Blog
Happy New Year to all. I look forward to a very successful 2012 and thank staff and Board members for their dedication and hard work. Although we continue to struggle with finding appropriate sources of financing, we have had some recent successes with a number of funding initiatives still pending. Michele Jones continues as our bookkeeper but otherwise there has been a major turn over in staff and each new person is forging ahead learning and developing their new responsibilities. These new staff members include:
- Lauren LaBossiere – is our Estuary Coordinator and primarily involved with the Estuary Working Group. Lauren will be coordinating the 2012 Estuary Awareness Campaign which we hope will involve some partnerships with the K'ómoks First Nations. Keep abreast of this largest and most active committee of Project Watershed by visiting the Keeping it Living website at www.keepingitliving.ca or our social media page http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Courtenay-River-Estuary-Keeping-It-Living/334041740236.
- Kathryn Clouston – whose role is as volunteer coordinator, and fundraising assistant, working with me and other Board members in writing grant proposals. Kathryn is also responsible for keeping our website up to date. She is doing an excellent job. Check it out at http://projectwatershed.ca/ especially the News and Events link to our blog. If you missed some events from the past year you can view them through the older entries link at the bottom of the page. If you have some stories or pictures of the estuary or other watersheds you would like to share send them to us at projectwatershed@gmail.com.
- Steve Morgan – is the Business Manager of our social enterprise, the Mapping Centre. See web site at http://maps.projectwatershed.ca/ for more info on their capabilities and products. Already he has instituted some great changes in operations and will be marketing the Centre and attempting to generate new business and profits to benefit Project Watershed.
We also have a new Board member, Bill Heidrick who is involved with the Comox Valley Conservation Strategy and the Estuary Working Group.
The Board of Directors will have a meeting on March 4 to specifically discuss bylaw revisions and then after our AGM we will hold a retreat to deal with a number of important planning issues.
Project Watershed and its four major components, the Estuary Working Group, the Education and Outreach Committee, the Technical Committee and the Mapping Centre are all active and vibrant entities with developing programs and events. Stay tuned for reports on the Estuary Survey, the Blue Carbon initiative, research activities in the Puntledge River watershed and the Estuary, land acquisition along the estuary, a report on petroleum storage tanks bordering the estuary, mapping initiatives including sensitive habitat atlas updates, and news on our evolving walking map for the Comox Valley!!
Submitted by Celina on Wed, 2011-11-30 15:26
Keeping It Living is guided by the phrase “return of abundance,” which comes from the name “Comox” (“K’ómoks”), which means “land of plenty or abundance.” With a mission to bring about the return of abundance, the Keeping It Living project is dedicated to the “preservation of marshes, sloughs, mud flats, gravel beds, shore grasses, shrubs, forest, streams, rivers, and watersheds that provide nutrients to nourish estuary life.”
Estuaries are the meeting places of rivers and oceans, where stream flows meet ocean tides. As ever-changing transition zones between fresh water and marine ecosystems, estuaries are both fragile and highly productive. In BC, estuaries occupy only three percent of the coastline, although they are used by eighty percent of marine life at some point in their life cycles. The Courtenay River Estuary is no different; containing a wealth of biodiversity, it is a haven for numerous plant and animal species on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Unfortunately, dredging, channelling, rip-rapping, and industrial activity have taken their toll, threatening the biodiversity of the Courtenay River Estuary. The good news is Project Watershed is working to make a difference.
Formed in 1993 by a group of citizens concerned about declining fish stocks, water quality, and urban development in local watersheds, the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society’s mission involves information, education, and action. In 2008, Project Watershed organized the Heart of the Watershed Estuary Symposium in an effort to preserve the valuable Courtenay River Estuary. With over 300 attendees, the symposium was a success in highlighting the issues affecting the estuary and raising its profile.
One of only eight Class 1 estuaries in BC, and second in importance only to the Fraser River Estuary, the Courtenay River Estuary is highly ecologically significant, providing habitat for 145 bird species, or 70,000 birds; 218 plant species; 29 fish species, including all five Pacific salmon species; and intertidal animals and organisms.
Building on the symposium’s success and this newfound information, Project Watershed formed the Estuary Working Group to help them move forward with recommendations from the event. Environmental organizations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, biologists, naturalists, and an archaeologist together created the Keeping It Living project.
The complexity of the estuarine system is reflected in the multi-stakeholder involvement in various aspects of the project. Building on Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s 2000 estuary management plan, and interest spurred by the 2008 symposium, Project Watershed is playing a coordinating role to meet objectives that are shared by other organizations, as well as the community at large.
As part of a steering committee convened by the Comox Valley Regional District’s Planning Department, the Keeping It Living team has drafted a long term management plan for the estuary. Once approved, it will be released to municipalities, First Nations, and federal and provincial governments for final approval and the Courtenay River Estuary Management Plan will be signed into law.
In addition to the official regulatory and management activities, the project has involved a broad range of people through estuary-focused literature, art, and sports. Day of the Estuary showcases displayed current research, volunteer opportunities, videos, and mapping. Engaging public audiences in ways that interest them—such as auctioning estuary art by local artists—has proven to be a successful strategy for education and awareness building.
Paul Horgen, Project Watershed’s Chair, said, "The Keeping It Living Campaign has brought an array of community members together showing that restoration and protection of the estuary is important to people from all walks of life. It has been very rewarding and inspiring to have this kind of community support. With this support behind us we have started many estuary focused initiatives and are confident these initiatives will make our grandchildren proud."
In 2010, the Real Estate Foundation provided Project Watershed with a $15,000 grant for Keeping It Living. This project aligns with our mandate to support research and education on sustainable real estate and land use topics.
By Alicia Olive and Celina Owen
http://www.refbc.com/node/369
Spencer Anderson, Comox Valley Echo
Published: Tuesday, December 06, 2011
North Island College is reaching for a potential $1-million grant to develop an applied research program in aquatic environmental monitoring.
NIC staff has submitted an application with the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in a bid to secure funding from NSERC's Industrial Research Chairs for Colleges initiative, launched this past October.
The grant would allow the college to hire a researcher capable of coordinating the program with faculty and industry partners, as well as connecting students to educational opportunities related to the field.
NIC is also working with the B.C. Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences and aquaculture industry representatives to craft a research agenda suited to the north and west region of the Island.
NIC president Jan Lindsay said she was very pleased with outside support for the application, which included letters from mayors from the North Island and support from the four main fish farm companies in the region: Creative Salmon, Marine Harvest, Greig Seafood and Mainstream Canada.
She said the proposed research program is tailored for the fastgrowing aquaculture sector, and will complement programs NIC already offers, including entry-level courses on aquaculture and biology.
The environmental monitoring aspect of NIC's pitch "can very much apply to other areas of natural resource industry," Lindsay added.
If successful in achieving the grant, the program would be an initial hub in the college's vision for a Natural Resource Education and Applied Research Centre, an umbrella framework that would identify specific education and research credentials required for students to break into a variety of natural resource sectors on the North Island.
"I just think it's such an important step forward for the college to move in this direction with applied research and [be] able to provide support to the economic interests in the – North Island region through this type of activity," Lindsay said.
NIC expects to hear back from NSERC by April.
spanderson@comoxvalleyecho.com
http://www2.canada.com/comoxvalleyecho/news/story.html?id=ebe07304-5bc5-44a0-874c-dbc4189d548c
© Comox Valley Echo 2011
COLLECTING PUNTLEDGE RIVER hatchery dividend is a happy adventure for river anglers. PHOTO BY RALPH SHAW
By Ralph Shaw – Comox Valley Record
Published: November 24, 2011 4:00 PM
Updated: November 24, 2011 4:58 PM
Modern society is addicted to high returns on investments, and success is measured on a percentage-based return over costs of investment. As with all investments there are several portfolios, some will do well and others not so well. This column is directed at the enrichment we receive in recreational fishing, primarily on enhanced stocks.
Recreational fishing is about fishing – some catching.
Each year we send forth millions of little salmon from the Puntledge River Hatchery and the spawning channels of the river throughout its many side channels and feeder streams. Most of the recreational harvesting of chinook, coho and pink salmon takes place in the open ocean, much of it in Area 14 waters; I suggest most of our recreationally caught chum salmon takes place in our home river, the Puntledge.
We have creel surveys, but I am unaware of a specific count of our fish except through the return of marked heads. If you enjoyed good salmon fishing in Area 14 waters this season you can probably thank the Puntledge hatchery for a good share of it along with the many small enhancement groups who work so hard to keep our salmon stocks healthy.
Last week Darcy Miller, manager of the Puntledge hatchery, sent me the following returns of salmon to the river and hatchery as of Nov. 16, 2011:
Coho Salmon 2,459 in river and at the hatchery. As a reminder, due to hot weather there was a major die-off of coho smolts for the river in 2008. It was with much anxiety that the people at the Puntledge hatchery worried about how many coho they would get back into the system in 2011.
The 2,459 in- river return gives 800 for brood stock needs and the rest are dispersed throughout the watershed. Yes, we had no direct harvest except the pleasure of catch-and-release, but the stocks are still good and the future dividends look bright.
Summer Chinook 1,130 in-river return. These are the fish that give us most heartburn when it comes to enhancing salmon in the Puntledge. For a number of years they have been brought back from the brink of extinction and are still a concern.
Their eggs are nurtured at the Rosewall hatchery and some are now returned to the upper reaches of the Puntledge system. It is a stock of zero return until we can bring their numbers up to those enjoyed by the fall chinook. Some are caught in Area 14 fisheries. Much of the caution of harbour and in-river fishing is directed at protecting this species.
Fall Chinook 4,030 in-river return. These fish are a success story from the hatchery that re-created the run. This year you could not retain these fish in-river, partially to protect coho and a concern for returns. However during the chum fishery there were many catch-and-release encounters on these magnificent fish. The future appears bright for this stock.
Pink Salmon 20,386 in-river return. They just come home in increasing numbers, mostly on their own, however this year they took eggs to enhance the run with hatchery help. The reason we do not get to fish them in the river is to protect the summer chinook. Regardless, they are paying big dividends and in the future we will be able to fish them as they do in the Campbell River system. They pay big dividends in local marine waters.
Chum Salmon 92,709 in-river return. If you are clipping coupons on investment returns, the Puntledge River chum stocks are paying big dividends in the recreational fishery. With the Oct. 1 opening on the river they have provided thousands of hours of exciting river fishing to a broad section of river anglers.
They also provide direct dividends to the local fishing tackle industry that supports this fishery with all the tackle, boots, life jackets and other accessories that create wealth. During the peak of the fishery you can talk to people from all over the world. This is just another example of return on investment.
Quite aside from the immediate returns to anglers, the carcasses of spawned-out chum salmon are now being dispersed into the nutrient-poor waters of the headwater streams by volunteers, thereby producing a hidden dividend for young salmon.
Dividend clipping in recreational fishing is a soul-renewing source of wealth.
Ralph Shaw is a master fly fisherman who was awarded the Order of Canada in 1984 for his conservation efforts. In 20 years of writing a column in the Comox Valley Record it has won several awards.
Volunteer team for the first ever Comox Valley Carol Walk
Pictured from Left are: Nancy Hofer, Allan Gornall, Coun. Jon Ambler, Mayor Greg Phelps, and, on the right representing Project Watershed, Lauren LaBossiere and Don Castleden. Photo by CV Echo.
Published: Tuesday, November 22, 2011
A series of environmental initiatives has resulted in this year's 'Courtenay River Estuary Keeping it Living Award' being awarded to the City of Courtenay by the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society. The award, an original painting of the estuary by local artist Bev Byerley, is given annually to an organization in the Comox Valley in recognition of environmental leadership provided in protecting and restoring the estuary. The recipient keeps the painting to display for one year.
© Comox Valley Echo 2011
Published: November 08, 2011 12:00 PM
Updated: November 08, 2011 12:17 PM
http://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/community/133468168.html
The Comox Valley Project Watershed Society has chosen the City of Courtenay to receive its Courtenay River Estuary-Keeping it Living Award.
It was presented at Courtenay City Council’s regular meeting on Nov. 7.
The award, an original painting of the estuary by noted local artist Bev Byerley, is given annually to an organization in the Comox Valley in recognition of environmental leadership provided in protecting and restoring the estuary. The recipient displays the painting in a prominent place for a period of one year.
The City of Courtenay has been chosen in recognition of the action taken this past year in hiring their first environmental planner and their first climate change specialist. The efforts of these two planners in organizing an evening presentation on climate change at the Sid Williams Theatre last spring acknowledged the City’s awareness and appreciation of this important environmental issue.
Three hundred local residents were superbly informed regarding one of the most pressing global concerns of this century and one of particular importance to a coastal community such as ours.
The City also held a workshop on sea level rise in the Strait of Georgia and subsequently established a new high-water mark for the Courtenay River and estuary based on a projected increase in sea levels of .8 metres expected over the next 20 to 30 years. Further, the City recently introduced new draft amendments to the City's Official Community Plan that call for improved riparian zones for the rivers, creeks and wetlands within its boundaries. These actions are critical to expanding protection for the Courtenay River estuary.
Finally, the City has given its support to a community campaign to obtain National Heritage status for the estuary. This designation is being sought based on the significance of the estuary as an important bird area, for its aquatic habitat and especially for the remains of extensive ancient First Nation fish traps in the estuary.
— Comox Valley Project Watershed Society
Comox Valley Echo November 4, 2011
A small bouquet of eel grass to the authors of the Regional Growth Strategy, for recognizing that Baynes Sound is threatened by failing septic systems. Septic systems don't need to fail. It costs less than 25 cents per day to maintain a healthy system. The CVRD is the Regional Government that administers the twenty thousand rural residents using septic systems – Jackson Drive is a very small start. Where is the Sierra Club and Coal Watch on this clean water issue?
© Copyright (c) Postmedia News
http://www.canada.com
Comox Valley Echo November 4, 2011
A Nice Bright Bouquet to the Little River Fish Enhancement Society for their dedication in sustaining this salmon bearing stream, as do many volunteers in other areas on many streams. Because of their persistent hard work, future generations will have the thrill of watching salmon return to spawn.
© Copyright (c) Postmedia News
http://www.canada.com
In an effort to encourage voters to think about environmental issues before the Nov. 19 municipal elections, the Comox Valley Conservation Strategy Community Partnership has distributed an election primer to municipal candidates.
The primer contains a series of questions for candidates, preceded by background information and facts on six issues: land use, climate change, transportation, unfunded infrastructure liability, monitoring and accountability, and conserving natural systems.
The CVCSCP and 18 member organizations have pooled their efforts for several years trying to protect, restore and enhance watersheds, rivers, wetlands, estuaries and forests to enhance sustainability and maintain essential functions.
Bottom line: environmental issues connect to virtually everything from transportation to rising infrastructure costs to urban sprawl.
"You can't separate out the environment, which is one of the mistakes we've made in the past," said Jack Minard, CVCSCP local government co-ordinator. "We've treated the environment like an external thing, rather than understanding that it underpins our economy and our social structure and transportation. The environment is part of everything. Human health depends on a healthy biosphere."
Part of the problem with development is sprawl, says project manager David Stapley, noting low-density land use patterns and 'curb and gutter' infrastructure choices increase costs and use up green space. What's needed is compact development, which he said will save money in the long run.
"If you compact your communities you have more people using fewer miles of infrastructure so you have more tax revenues that can replace and maintain it," Stapley said. "When you go low density and sprawl out then you have more infrastructure but not as many people. And that affects transit. If you don't have a dense enough population it's really expensive trying to run a transit route."
Car-dependent communities create higher costs and greenhouse emissions, he added.
"Economic capital, social capital and natural capital are all equal," Minard said. "We've gained a new scientific understanding of what we have done. It's not through malice, it's not anybody's fault, what it is is that we've learned some new things. It's very difficult to boil that science down so that people understand what that science means and how it's implemented on the ground."
An example is climate change, which is resulting in melting ice caps and glaciers, rising sea levels and severe weather patterns.
"There are people who deny climate change because they are not accepting or understanding the science behind it," Minard said. "Science is not truth, science delivers products…As long as we continue to sprawl we have to put in more of the same infrastructure that we can't even afford now to repair."
The CVCSCP says it's a proactive, non-confrontational group that is, in fact, not opposed to development. The group praises documents such as the Comox Official Community Plan for advocating densification. It also praises the Regional Growth Strategy — which needs monitoring, Minard says — but feels the Sustainability Strategy has taken a back seat.
These documents, along with Nature Without Borders, urge change in the way communities are designed in order to protect sensitive areas.
"Looking at these long-term trends and seeing if we compact the communities and we protect our ecological areas, in the long-run we're all going to be better off and we'll maintain the quality of life," Stapley said.
The group hopes the primer will encourage discussion at all-candidates meetings.
Questions and responses will be published after Nov. 9 at www.cvconservationstrategy.org. Also visit www.facebook.com/CVConservationStrategy for more information.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
