Sensitive Habitat Stewardship - Project Watershed

This program provides accurate and current information on the state of sensitive habitats in the Comox Valley eco-region in order to effect better protection and restoration efforts. For information on this project, contact us or view below (please note the fullscreen and download options on top of the embedded documents):

A History of Comox Valley Project Watershed’s Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program from 1995-2010

Fifteen years since its inception Project Watershed’s Sensitive Habitat Stewardship (SHS) Program is alive, well and continuing to evolve. Designed to gather and disseminate accurate information regarding locations and conditions of sensitive habitats, and to increase public awareness and understanding of local watersheds, the program has spawned many protection and restoration efforts in the Comox Valley.

The SHS Program has been the umbrella under which several important projects in local watersheds have been implemented. The SHS Program embodies Project Watershed’s mission statement of “promoting community stewardship of Comox Valley watersheds through education, information and action”. Watershed projects developed within the SHS Program have included:

Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project (1999-2005)

The Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project focused on developing stewardship of sensitive fish and wildlife habitat on private land in the Comox Valley. The objective of this long term effort was partnership building among local government agencies, landowners and organized stewardship groups to improve protection and restoration of sensitive habitats when land development activities occur. Project Watershed worked closely with staff at the Regional District, and implemented projects in partnership with groups such as the Tsolum River Restoration Society, Morrison Creek Streamkeepers, Millard/Piercy Creek Watershed Stewards, Brooklyn Creek Streamkeepers, and other regional groups such as the Land Trust and the Naturalists. More….

Comox Valley Stream Signage Project

Stewards of the Puntledge Watershed – Education Series (2005-ongoing).

This series of projects is an evolution of our work focused on sensitive habitat stewardship. Our activities here are focused within the largest and most important watershed in the Comox Valley. The Puntledge River, flowing through Comox Lake provides community drinking water and is important for hydroelectric power generation, and for world class recreational opportunities. This watershed also historically supported one of the most productive salmonid fisheries on the East Coast of Vancouver Island, and it empties into one of BC’s most important estuaries, providing rich habitat for a wide range of fish, wildlife, plants, migratory birds, and shellfish. The goal here is “to foster community knowledge, attitudes and behaviours that engage citizens in actions that protect our drinking water quality and benefit healthy fish and wildlife populations in the Puntledge River Watershed”. Much of our work in the Puntledge involves partnering with agencies such as BC Hydro, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Puntledge River Restoration Society who are keen on conducting research and habitat improvements that benefit a unique and endangered stock of summer-run chinook salmon. An activity of this program was a major symposium in 2008 focused on the Courtenay River Estuary which drew more than 300 people together. More…

The Courtenay River Estuary – Keeping It Living Campaign

The 2008 Estuary Symposium featured leading experts on estuaries in B.C. and beyond. It was learned that the Courtenay River Estuary is one of only eight Class 1 estuaries in British Columbia. In this public forum event the importance of protecting First Nations heritage and wildlife habitats was illustrated. The outcome of the Estuary Symposium was the creation of Project Watershed’s Estuary Working Group and the ‘Keeping It Living’ awareness campaign where Project Watershed is again fostering community partnerships with the goal of creating watershed stewardship efforts. More….

Other Programs

Streamkeepers and Wetlandkeepers Courses (1993-ongoing).

Hundreds of people have taken the nationally-recognized Streamkeepers course, which focuses on the basic skills of monitoring aquatic habitats and getting involved in local volunteer driven watershed projects. Project Watershed continues to offer streamkeeper and wetlandkeeper courses and some of our graduates have become champions working to further the goals of local stewardship groups. Interested?

The Baynes Sound Stewardship Initiative (BSSI) (1995-2000)

This series of projects addressed non-point source pollution in Baynes Sound through education and outreach activities. Products of this program include an extensive “State of the Sound” GIS project, as well as educational materials and action projects focused on non-point source pollution and remediation efforts.

Some examples are:

Storm Drain Monitoring (1996-2000): A citizen monitoring program testing storm drains in urban areas.
Agricultural Program (1997-98): An educational and remedial action campaign aimed at preventing damage to sensitive riparian areas.
Survey and Education of Businesses (1999): Awareness and remedial work regarding toxic chemical use and disposal. The project included the distribution of educational materials, public workshops, and advertising and promotion for “green” businesses.
Biofiltration Wetland (1999): Construction of a wetland in a residential area to filter stormwater and septic wastes.
Pump-out Facilities and Boater Education (1999-2000): In conjunction with community partners, boater pump-out facilities were constructed in Comox Harbour and Deep Bay. A boater education program and celebration of clean water was also a focus.
More…..

SHSOverview

Included are the following elements:

Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project Final Report

Mapping and Inventory Field Work

Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping: Accurate watercourse, and wetland locations, salmon and trout presence and habitat conditions features of urban streams are mapped using standardized procedures called the SHIM methods. Project Watershed is a founding member of the Community Mapping Network, a group of like minded organizations working to create better opportunities for community stewardship of Sensitive Habitats.

Baynes Sound Foreshore Stewardship (2001-2002): Detailed maps and inventory in Baynes Sound area will provide information to increase protection of sensitive stream, wetland and foreshore habitats, through application of local government bylaws and landowners’ voluntary stewardship commitments.

Urban Salmon Habitat Program Assessments: Fish habitats are assessed using standardized procedures and reports describing watershed problems and recommend remedial efforts. This work results in detailed biophysical descriptions of streams and wetlands that aid in land-use decision making and watershed planning.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Arcview Smart Maps: Mapping, inventory and assessment data is compiled, digitized and used to update and expand the Comox Valley Sensitive Habitat Atlas, first published in 1995 in conjunction with local, provincial and federal governments. It is estimated that 20-30% of all streams in the valley are not mapped. Of those that are mapped, many habitat records are of limited accuracy. This project provides current, accurate maps and data to decision-makers, citizens, government agencies and volunteer stewardship groups in a user-friendly format. See samples on the Maps and Reports page.

Community Partnerships

A network of community mapping and stewardship groups has been developed, along with a protocol for information exchange. The purpose of this activity is to increase public awareness of and involvement in watershed stewardship and to establish a process to recruit new stewards, and to organize their activities in meaningful ways. This fosters a locally coordinated effort that increases information exchange among partners and reduces conflicts and duplication.

Landholder Stewardship Projects

A follow-up to initial stream surveys that provides information about habitat and stewardship options to landowners. This project creates an appreciation of the significance of habitats on private land, and wherever possible, to establish voluntary stewardship agreements, in which the landowner agrees to protect, restore and/or monitor the habitats found on their property.

See Evaluation Report from the 1999-2000 inaugural project year.
See 2000-2001 year end Report
See brochures on Maps and Reports page.

Entrepreneurial Non-Profit Activities

Partnership projects that build on the training and practical experience that our staff have acquired in the area of watershed stewardship services. We use cost-recovery pricing where appropriate and follow a comprehensive plan to deliver services to the non-profit and private sector providing more stable employment for local watershed technicians.

Go home or view more of our Portfolio.