-5” | babies minimal | own |
THE WAY TO SUSTAIN BROOM FREE IS:
1) Set mission statement: “ensure John Dean Park remains broom-free (under 11mths growth)”;
2) Assign each meadow to a person or family who commits;
3) Leadership monitors and updates the parks “Broom Register” quarterly (11 zones);
4) The best time to surge on broom is October to December; conduct double checks January to February; avoid flower areas March to June; the monthly 30min per zone is crucial;
5) As of 2017, each of the 11 zones requires 6hrs per year. For a committed 2nd year volunteer, recommend $1 per hour (approx. $6 per zone) which enables a thank-you, accountability and assures the zone is maintained as broom free. For an annual $54, a Friends organization can compensate, thank and ensure broom removal continues (especially if executives don’t work/tour within the park). Note: without a plan, broom grows!
6) The remuneration allowance can be for:
- reimburse clothing;
- reimburse expenses;
- acknowledge and thank volunteers; and
7) I’m concerned if my recommendations aren’t followed, and broom regrows to +3yrs, seeds will be deposited thereby creating a setback of 15+yrs, meaning more and more work for future volunteers;
8) Since 2003 the Friends haven’t participated and from my perspective appear as uninterested. Broom leadership is true stewardship, which I believe belongs within the Friends (where I started); and
9) Jarrett believes the duty of a volunteer is to operate whereby less work is required from future volunteers.
QUALITIES OF VOLUNTEER BROOM SUPERVISORS:
Awareness – Interest – Time – Vigour – Ownership
1) recognizes action is required;
2) believes broom free must be sustained;
3) identifies with the object of the exercise;
4) commits exceptional worth to the park;
5) performs well;
6) achieves results;
7) regards the role as a talent; and
8) orchestrates succession plan.