Mapping and Information

Comox Valley Project Watershed Society has been conducting mapping and inventory of sensitive habitats in Comox Valley Watersheds since its inception in 1993. Mapping and inventory methods have evolved over the years, progressing from hand drawn lines on cadastral maps to our current state of the art, standardized, mapping & data collection methods.

Rapid population growth and the corresponding urbanization of watersheds in the Comox Valley have led to large areas of environmentally sensitive land being utilized for development purposes. Fish and wildlife habitats in streams, wetlands and foreshore areas are becoming more and more degraded as a direct result of these pressures. In response to this situation Project Watershed created the Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program in 1995.

The objectives of this program are to:

~Provide accurate and current sensitive ecosystem information & action opportunities to community members to effect better protection & restoration efforts
~Build capacity in resource surveying technology involving GPS/GIS and maintain a community-based GIS that can be drawn upon for regional conservation work
~Provide a role model for other (bio)regional organizations interested in similar work.

We continue to work towards these objectives. Since 1995 we have amassed a large database on sensitive habitats in the Comox Valley. Our field geographic information has been collected by certified GPS  professionals and volunteer groups led by professionals. Other information has been shared with us by various private and government agencies. Because of our expertise in this area we have been involved in many local planning processes and often share data with local governments and other agencies to improve land use planning, increase protection of habitats and aid in restoration.

In 2009, Project Watershed launched the Mapping Centre as a body to coordinate Project Watersheds mapping and to do fee for service work. Following the non-profit model The Mapping Centre is not a for-profit business, instead it is what is called a social enterprising body. All surplus the Mapping Centre generates goes towards funding Project Watershed’s environmental projects and programs. Through the Mapping Centre, private citizens and community organisations have access to our mapping expertise. For more information read about the Mapping Centre below.

Mapping Services

Our mission is to provide a service for collection, storage, and dissemination of environmental information through digital and hardcopy maps in order to guide local government, community members, developers, industry and environmental groups in better decision making for environmental use and stewardship. Contact Caila Holbrook, our Mapping Coordinator for more mapping and equipment related queries.

Mapping and Inventory: TMC will apply its GPS/GIS experience and capabilities in the development of habitat inventory methodologies, databases and data dictionaries as needed. Our combined GPS/GIS capabilities facilitate accurate and clear presentation of spatial data.

GPS: Our technicians are experienced and knowledgeable in applying GPS data collection to assessments of stream, wetland and shoreline habitats. Our staff hold certification in GPS field data collection as well as data processing and management.

GIS: TMC will also provide GIS services. Field collected GPS data, PurView derived airphoto interpretations and other acquired data such as orthophotos, sensitive ecosystem information, and various watercourse datasets are integrated in a Geographic Information System (GIS) with other data to create specialized map products tailored to each of our client’s needs.

Training: Our staff and contractors will continue to offer many training opportunities within the Comox Valley community and beyond.

Equipment Rental

If not in use by TMC staff or subcontractors, TMC may rent out the following equipment:

• Trimble Pathfinder and Geo XH
• Garmin hand-held GPS units
• Rangefinder 400 electronic distance measurer
• LCD Media Projector (Panasonic PTLC80)
• Electroshocker
• Streamkeeper Supplies (Aquatic habitat monitoring kits)