Roundtables-Region 08-Southern Vancouver Island

Ian Bruce-Southern Vancouver Island

Roundtable Report

November 2017

Ian Bruce - Lower Vancouver Island

  • Slowness on RFCPP funding coming through due to DFO not dedicating enough of the right human resources to administration. This has a significant cash flow impacts on small non-profits and threatens solvency as projects are finished and paid for and Contribution Agreements - this is not understood by the bureaucracy.
  • Issues regarding drought conditions - is DFO hiring hydrologists, etc. to address this major need of salmon - water.
  • Issues related to Goldstream
    Despite our protestations about unleashing a commercial seine opening for chum before sufficient fish have escaped…there’s a seine opening this morning and it’s for four hours but “may be extended”. As of Wed our stream counts had enumerated 1016 chum in the river. Same scenario as last year. Last year the escapement target was not met.
    · Again after sounding the alarm concerning FN interceptions of Goldstream River chinook in the estuary and beyond, the situation has occurred again this year and in fact has escalated since tribal fishermen now see the original guy getting away with it. NO, repeat, NO chinook made it to the river this year. The Goldstream volunteers have given up on this initiative. Does conservation not trump even aboriginal access to FSC?
  • Parkland Industries who spilled 32,000 litres of gasoline and 700 litres of diesel into Goldstream River in April 2011 are trying to get a release from indemnity - this despite apparently still not paying Goldstream Hatchery (~$25l) nor Tsawout FN (~$150k) for their costs amongst others. They were not charged federally nor provincially for this serious fish kill...thus no fine. Will DFO stand up at this time and at least make "Canada's Largest Gas-Station Owner" accountable to their promises?

 

SEHAB Roundtable Template––February 2016

SEHAB Member: Ian Bruce 

Area: South Vancouver Island

Community Advisor: Chantal Nessman

Date: Nov. 4 -2016

Key Issues:

What top three points can you distill from community input to take to DFO RHQ? 

  1. Provincial Water Act, climate change, drought and DFO – not enough attention by the Province on small streams and base flows – DFO has a potential role to play by employing hydrologists to study watersheds, develop tools to mitigate drought and train stewards about hydrology. No water = No fish!
  2. Enforcement Issues - staffing issues throughout department…where is C & P; fisheries openings on weekends but no overtime therefore no oversight.
  3. Douglas Treaty and FN harvesting issues – stocks being completely and blatantly taken to the last fish in plain sight but DFO policy of not wanting to potentially generate a Douglas Treaty challenge does nothing.  DFO needs to negotiate Douglas Treaty rights or let courts decide but status quo untenable for stewards affected.

Stories:

A few examples of successes, failures, challenges.

  1. New C.A. for South Island Chantal Nessman – she is working hard and should do well…strong effort to date and dedicated.
  2. New SCACIP/RRU Section Head Dale Desrochers is a positive choice – both are career DFO with a desire and ability to work in our Area therefore stability gratefully expected.
  3. Funding for CIP hatcheries needs to be increased.

Issues Specific to SEHAB’s Work Plan:

SEHAB Work Plan

Local Issue, Specific  Examples

Actions by Community or DFO

SEHAB Opportunity

Wild Salmon Policy (Stock Assessment, Habitat)

 

 

 

Aquaculture

 

 

 

Capacity & Core Funding

At least 4 new salmon stewardship groups want to form or are being touted. CA and Peninsula Streams have capacity issues in terms of

Attempts to find core funding by Peninsula Streams to address need for stewardship coordination – have applied for PSF funding and to others to support Streamkeepers training and Streamkeepers Trainer training

Encourage SEP to re-visit HCSP program and evaluate to address gaps in stewardship support  across BC

 

Submissions, Comments from Groups:

SEHAB Member: Don Lowen

Area: South Vancouver Island/Gulf Islands

Community Advisor: Erica Blake

Date: November 3/12

 

SEHAB Work Plan 2011-2012

Local Issue, Specific Examples

Actions by Community or DFO

SEHAB Opportunity

Wild Salmon Policy:

 

 

 

Pacific Aquaculture Policy and SEP:

Annual License/ Permit

Review

Survey

Resourcing

 

 

 

Capacity

As of May 24th, SCA has not received permission from Regional Staffing Committee to fill vacant Campbell River CA position.

Tom Rutherford and Erica Blake continue in acting positions. Adam Silverstein’s position has been terminated.

October 23/12 - 50 people turn out for organizational meeting to create new stewardship group for Swan Creek (Drains Swan Lake into Colquitz River). District of Saanich, Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary and Peninsula Streams partners in this initiative. Ian Bruce moderator.

Above average coho returns to several small south island streams provides incentive and focus for stewardship groups.

 

 

SCA is receiving 10 to 12 calls per day from Campbell River stewards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEHAB Submissions, Comments from Groups:

Report – Howard English Hatchery (Goldstream River

The Goldstream Volunteer Association has been operating the counting fence on the Goldstream since the last week in September with the first fish encounters (CN) 6 October ’12. As has been the practice in the past, the weekly counts will reflect fence counts for chinook and coho and full river counts for chum.

The activity was quite slow at the fence until the 15th October when a low pressure system brought in a large number of coho. Following are the weekly figures:       

17th October:    Chinook – 34 (5 jacks)
                        Coho – 623 (5 jacks)
                        Chum – 1,503 (7 morts)
 

24th October:    Chinook – 43 (6 jacks)
                          Coho – 823 (5 jacks)
                        Chum – 1911 (76 morts)


The number of coho that have been counted is unusually high for this time of year and the majority are coloured to some degree, which is also noteworthy since the early bump is usually made up of very green hatchery fish.

Another point is the very few Ad/Cwt coho observed (2.48%) so far. This lends credence to our supposition that the majority of the hatchery releases prior to the fuel spill in 2011 were compromised. Not all coho encountered at the fence have been floy tagged due to malfunctioning guns but every fish has been operculum-punched. Our intention is to conduct a comprehensive dead pitch…weather permitting.


Peter McCully
Biotech

October 29/12

 

 

 

Report – JACK BROOKS Hatchery (SOOKE River/DEMAMIEL CREEK)

“We're looking at good returns for chum and coho to the Sooke and Demamiel systems, so far. Estimates are for 20,000 chum, well up compared to the last few years, and around 3,000 coho.

We missed our numbers for chinook, due to a freshet that buried the fence and allowed the fish to zip by and go upriver. We have 54,000 eggs on hand, well below our hoped-for numbers and we didn't get much of a chance to estimate numbers very well.

It appears that there are at least 100 adults in the mid-river zone, but that's our best guess.
Big numbers of cuthtroat at the Young Lake weir, more than we've seen for several years.”
 
Mel Hull

October 30/12

 

SIDNEY ANGLERS

“… the spring and summer run Fraser River chinook issues are having a profound effect on the March to mid-July fishery in areas 18, 19 and portions of 20. I don't want to get into the politics of this but the economic impacts on charter skippers, marinas, tackle shops and related business from Victoria to Sooke has been severe.

Nor do I want to get into the pros and cons of the conservation issue or who should be taking the brunt of the regulatory measures. However, this is the important thing. At meetings in Victoria last year DFO staff and biologists for the area were asked what plans they had in place to deal with water extraction issues, water temperature issues and other environmental impacts affecting these stream type stocks and what enhancement activities they had in the works to provide a boost to production.

The answer was basically "blank faces" with a promise to put a plan in place for 2013. This is not acceptable and if allowed to continue will bear a striking resemblance to the Interior Fraser coho problems which started in the mid 90's and have not been resolved to this date.

Both species depend on adequate stream conditions for their period of time in freshwater and both reacting the same way. DFO appears to have walked away from the coho situation and are content to let the long-standing non-retention restrictions serve as their only remedial tool. I fear they will treat the chinook issue the same way.”

Tom Davis

October 25/12

 

 

Fresh start for airport creek

Contaminants cleaned up, new path for stream

(Times Colonist October 23/12)

Reay Creek is taking a new and cleaner path through Victoria Airport Authority lands after a portion has been diverted into a manmade channel.

The purpose of the $220,000 project is to reduce heavy metals and other pollutants flowing from the airport's old industrial lands on its east side into the fish-bearing creek, which runs into Bazan Bay. It crosses both North Saanich and Sidney, home of Reay Creek Park.

"The storm water quality will be greatly improved to the rest of Reay Creek and into Bazan Bay," James Bogusz, airport authority director of airside operations, technology and environment, said Monday.

A new, 210-metre-long winding diversion channel mimicking a natural stream was built this year next to the original creek, now a wetland between the industrial area and the channel. 80 tons of contaminated creekside material removed and replaced…..

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/Business/917199/story.html#ixzz2B76boCsV

SEHAB Member: Don Lowen

Area: South Vancouver Island, Southern Gulf Islands

Community Advisor: Erica Blake

Date: November 3, 2011

 

SEHAB Work Plan 2010-2011

Local Issue, Specific Examples

Actions by Community or DFO

SEHAB Opportunity

Wild Salmon Policy

 

 

 

Stock Assessment

Goldstream River Fuel Spill – Coho and chum are staging in Finlayson Arm. Volunteers concerned that there are few fish in river because of lingering pockets of fuel.

Department participating as a member of a Technical Working Group, including industry, MOE and FN’s. Comprehensive monitoring and remediation strategy. Next TWG meeting November 30th.

Continue to report updates.

Habitat

Dam Decommission: Demamiel Creek – Bill James Dam valve removed late October. Volunteers (SSES) remain concerned about impact on water levels next summer for 2.5K 2011 coho.*

Sooke Salmon Enhancement volunteers will meet with Erica Blake and Tom Rutherford November 9th to determine a monitoriing strategy for 2011 brood in Dumamiel Creek, following decommisioning of Bill James Dam. Deparrtment could not afford combined cost of upgrading dam and access road, plus cost of dam safety review. (See July/11 roundtable report)

Continue to report updates.

Enforcement

 

 

 

 

Please be patient while the file loads.  Thank you.

{pdf}http://www.sehab.org/pdf/Roundtable-SouthVancouverIsland-July2011.pdf|height:1100|width:800|app:adobe{/pdf}

SEHAB Member: Ian Bruce

Area: Southern Vancouver Island

Community Advisor: Shawn Kerr

Date: November 2015

Key Issues:

What top three points can you distill from community input to take to DFO RHQ?

1.  Lack of enforcement on Fishery issues-illegal fishing, FN and non-FN - no C & P in sight... no returning phone calls or emails

2.  FPP perceived as lax on developments; Asking about efforts to address lost habitat protection from Harper changes to fisheries act – i.e. only fishery fish....

3. Drought - water storage opportunities - DFO could take a bigger role

Stories:

Bob Cox...RIP ..ex prov biologist, both feet in with Peninsula Streams.. headed up awarding Friends of Swan Creek Watershed

Concerns : 

New CA...but only for 6 months; concern that the right people get into the position-not regulatory;

SVI: coho small or late lots of jacks;

RFCPP for us working well ...two projects delivered - TCF and Swan Creek;

Approval for Section 9 expedited; but fish collection permit 2 months late...

Fishway over Tod Creek (Butchart Gardens Dam)  - success story...... 

Issues Specific to SEHAB’s Work Plan:

SEHAB Work Plan

Local Issue, Specific  Examples

Actions by Community or DFO

SEHAB Opportunity

Wild Salmon Policy (Stock Assessment, Habitat)

Disconnect, spills, EC, Shorelines

Encourage public Report

Add shoreline issues as a specific subject area for FPP to deal with.. Green Shores psh - outreach to coastal municipalities; attend UBCM to educate/connect

Guide DFO

Aquaculture

 

 

 

Capacity & Core Funding

RRU & RFCPP support, 

Plan/push for Resources now or after the election for staffing

Push DFO to reallocate resources to SEP/PIP

 


Salmon Enhancementand Habitat Advisory Board
Roundtable Report Template

 

 

SEHAB Member – Don Lowen

Area – South Vancouver Island/Southern Gulf Islands

Community Advisor – Erica Blake (Acting)

Date – January 29, 2011

SEP Program Activity Areas

Community Activity Areas

Issues or Successes

Actions Taken

Next Steps

Fish Hatcheries

Salmon Enhancement or Stock Assessment

2010/11 Escapements

San Juan River: Chinook <3K, Coho 4-5K

Sooke River: Chinook 200-250, Coho 100, Chum 2K

Demamiel Creek: Coho 4-4.5K

Goldstream River: Chinook 30, Coho 1K*, Chum 3.7K**

Shawnigan Creek: Coho 1K

Millstream River: Coho 400

Cowichan River: Chinook - Natural Spawners was 2,531 adults and 1,674 jacks.  Broodstock capture was 348 adults and 28 jacks (not finalized for ages)

Chum - Didson Counts - over 119K, last I heard, probably reached 150K

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cowichan Coho are not assessed.  This is a concern - and there has been some dialogue about addressing this.  It was thought to be a good year for coho this year.

 

 

 

 

 

SEP Program Activity Areas

Community Activity Areas

Issues or Successes

Actions Taken

Next Steps

 

Fisheries Management

     

Resource Restoration

Habitat Projects, Planned, In Progress, Completed, Needed

DFO support of shorekeeper program remains in doubt.

Saanich Inlet Protection Society has requested confirmation from Minister Shea. (Letters attached.)

 
 

Habitat Conservation and Protection

     

Stewardship and Education

Government Activity Areas

     
 

Your Group Activity

2010 purchase plan – distributed 9 chillers, 12 cabinets to schools in Victoria, Cowichan Valley, Whistler, Nanaimo, Okanagan, Kuper Island, Ahousat, Alberni. Total project value $18.5K.

   
   

General Concerns

·BC Society Require-ment for PIP and PSF grant applications;

·status of Community Advisor position after March 31st;

·Aquaculture licensing requirements.

Member has discussed with CA a proposed workshop for SVI PIP enhancement groups on licensing requirements and ?

 
           

Please provide details:

*Goldstream Coho – 1,000 escapement highest in 8 years, below historical levels of 2,000

 

**Goldstream Chum – 3,700 lowest return since 1975

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 26, 2011

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister,
Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Dear Ms. Minister:

In reply to the concerns which we raised with you last spring that your Department might be considering eliminating the long-running and successful Saanich Inlet Shorekeeping Program, we received the attached response signed on your behalf by the Regional Director, Oceans, Habitat and Enhancement Branch, Pacific Region.  In it, your Department committed to providing short-term funding in 2010 for equipment repair and field supplies as well as conducting our annual training program.  Based on this commitment, Tseycum First Nation and Saanich Inlet Protection Society volunteer Certified Shorekeepers spent over 1200 hours conducting our 12th Annual Shorekeeping Survey during the late spring and early summer.  That data is now available for input into the DFO scientific data bank which contains not only our findings over the years but also those of other active Shorekeeping groups such as the Friends of  Semiahmoo Bay Society in Boundary Bay on the mainland.

Of even greater importance, the reply on your behalf stated that "In addition, a DFO scientist is reviewing the 10-year time series observations of  Shorekeepers' observation compiled by the Saanich Inlet group, which will inform a strategic review of  the initiative". We have learned from sources inside the Department that that review has now been completed and that recommendations concerning the future of the Program have been drafted.  It is critical that we be informed immediately what form those recommendations may take.  If we are to continue the Saanich Inlet Shorekeeping Program, an application should be made within the month by the Tseycum First Nation for the Native Fisheries funding which has been a mainstay of the Program over the years and we need to begin the logistical planning to launch our surveys in the spring.

We trust you will understand the urgency of this request for confirmation that this Program, which is of such importance to the Saanich Peninsula First Nations and the environmental community, will receive continuing funding and departmental staffing support both for this year and for the foreseeable future.  We look forward to your prompt reply.    

Respectfully yours,

Denis Coupland, Chair                                      Chief Vern Jacks
Saanich Inlet Shorekeeping Program       Tseycum First Nation

cc:  Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper,         Hon. Gary Lunn.
Prime Minister of Canada                        Member of Parliament
Saanich-Gulf Islands

 

 

From: Trevor Morris <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:23:05 -0800
To: Peter McCully <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, "Rutherford, Tom" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, Erica Blake <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, Dave Nelson <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, Judy Ackinclose <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, "Beckmann, Stefan" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, Tony Brown <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, Don Lowen <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, "Lemmen, Norman" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Subject: Wow, this sounds great

Hi Folks,
This sounds like a great idea. Maybe they could call it Community Management or Public Participaction or Community Fisheries Involvement or Perhaps "Public Involvement".

I hope Fisheries upper management and bean counters get time to read this article between meeting about metings or planning good will visits to other troubled fisheries in warmer parts of the world.
I think somebody in the federal government should develop this idea. Perhaps meet with the public or something.

Trevor. (Trevor Morris, CA Retired)

{pdf}http://www.sehab.org/pdf/SouthVancouverIslandRoundtableOctober2010.pdf|height:1100|width:800|app:adobe{/pdf}

October 2008

SEHAB Roundtable
Submitted October 31/08
Area – South Vancouver Island and Southern Gulf Islands
Representative – Don Lowen
Challenges/Issues and Opportunities/Successes of the Volunteer Aquatic Stewards

A Salmon Enhancement (Oceans, Habitat and Enhancement)
1 Howard English Hatchery (Goldstream River)
(a) Over 200 chinook return to date. Egg takes complete.
(b) Chum (750+) and coho in the river.
2 Jack Brooks Hatchery (Sooke River)
(a) 450K chinook eggs in incubation. Estimated escapement 500-600.
(b) Estimate 200 large, silver bright coho.
(c) Estimate 200 chum
3 Shawnigan Creek – too early   
4 Cowichan River
(a) 2000 – 2500 escapement to river
(b) Cowichan Band Hatchery has close to 2M eggs, nearing its quota       
B Stewardship & Community Involvement (Stewardship & Community)
1 Community Partners - Input for SEP audit
(a) David Aldcroft, SEHAB Alternate Member (South Vancouver Island)
    I have been involved with fisheries issues since 1977 when I participated in the Fraser River estuary study. In 1978 I laid the first private prosecutions under the Fisheries Act and was successful both times. From 1979 until 1981 I was chairman of the Fraser River Coalition when we produced a slide show exposing the lax enforcement of provincial pollution control permits. Recently I have seen DFO download habitat protection onto municipal government (RAR), hand over salmon farming to the Province and seen enforcement programs slashed.
    The only glimmer of hope for the future of salmon stocks on this coast is the SEP program. The thousands of people who participate in SEP need more community advisors, more money for hatcheries and more fishery officers.
    The SEP community is trying to do its “bit” in helping wild salmon stocks. It is time for DFO to live up to its mandate of protecting wild salmon stocks and the habitat they require. DFO cannot continue to blame ocean productivity and climate change for its lack of action.
(b) Bryan Manning, Sooke
    Assess the relevance of SEP to DFO’s mandate and strategic outcomes, as well as Government of Canada priorities - As far as Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society is concerned, we feel as we are out here by ourselves with little input from DFO and even less from Government of Canada.  In some ways that is not a bad thing in that we have freedom to run our own operation the best way we see fit.  WE ARE 100% BEHIND THE SEP. 
    Determine the success of SEP in meeting its objectives based on the extent to which the Program’s expected outcomes have been achieved, while also considering the trends in wild salmon stock survival (e.g. natural declines due to ocean productivity, climate change, etc.) - We do not have a working knowledge of SEP's objectives but our objective is to release as many fry from the hatchery as possible regardless of the % mortality ie we will try to raise as many eggs even if there is water or blood in the eggs when we remove the eggs from the female. All life is precious to us. 
    Assess the cost effectiveness of the governance and design and delivery - I cannot comment on this aspect since I only see our costs of running the hatchery.  We have certain fixed costs - insurance, hydro, phone, etc. - that need to be met regardless of the number of eggs we have.  Our fund raiser - the derby - requires similar man-hours as does running the hatchery - many times we have asked ourselves: “Are we a hatchery or fund-raiser?” 
    Assess public support for SEP, by fishing interests, community and Aboriginal groups, and the public. - I cannot comment directly on public support for SEP but this past summer we cancelled our derby due to lack of brood stock - moral high ground - and ran a public raffle.  Our tickets were $20 each and were too expensive for many people but they gave donations with the comment "you are doing good work - keep it up."  Nice to hear from people within your community.
(c) Bob Bridgeman, Mount Douglas Creek Streamkeepers
    Assess the relevance of SEP to DFO’s mandate and strategic outcomes, as well as Government of Canada priorities; 
•    I understand DFO’s mandate through the Fisheries Act. SEP is relevant because of the community connections. The community is basically enforcing the Fisheries Act because the Government of Canada, in many instances, is not.
•    I am not familiar with the large scale strategic outcomes but if one of them is restoring healthy salmon populations then SEP is again relevant because of the two-way transfer of knowledge and power between SEP and the restoration community.
•    The Government of Canada has expressed strong support for the environment and healthy communities. Healthy coastal communities exist with healthy salmon populations.
    Determine the success of SEP in meeting its objectives based on the extent to which the Program’s expected outcomes have been achieved, while also considering the trends in wild salmon stock survival (e.g. natural declines due to ocean productivity, climate change, etc.);
•    I am not directly involved in the SEP structure. I am not privy to yearly objectives and monitored outcomes.
•    We need to stop talking about climate change and ocean productivity and start talking about the restoration of fresh water habitat – an aspect we can do something about. It is incredible to me that people are bailing on the thousands of kilometres of ruined fresh water habitat by looking for excuses and clinging onto problems that are more difficult to do anything about. The historic evolution of salmonid and environment has been sustained by species resiliency: large diverse populations of salmonids are required for sustainability; these can be sustained by restored fresh water habitat.
    Assess the cost effectiveness of the governance and design and delivery; and
•    We just leveraged a $40,000.00 project out of the $1300.00 PIP grant that we receive through the Community Advisor. The PIP funds help us keep the ‘store front’ open. That’s not the end of it: several more projects will happen this year with our community partners. PIP funds help give us a place at the tables. This year I estimate that we will leverage $1300.00 into $60,000.00 NGO and in kind fresh water habitat restoration. The numbers say to me that the Program is effective and well delivered.
    Assess public support for SEP, by fishing interests, community and Aboriginal groups, and the public.
•    The Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society and our community partners are connected through stewardship to SEP. We have worked with thousands of volunteers by providing quality stewardship opportunities on Douglas Creek: a local urban stream. We have enjoyed a lot of media interest here. We have raised the profile of the plight of the Pacific salmon and raised legitimate community interest in survival of the stocks as well as their enhancement.  Public involvement is a critical component of the preservation of wild salmon stocks: the impact of people is everywhere. SEP channels this interest and energy in ecological restoration and healthy watersheds.
(d) From a letter from Nikki Wright (Sea Change Conservation Society)
    “The benefits SeaChange Marine Conservation Society has reaped from the support of Community Advisors, education coordinators for school programs, and the community-based education programs such as Streamkeepers has been profound and immeasurable over the last ten years of our existence. We have established environmental education programs for well over 10,000 youth within the Capital Regional District based, in part, on the Streamkeepers protocol. The connections we make with local school teachers at the annual Salmon Lover’s – Salmonid Incubation Program dinner helps to promote outside environmental experiences for scores of school children. Continued and consistent support from Tom Rutherford in the past, and now Sonora Butterfield as our DFO Community Advisor, has helped to maintain a vibrant network of shore stewards along the entire BC coast (the BC Community Eelgrass Network).
    SeaChange with its many partners within the CRD and all along the coast are hopeful that this extremely valuable  program will stay in place to continue to support our efforts to conserve and protect our beautiful and at risk ocean resources.”
(e) From a letter from Trevor Morris, Community Advisor and Volunteer (Retired)
    I am a former Federal Fisheries employee (Community Advisor, 12 years retired) and volunteer with the public participation component of the Salmonid Enhancement Program. Now, outside the program, I continue to be surprised by its success and the enthusiasm of the volunteers.
    The group I volunteer with, the Mill Bay & District Conservation Society, dedicate at least three months time and effort each fall and, with the assistance of the Cowichan Fly Fishers and Shawnigan School, capture and transport an optimum 700 coho salmon above a series of impassible waterfalls. This group of volunteers has been involved in the monitoring and enhancement of habitat and fish stocks in this particular watershed for 28 years. Returning coho in excess of the system's carrying capacity, up to 1,300 fish, are transported to a volunteer hatchery on the Goldstream River in Victoria.
    This small contribution to Fisheries and Ocean's management on the west coast we do willingly and over the years I have seen public understanding and awareness change dramatically for the better. Residents see and interact with Society members moving fish upstream and observe salmon in the streams on their property. They notice the predators searching streamside vegetation for the remains of spawners. They eagerly await the emergence of salmon fry in the spring and watch them grow throughout the following summer months. They, their neighbours, friends and the community at large are now more aware of the importance of their small portion of a minor British Columbia watershed in the coho salmon's life cycle. Community residents are the eyes and ears watching over their fisheries and wetlands. They have learned what to look for and who to contact when degradation or abuse threatens.
    Students from kindergarten to college have gained an appreciation and awareness of our west coast fisheries resource through “Salmonids in the Classroom”. They in turn have influenced their parents and grandparents and in many cases watch as their own children partake in the same program. As adults in the work force decisions in and around watersheds are tempered with natural resource knowledge. Retirees voluntarily contribute countless hours and a myriad of diversified expertise to the Salmonid Enhancement Program.
    Concern for Canada's renewable natural resources has changed considerably since I joined Fisheries & Oceans in 1969 with the most dramatic change being the awareness and respect for our marine resources. We are but one of thousands of community organizations of all sizes in British Columbia that voluntarily take an active part in furthering the enhancement, awareness and understanding of our unique salmonid resource.”
2 Stream to Sea Education Program
(a) Regional
i) EC’s and CA’s attended annual education conference in August. The Regional Education Steering Committee has expanded to include one CA’s (Barry Peters with Roy Argue/Tina Chestnut as alternates) and two EC’s (Don Lowen and Neil Brookes). Other members are Jeff Jung, Joanne Day, Theresa Southam and Bruce Adkins. 
ii) New strategic plan to 2013, titled “Stream to Sea Education: Draft Guiding Document” to be ratified by December/08.
(b) South Coast Area
i) Organizational dinners this month in Nanaimo, Duncan and Victoria
ii) Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo and Alberni Districts have been without Program support (Education Coordinator) since Thanksgiving. SEHAB is not aware of plans to fill position.
South Coast Area secured support to initiate program (equipment checks, organizational meetings, TOC partnerships, broodstock collection, etc.) in September and early October.

February 2008

SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND                      1
Representative – Don Lowen
Community Advisor – Tom Rutherford
Community – South Vancouver Island from Cowichan to San Juan River, and Southern Gulf Islands
February 3, 2008

Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society Cancels 2008 Fundraising Derby
As you know, SSES has cancelled its August salmon fishing derby, thus forfeiting the opportunity to raise $20K in funds for core expenses.
The media release issued in early January bases this decision on poor chinook returns to the Cowichan River, and calls on other organizations to reconsider their 2008 derby plans.
The media release and SEHAB’s written response are posted at www.sehab.org
The community response to date has been mostly positive. In fact, the response has become a potential impromptu fundraising strategy. Unconfirmed total donations to date is about $5,725.

Report on SFAB Cowichan chinook meeting – 28 November 2007
About 120 people attended an evening meeting in Cowichan Bay to discuss poor returns of Cowichan chinook. The Sport Fishing Advisory Board organized the event.
Moderated by South Coast Area Director Wilf Luedke and  SFAB member Paul Ricard, the agenda inlcuded:
1.    Opening statements by Larry George, Cowichan FN and Wilf Luedke, South Coast Area Director, DFO.
2.    About 75 minutes of presentations by Wilf Luedke, Arlene Tompkins, Dick Beamish, Tom Rutherford and Brian Tutty – all DFO staff. Here are some of the points made:
Luedke – interpreted large turnout as an indication of support to put “more resources” into Cowichan River.
Beamish – Climate Change has huge effect on salmonid marine survival in Georgia Strait. Historical survival rates at sea of 10-15% are now 1% or less.
Tompkins – Using CWT assessment strategy, Department has found that Georgia Strait chinook survival to age 2 in late 1980’s was 6%, now is 1%.
Rutherford – Cowichan Band Hatchery has been strategic enhancement facility for chinook and coho for 30 years. Goal is increase in returns of wild stock. In spite of existing strategies, including intense assessment, there is a decrease in survival, especially of early releases. Net pen releases showing some survival rate increase. Recent $150K funding increase after budget frozen for 10 years.
Tutty – Reviewed Tom Rutherford’s successful project to shore up Stoltz bluffs and reduce sedimentation.
3.    Table discussions – Groups asked to formulate questions for the panel – ones that were not answered during the presentations.
Participants expressed a broad range of opinions. Another public meeting is planned.

Friends of Mt. Douglas Park Streamkeepers
“The burning issue for us is stormwater management. We can, year by year, tinker with the ecology of Douglas Creek; what we can't do is to control the upstream processes that poison and tear apart Douglas Creek and other Creeks like it.
It may seem a long stretch from habitat units and fry output to PAH’s and PAB’s, but as you know stormwater lies at the heart of every urban stream restoration.
I don't think for a minute that this information is any revelation, but I do think that it is time we raised and re-raised the stormwater issue - it is global.
I won't bore you with what the Fisheries Act says about deleterious substances - you know all of this. Again I think that stormwater needs to be raised whenever and however. So ... our two cents and please raise the issue.”
- Bob Bridgeman, January 13/08

Education
Local Stream to Sea
Local coordinators have recently completed egg delivery to about 120 classroom incubation projects in Tom Rutherford’s area, which includes 5 public school districts.

Regional Stream to Sea
I am currently working on two committees for the Regional education program.
The strategic planning committee meets monthly by phone as it moves toward the creation of a strategic plan that will guide the program through to 2012. The group is considering changes to the structure of the Regional Education Steering Committee and of the Working Group model that was created to address action items between conferences. The strategy continues as a systems-based collection of human and curriculum resources that adapts to the needs of many Pacific Region communities.
The training and support working group is organizing the August 2008 annual conference to be held in the Fraser Valley.

October 2007

SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND                      1
Representative – Don Lowen
Community Advisor – Tom Rutherford
Community – South Vancouver Island from Cowichan to San Juan River, and Southern Gulf Islands
October 27, 2007

Log Jams and Fish Passage
The Provincial Emergency Program (PEP), responding to public safety concerns related to log jams on certain Vancouver Island streams, recently provided $.5M to address the jams.
The result was an improvement in fish passage in the following systems: Koksilah, San Juan and Sutton (upper Cowichan).
PEP engaged community groups with sufficient capacity to complete the work. 

RAR Not Working
Because of the Riparian Area Regulations, there is a growing perception among volunteers that the Department is not able to protect fish habitat.
Eg – A landowner who lives on a salmon-bearing stream with a long history of volunteer restoration/enhancement, engaged an RP Biologist to assess the stream in the context of a proposed project on his property. The biologist requested a setback.
A neighbour engaged the provincial Water Branch with the same request. The Branch decided that the stream was “not a watercourse”, and the landowner subsequently filled in the stream.

Cowichan Roundtable – New Way of Doing Business
Please see Tom Rutherford’s October 27/07 presentation to the Board.

Poor Chinook Returns
Lower Georgia Strait and lower Juan de Fuca Strait chinook returns are exceptionally low this year.  This includes the Nanaimo, Cowichan, Chemainus (10), Goldstream (2), Sooke and Nitinat (4K) systems.

Education
Stream to Sea
The Department’s education program continues to thrive on South Vancouver Island, thanks in part to the Department’s commitment to provide warm bodies to support activities.
About 120 classroom incubation projects will operate over the winter in Tom Rutherford’s area, which includes 5 public school districts.
The classroom incubation program continues to facilitate the development of other activities such as Salmon Express, storm drain marking, shorekeeper and streamkeeper activities. The consistent participation of School Districts and the Department allows this evolution over time.
The Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association lost a long-time volunteer when Bryant Wood recently passed on. Before he died, Bryant requested that family funds be used to establish a project at the school that his grandchildren attend.
Very quickly, a partnership was struck between the school, the Watership Foundation, the Department and the Wood family to ensure that all materials and tech support would be provided to start a project this year.
The Goldstream volunteers will honour Bryant’s life at a ceremony on the River on November 2nd.

Regional Stream to Sea
About 25 Education Coordinators and Community Advisors attended the annual education conference, held last August in Bamfield.
Along with waterborne field trips, beach investigations and presentations on new online curriculum, the group completed the next phase toward the creation of a strategic plan that will guide the program through to 2012. The group is considering changes to the structure of the Regional Education Steering Committee and of the Working Group model that was created to address action items between conferences.
The strategy continues as a systems-based collection of human and curriculum resources that adapts to the needs of many Pacific Region communities.

June 2007

Tom Rutherford - South Vancouver Island
SEHAB Member - Don Lowen

In late May, we lost the services of two pioneers in salmon enhancement.
Lucille (Lou) Tremblay in Port Renfrew, and Bill James in Sooke, had already established enhancement projects prior to the arrival of Trevor Morris and the Salmonid Enhancement Program. Along with Howard English’s initiative on the Goldstream River, they were Trevor’s community projects when he showed up for work in 1978.
Lou Tremblay and her husband Maurice began their strategic enhancement efforts in the mid 1970’s on the San Juan River, using streamside incubation boxes. Today, the San Juan Enhancement Society operates a CEDP hatchery, enhancing coho and chinook.
Also in the mid 1970’s, Bill James helped create the Amalgamated Conservation Society on South Vancouver Island before establishing a strategic enhancement facility on the Sooke River. Today, the Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society (Jack Brooks Hatchery) implements enhancement strategies for coho, chinook and steelhead, and rivals the Goldstream group as the oldest volunteer enhancement organization in the Pacific Region.
Overview – Tom Rutherford, Community Advisor
Tom sent the email message below to his project coordinators on April 27th. It encapsulates the extent to which the Community Advisor’s role in the South Coast management area has been sidetracked, and his energies misdirected.
From: Rutherford, Tom [mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.]
Sent: April 27, 2007 4:17 PM
To: Angela Evans; Angus Stewart; Arild; Bernie Bowker; Bill Gibson; Bill Neill; Bill Pannell; Brad Drew; Brian MacNeill; Brian Mooney; Byron & Karen; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Cathy Carolsfield; Christopher Bos; cowichan land trust; Dave Lindsay; David Aldcroft; Denis Coupland; Don Lowen; George DeLure; Gerald Fleming; Glen & Charmian; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; HAT; Helen Dunn; Ian Bruce; Ian Graeme; Jack McLeod; James Hamly; Jody Watson; John Bergbusch; Judy Ackinclose; Kathy Reimer; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Laurie Mcbride; Loren Duncan; Lynn Wilson; Mary Haig-Brown; Miqualyn; Nikki Wright (E-mail); P.I.C.A.; Peter McCully; Rick Jones; Robert Bridgeman; Roger Hart; Scott Noble; Susan King; Ted Burns; The Gallaughers; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Tom Davis; Trevor Morris; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Jody Watson (VEHEAP) (E-mail); This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; lou&This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cc: Adkins, Bruce; Don Elliott; Ernie Elliott; Bonnell, Gregory; Brouwer, Robert; Hop Wo, Leroy; Jung, Jeff
Subject: DFO support to Community Involvement programming on South Vancouver Island
“Hi All,
Just a short note to apologize for my delayed response to inquiries, phone calls, emails, and for my failure to follow up on some of the projects we have been working on together. Over the last 7 weeks I have been assigned to supporting the Lower Georgia Strait (Cowichan) Chinook rebuilding process and this work has been taking up the lion's share of my time. There have been some rigid (and very short) time lines involved with implementing changes to existing programs that we have been able to meet thanks to great support from our partners outside the department and my DFO colleagues.
The cost, however, has been in the level of support afforded to you and your programs. I am currently working with my supervisor to put in place a plan that will ensure our ability to support you and the important work you are engaged in while continuing to work towards long term solutions for rebuilding Lower Georgia Strait Chinook stocks.
Please don't hesitate to give me a shout or drop me a line about this or about details regarding the stewardship/assessment/enhancement/restoration/education projects you are working on. I have started re-connecting with most of the groups I am involved with (particularly those dozen or so that have in stream restoration works scheduled for this summer) and look forward to talking to you soon.
Thanks for your patience
Tom”
Group Reports
1.    Erosion of the Community Involvement Program - I received the following comments from representatives of Peninsula Streams, Goldstream Volunteer Salmon Enhancement Association and Mt. Douglas Creek Streamkeepers, all concerning the Department’s ability to support volunteer enhancement and restoration efforts through the Community Involvement Program:
a.    “My number one concern is the dilution of the role/duties of the Community Advisor.”
b.    “Area bureaucrats do not understand the role of the CA.”
c.    “The Department needs to provide more support for CA’s.”
d.    “Our CA is getting pulled apart, and I’m concerned we’ll lose him.”
e.    “We need more support on the ground for stewardship – more funding for more CA’s and watershed coordinators.” (HRSEP model)
f.    “Our CA needs assistance in supporting projects.”
2.    Mt. Douglas Creek Streamkeepers – Stormwater management is the group’s biggest challenge to success, and they hope that the new Marine Conservation Area, which includes Mt. Douglas Creek’s watershed, will have a positive impact on storm water quality.
3.    Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society
a.    Low flows in coastal streams continue to have a negative impact on south coast coho.
b.    Excellent steelhead returns last winter.
c.    Society is working to improve communication between local agencies and municipalities to protect riparian areas.
Volunteer Recognition
Representatives of the Goldstream Volunteer Salmon Enhancement Association and Mt. Doug Streamkeepers attended Workshop ’07 in Williams Lake last month. Comments were more than favorable on overall event organization and the quality of the workshops. Bob Bridgeman asked to pass on particular appreciation to ZoAnn Morten for organizing transportation to and from Williams Lake.   
Education
1.    Stream to Sea
The Department’s education program continues to thrive on South Vancouver Island, thanks in part to the Department’s commitment to provide warm bodies to support activities. About 120 classroom incubation projects operated over the winter with good results. A fungus issue originating in one of the hatcheries carried over into classroom projects; however, survival rates were average or better after an initial spike in mortalities shortly after egg delivery.
The classroom incubation program continues to facilitate the development of other activities; the result is a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The consistent participation of School Districts and the Department allows this evolution over time.
2.    EcoJustice Conference – Victoria
The Anglican Church of Canada hosted an ecojustice conference at UVIC in May. Eighty delegates from across Canada and Australia attended.
Two of the focus groups were streamkeepers and shorekeepers. Up to 15 delegates in each group completed ‘keeper training on survey sites near or on campus.
3.    Regional Stream to Sea
On June 21st, the Department’s RHQ is hosting the second of two workshops toward a five-year strategic plan for the Pacific Region’s education program. All Community Advisors, Education Coordinators and OHEB Area Managers are invited to attend.
This one-day event will incorporate recent studies on the program into a draft strategy. The Department will present this draft to the annual Regional education conference in August.  The new strategy will replace the existing plan which expired last year.

May 2006

Overview – Tom Rutherford, Community Advisor
Based on presentations made at the May 6/06 Community Partners Recognition Day for South Vancouver Island partners, community programming is alive and well. Most participants are engaged, effective and inspired.
The community’s ability to protect habitat is always an “in your face” challenge.
Tom is concerned that the effects of global warming will affect the morale of community partners. The Department needs a strategy to deal with this possible outcome of climate change on salmonid populations. In the face of this, is public involvement still a meaningful experience? The Department needs to find ways to ensure that it is.
Common Themes in Presentations Made at Community Partners Recognition Day - Based on reports from 20 organizations supported by Tom, these recurring themes emerged:
1.    The Department’s inability to respond to habitat issues.
2.    Decrease in presence of Fishery Officers.
3.    Constituents feel powerless.

Volunteer Recognition
Community Involvement Recognition Day, May 6/06 - Tom Rutherford (Chair), Don Lowen, Peter McCully and Micqualyn Waldie planned this biennial recognition event for Tom’s clients. A full day of group presentations, workshops, awards and great food included talks by Dr. Don McKinlay, DFO Senior Enhancement Biologist (“The Past, Present, and Future Role of Hatcheries for B.C. Salmon”) and Dr. Peter Ross, DFO Research Scientist (“What do marine mammals tell us about the state of the ocean?”)
Approximately 85 representatives from 35 organizations attended. Ten groups received awards for years of participation.
Reception for Tom Rutherford¬ – Those attending the above event conspired to surprise Tom Rutherford with a lunch reception on the same day, honouring twenty-five years of outstanding public service. James Boland, who designed and implemented the Public Involvement Program, Salmonids in the Classroom, and the SEP Task Group, spoke on behalf of the Department. Peter McCully (Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association) spoke on behalf of DFO’s community partners.
Three of the four original Community Advisors – Bob Hurst, Don Lawseth and Trevor Morris – joined James, Tom and his family at the head table. The organizers collected about $2.5K for a cash gift for the Rutherford's.       

Education
Shorekeeper Training Weekend October 22/23 – Victoria Stream Team - The Victoria Stream Team presented a Shorekeeper Training Workshop for Greater Victoria secondary students, April 28th, 29th and 30th. The agenda included mapping, ID and inventory skills required to assess the health of the intertidal area of a shoreline.
Ten students from five institutions participated. Fisheries and Oceans staff provided classroom instruction Friday evening and assisted with onsite work through the weekend at Patricia Bay. DFO contracted Shelee Hamilton to oversee onsite work.

Classroom Incubation, South Vancouver Island - Projects in the five school districts that encompass Tom Rutherford’s area all enjoyed outstanding success this year. Although reports are still coming in, it appears that mortality rates are very low. I will include a detailed report in the fall roundtable submission.

EcoMotion Summer Institute - August 28th to 30th - From August 28th to 30th, EcoMotion Institute offers three days of inspiration, healthy movement and relaxation. All activities will take place in or leave from the Mary Winspear Center in Sidney.
Community and classroom educators will find ways to develop teaching and organizational skills that will further our collective effort to create stewards. EcoMotion will feature case studies of, and journeys to, some of Greater Victoria’s field study sites and venues. Workshops include “what to do when the bus arrives”, the specifics of the new science curriculum (BC Ministry of Education), unit and lesson planning ideas, and the art of storytelling.
To receive an information/application package, contact Don Lowen at 388-4756 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Community-Based Social Marketing - How effective is your outreach program? Research demonstrates that simply providing information usually has little or not effect on behaviour. Join environmental psychologist and community based social marketing guru Doug McKenzie-Mohr for a one-day workshop to learn more effective approaches to delivering programs that change environmental behaviour. Registration fee of $145 covers lunch and a free copy of Dr. McKenzie-Mohr’s book Fostering Sustainable Behaviour: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing. To register see www.waterinthecityvictoria.ca/registration or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. More information on this approach can be found at www.cbsm.com.

Salmonpeople – The Victoria Tour (Peter Donaldson and Don Lowen) - Salmonpeople is a watershed of partnership projects based on the power of stories and the life work of educator, community facilitator, and performance artist, Peter Donaldson.
Peter Donaldson and Donald Lowen are building a community coalition to bring the Salmonpeople Tour to Victoria as a civic centerpiece for catalytic change. The tour requires a broad and diverse coalition of local entities to cross-promote it with their own programming and stewardship efforts. Here’s the calendar so far: 
1.    On August 30th, Peter will present a storytelling workshop at the EcoMotion Institute. (See above.)
2.    From September 21st to 23rd, Peter and Don will organize three days of sustainability workshops with students, teachers, business leaders and community groups.
3.    On September 24th, the coalition will collaborate with a local theater to co-produce Salmonpeople.
Current coalition members include the Watership Foundation, Greater Victoria School District, Victoria Stream Team, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. To find out how you can participate, contact Don Lowen at 388-4756 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

February 2006

Overview – Tom Rutherford, Community Advisor
“There is a perception by my clients that DFO is "caught between models" with respect to implementing habitat protection programming. We aren't doing it "the old way" and nobody seems to be sure what the "new way" will be. This concern in no way reflects on habitat practitioners or C&P staff, but there seems to be some confusion (both inside and outside the department) about who will be doing what and how, with respect to protecting fish and fish habitat. (and whether we have the horsepower to do so...)
I've received comments about PSEF's seemingly unilateral decision to allocate all funding to the Fraser River. This could just be sour grapes from Vancouver Island, but the perception was that David Anderson's vision was a trust fund for fish and fish habitat coast-wide, not for one river system.
The current and collective revision of our South Coast education delivery model is another example of everyone working together despite some differences in viewpoint, ensuring that we are achieving the best possible outcomes with our education programming.”

David Aldcroft, SEHAB Alternate (Cowichan Valley Naturalists)
1.    There is a continued perception on the ground that all levels of government continue to download responsibilities to volunteers, community groups, or to the wrong agency. Why give the responsibility of investigation of deleterious substances in fish-bearing streams to an agency (Environment Canada) that cannot respond? This is occurring at a time when there is no shortage of public funds to properly protect vital habitat, assess stocks, etc.
2.    (Following attendance at a Marine Protected Area meeting) MPA’s are another unnecessary level of bureaucracy. Much of the MPA mandate is already a DFO mandate. Why did the Department not receive these resources?
3.    There has been no response from the Department – or the media, for that matter – on poor coho returns last fall. What are the management implications of this disaster?
4.    Re EPMP – We have evolved from
a.    No net loss, to
b.    No net loss of production, to
c.    No net loss of production unless it impinges on profit
d.    What’s next?

Education
Streamkeeper Training Weekend October 22/23 – Victoria Stream Team
The Stream Team and Terasen Gas, Inc. presented a Streamkeeper Training Workshop for Greater Victoria secondary students, February 11th and 12th at Edward Milne Community School, 6218 Sooke Road. The agenda included mapping, inventory and measuring skills required to assess the health of a stream – watershed mapping, water quality, aquatic invertebrate inventory, physical characteristics, etc.
Twelve students from five institutions participated. Susan Low provided instruction.
    Note – Susan Low believes that there is a market for 5 to 7 workshops per year, just for students. Since the resources for a Streamkeeper Coordinator disappeared about 5 years ago, no one is able to tap this demand. The Victoria Stream Team commits to organizing one streamkeeper event per year. More of these events would increase the Stream Team membership and the number of trained volunteers ready to join an aging corps of volunteer stewards.
Classroom Incubation, South Vancouver Island
In spite of warm hatchery incubation temperatures that hurried the delivery schedule, the eggs are extremely viable this year. Only one of 95 projects has reported greater than average mortality to date.

Volunteer Recognition
1.    South Vancouver Island Pacific Salmon Foundation Dinner Auction - The dinner committee has chosen Kathy Reimer’s Island Streams and Enhancement Society as the volunteer group to be recognized at its February 25th event.
2.    Community Involvement Recognition Day, May 6/06 - Tom Rutherford (Chair), Don Lowen, Peter McCully and Micqualyn Waldie are planning this biennial recognition event for Tom’s clients. This is a full day of group presentations, workshops, awards, great food and better company.

Report - Muir Creek Protection Society
Muir Creek and Tugwell Creek are two watersheds just west of Sooke on the southwest slope of Vancouver Island.  Muir Creek takes its name from John Muir and the first pioneer family who settled in the area in the late 1800’s. John Muir was a magistrate and a member of the first provincial legislative assembly. Two of his sons were killed at Muir Creek in a wagon accident.
The T’souke First Nation traditionally used the area for winter dancing and smoking fish. The world’s tallest freestanding totem pole came from Muir Creek and was carved by a team led by Mungo Martin. It was erected in Beacon Hill Park. T’souke First Nation has been informed of our intentions and is supportive.
The land around both of these creeks is owned by TimberWest (http://www.timberwest.com/woodstour.cfm#).
The portion surrounding the adjacent West Coast Road on the east of Muir Creek by the ocean was sold by TimberWest and is now being developed. The upper slopes, in between the two creeks, have been flagged with falling boundaries but not yet cleared. Old growth trees can be found in the lower areas along both sides of Muir Creek and its embankments for a distance of almost two kilometers. The largest tree found so far is a cedar at 29’ 6” in circumference. There are numerous Sitka spruce over 20’ in circumference, the largest being 25’3”. In all 9 trees have potential to be included in the Big Tree Registry of B.C. Some of the watershed areas by the creeks were previously logged in the late 19th early 20th century, but impressive old growth trees have survived right by the rivers, and on the slopes. These trees are now surrounded by more or less mature second growth.  Logging has proceeded recently above the creek watersheds and in the upper reaches of both streams, but so far both streams flow clear, even in recent months with high precipitation. 
These areas are easily accessible since West Coast Rd., part of the new Pacific circle route, travels right through it.  In fact, the area is a popular swimming place in the summer, and the Muir Creek estuary is a haven for fly fishers.  There is abundant wild life in and around the streams, including river otters, mink, bears, eagles, herons, king fishers and dippers, all of whom depend to some extent on the population of fish in these streams.  In both streams, there are substantial runs of chum (hundreds to thousands) with subsequent forays of foraging sea run cutthroat and steelhead. Recently, there have also been sightings of Coho and a few occasional Spring/King Salmon. 
Ocean beaches next to Muir Creek have one of the most prominent and easily accessible showings of Cenozoic fossils on Vancouver Island. School children, including ESL students, have visited on educational field trips for years.
TimberWest is currently poised to log both watersheds. Since it is now privately owned land, they are entitled to log down to the stream - the regulations require them only to leave 20 to 40 trees per 200 m of creek length, depending on the size of the stream – more trees for wider streams. The trees stand up to 250 feet tall. Due to the costs incurred by needing to use helicopters in order to remove these trees it is felt that the area will be harvested of all of its old growth fir, cedar and spruce trees on the slopes above creek. There are also large trees located right beside the stream - hopefully they would not be felled due to the impact on the creek, but TimberWest is not prohibited from taking them. The second largest registered yew tree in B.C resides at Muir Creek. TimberWest has currently numbered trees on Muir Creek to presumably create a space for clearing the big trees out by helicopter. 
Meanwhile, a Muir Creek Protection Society (MCPS) formed and registered as of November 25, 2005. (http://www.muircreekprotectionsociety.org/) Under the leadership of its president, Alanda Carver, it is rapidly accumulating members (currently 200), as well as support from numerous individuals and organizations who have a stake in the watershed, including the Otter Point & Shirley Residents & Rate Payers Association (OPSRRA,  http://opsrra.ca/), Shirley Education Action Society, Surf Riders, Charter fishermen, Fly Fishermen, the Sierra Club of Canada, BC Chapter (http://www.sierraclub.ca/bc/), Juan de Fuca Community Trails and Seaparc Parks Commission .MCPS  would like to pursue a business like approach which includes benefits for the owners of the land, i.e., TimberWest, and to avoid confrontation in the effort to preserve this watershed. 
One potential solution would be to turn the lower end of the creeks into a park. This would be a matter which would have to be spearheaded by the Capital Regional District (CRD) here in Victoria or the provincial government. The Regional Director and local planner have expressed support in concept for this idea. The local developers also seem to be interested in a park on the basis that it would enhance the value of their developments. MCPS would like to work towards a deal with TimberWest, which might be possible if some kind of compensation can be offered. 
We are therefore hoping to form a coalition that might be able to purchase the trees in place before they are cut, and/or the land or perhaps the provincial government could be convinced to offer some less ecologically sensitive land in exchange for pieces around these creeks. Our very rough estimates are that the area in question should encompass a few km of stream and a variable width riparian zone up to 500m wide where required to protect the old growth trees. There are no parks available for recreation in this area, most of the land is privately owned by forest companies due to the E&N land grant. After harvesting it sounds as though the plan for the area may include TimberWest selling the land for residential use. Between Grant Rd. in Sooke and French beach Provincial Park there is only thirty five acres of parkland in an area spanning over 10 000 acres. When this area is developed where will these people recreate if we’ve cut all the trees?

SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND                      1
Representative – Don Lowen
Community Advisor – Tom Rutherford
Community – South Vancouver Island from Cowichan to San Juan River, and Southern
Gulf Islands
February 3, 2008
Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society Cancels 2008 Fundraising Derby
As you know, SSES has cancelled its August salmon fishing derby, thus forfeiting the opportunity to
raise $20K in funds for core expenses. The media release issued in early January bases this decision on poor chinook returns to the Cowichan
River, and calls on other organizations to reconsider their 2008 derby plans. The media release and SEHAB’s written response are posted at www.sehab.org
The community response to date has been mostly positive. In fact, the response has become a
potential impromptu fundraising strategy. Unconfirmed total donations to date is about $5,725.
Report on SFAB Cowichan chinook meeting – 28 November 2007
About 120 people attended an evening meeting in Cowichan Bay to discuss poor returns of Cowichan
chinook. The Sport Fishing Advisory Board organized the event.
Moderated by South Coast Area Director Wilf Luedke and  SFAB member Paul Ricard, the agenda
inlcuded:
1. Opening statements by Larry George, Cowichan FN and Wilf Luedke, South Coast Area
Director, DFO.
2. About 75 minutes of presentations by Wilf Luedke, Arlene Tompkins, Dick Beamish, Tom
Rutherford and Brian Tutty – all DFO staff. Here are some of the points made:
 Luedke – interpreted large turnout as an indication of support to put “more resources” into
Cowichan River.
 Beamish – Climate Change has huge effect on salmonid marine survival in Georgia Strait.
Historical survival rates at sea of 10-15% are now 1% or less.
 Tompkins – Using CWT assessment strategy, Department has found that Georgia Strait
chinook survival to age 2 in late 1980’s was 6%, now is 1%.
 Rutherford – Cowichan Band Hatchery has been strategic enhancement facility for chinook
and coho for 30 years. Goal is increase in returns of wild stock. In spite of existing strategies, including intense assessment, there is a decrease in survival, especially of early releases. Net pen releases showing some survival rate increase. Recent $150K funding increase after budget frozen for 10 years.
 Tutty – Reviewed Tom Rutherford’s successful project to shore up Stoltz bluffs and reduce sedimentation.
3. Table discussions – Groups asked to formulate questions for the panel – ones that were not answered during the presentations.
Participants expressed a broad range of opinions. Another public meeting is planned.
SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND                      2
Representative – Don Lowen
Community Advisor – Tom Rutherford
Community – South Vancouver Island from Cowichan to San Juan River, and Southern
Gulf Islands
February 3, 2008
Friends of Mt. Douglas Park Streamkeepers
“The burning issue for us is stormwater management. We can, year by year, tinker with the ecology of
Douglas Creek; what we can't do is to control the upstream processes that poison and tear apart Douglas Creek and other Creeks like it.
It may seem a long stretch from habitat units and fry output to PAH’s and PAB’s, but as you know stormwater lies at the heart of every urban stream restoration.
I don't think for a minute that this information is any revelation, but I do think that it is time we raised and re-raised the stormwater issue - it is global.
I won't bore you with what the Fisheries Act says about deleterious substances - you know all of this. Again I think that stormwater needs to be raised whenever and however. So ... our two cents and please raise the issue.”
- Bob Bridgeman, January 13/08
Education
Local Stream to Sea
Local coordinators have recently completed egg delivery to about 120 classroom incubation projects in
Tom Rutherford’s area, which includes 5 public school districts.
Regional Stream to Sea
I am currently working on two committees for the Regional education program.  The strategic planning committee meets monthly by phone as it moves toward the creation of a
strategic plan that will guide the program through to 2012. The group is considering changes to the structure of the Regional Education Steering Committee and of the Working Group model that was created to address action items between conferences. The strategy continues as a systems-based collection of human and curriculum resources that adapts to the needs of many Pacific Region communities.
 The training and support working group is organizing the August 2008 annual conference to be held in the Fraser Valley.

SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND                      1
Representative – Don Lowen
Community Advisor – Tom Rutherford
Community – South Vancouver Island from Cowichan to San Juan River, and Southern
Gulf Islands
October 27, 2007
Log Jams and Fish Passage
The Provincial Emergency Program (PEP), responding to public safety concerns related to log
jams on certain Vancouver Island streams, recently provided $.5M to address the jams. The result was an improvement in fish passage in the following systems: Koksilah, San Juan
and Sutton (upper Cowichan).
PEP engaged community groups with sufficient capacity to complete the work. 
RAR Not Working
Because of the Riparian Area Regulations, there is a growing perception among volunteers
that the Department is not able to protect fish habitat. Eg – A landowner who lives on a salmon-bearing stream with a long history of volunteer
restoration/enhancement, engaged an RP Biologist to assess the stream in the context of a proposed project on his property. The biologist requested a setback.
A neighbour engaged the provincial Water Branch with the same request. The Branch decided that the stream was “not a watercourse”, and the landowner subsequently filled in the stream.
Cowichan Roundtable – New Way of Doing Business
Please see Tom Rutherford’s October 27/07 presentation to the Board.
Poor Chinook Returns
Lower Georgia Strait and lower Juan de Fuca Strait chinook returns are exceptionally low this
year.  This includes the Nanaimo, Cowichan, Chemainus (10), Goldstream (2), Sooke and Nitinat (4K) systems.
Education
Stream to Sea
The Department’s education program continues to thrive on South Vancouver Island, thanks in
part to the Department’s commitment to provide warm bodies to support activities. About 120 classroom incubation projects will operate over the winter in Tom Rutherford’s area,
which includes 5 public school districts. The classroom incubation program continues to facilitate the development of other activities
such as Salmon Express, storm drain marking, shorekeeper and streamkeeper activities. The consistent participation of School Districts and the Department allows this evolution over time.
SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND                      2
Representative – Don Lowen
Community Advisor – Tom Rutherford
Community – South Vancouver Island from Cowichan to San Juan River, and Southern
Gulf Islands
October 27, 2007
The Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association lost a long-time volunteer when Bryant Wood recently passed on. Before he died, Bryant requested that family funds be used to establish a project at the school that his grandchildren attend.
Very quickly, a partnership was struck between the school, the Watership Foundation, the Department and the Wood family to ensure that all materials and tech support would be provided to start a project this year.
The Goldstream volunteers will honour Bryant’s life at a ceremony on the River on November 2nd.
Regional Stream to Sea
About 25 Education Coordinators and Community Advisors attended the annual education
conference, held last August in Bamfield. Along with waterborne field trips, beach investigations and presentations on new online
curriculum, the group completed the next phase toward the creation of a strategic plan that will guide the program through to 2012. The group is considering changes to the structure of the Regional Education Steering Committee and of the Working Group model that was created to address action items between conferences.
The strategy continues as a systems-based collection of human and curriculum resources that adapts to the needs of many Pacific Region communities.

Roundtable Report  Salmon Enhancement and Habitat Advisory Board
June 9th and 10th, 2007                                         
Tom Rutherford - South Vancouver Island
SEHAB Member - Don Lowen
In late May, we lost the services of two pioneers in salmon enhancement. Lucille (Lou) Tremblay in Port Renfrew, and Bill James in Sooke, had already
established enhancement projects prior to the arrival of Trevor Morris and the Salmonid Enhancement Program. Along with Howard English’s initiative on the Goldstream River, they were Trevor’s community projects when he showed up for work in 1978.
Lou Tremblay and her husband Maurice began their strategic enhancement efforts in the mid 1970’s on the San Juan River, using streamside incubation boxes. Today, the San Juan Enhancement Society operates a CEDP hatchery, enhancing coho and chinook.
Also in the mid 1970’s, Bill James helped create the Amalgamated Conservation Society on South Vancouver Island before establishing a strategic enhancement facility on the Sooke River. Today, the Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society (Jack Brooks Hatchery) implements enhancement strategies for coho, chinook and steelhead, and rivals the Goldstream group as the oldest volunteer enhancement organization in the Pacific Region.
Overview – Tom Rutherford, Community Advisor
Tom sent the email message below to his project coordinators on April 27
. It encapsulates the extent to which the Community Advisor’s role in the South Coast management area has been sidetracked, and his energies misdirected.
From: Rutherford, Tom [mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.] Sent: April 27, 2007 4:17 PM
To: Angela Evans; Angus Stewart; Arild; Bernie Bowker; Bill Gibson; Bill Neill; Bill
Pannell; Brad Drew; Brian MacNeill; Brian Mooney; Byron & Karen; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Cathy Carolsfield; Christopher Bos; cowichan land trust; Dave Lindsay; David Aldcroft; Denis Coupland; Don Lowen; George DeLure; Gerald Fleming; Glen & Charmian; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; HAT; Helen Dunn; Ian Bruce; Ian Graeme; Jack McLeod; James Hamly; Jody Watson; John Bergbusch; Judy Ackinclose; Kathy Reimer; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Laurie Mcbride; Loren Duncan; Lynn Wilson; Mary HaigBrown; Miqualyn; Nikki Wright (E-mail); P.I.C.A.; Peter McCully; Rick Jones; Robert Bridgeman; RogerHart; Scott Noble; Susan King; Ted Burns; The Gallaughers; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Tom Davis; Trevor Morris; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Jody Watson (VEHEAP) (E-mail); This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; lou&This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cc: Adkins, Bruce; Don Elliott; Ernie Elliott; Bonnell, Gregory; Brouwer, Robert; Hop Wo, Leroy; Jung, Jeff
Subject: DFO support to Community Involvement programming on South Vancouver Island
“Hi All, Just a short note to apologize for my delayed response to inquiries, phone calls, emails, and for my failure to follow up on some of the projects we have been working on together. Over the last 7 weeks I have been assigned to supporting the Lower Georgia Strait (Cowichan) Chinook rebuilding process and this work has been taking up the lion's share of my time. There have been some rigid (and very short) time lines involved with implementing changes to existing programs that we have been able to meet thanks to great support from our partners outside the department and my DFO colleagues.
The cost, however, has been in the level of support afforded to you and your programs. I am currently working with my supervisor to put in place a plan that will ensure our ability to support you and the important work you are engaged in while continuing to work towards long term solutions for rebuilding Lower Georgia Strait Chinook stocks.
Please don't hesitate to give me a shout or drop me a line about this or about details regarding the stewardship/assessment/enhancement/restoration/education projects you are working on. I have started re-connecting with most of the groups I am involved with (particularly those dozen or so that have in stream restoration works scheduled for this summer) and look forward to talking to you soon.
Thanks for your patience Tom”
Group Reports
1. Erosion of the Community Involvement Program - I received the following
comments from representatives of Peninsula Streams, Goldstream Volunteer Salmon Enhancement Association and Mt. Douglas Creek Streamkeepers, all concerning the Department’s ability to support volunteer enhancement and restoration efforts through the Community Involvement Program:
a. “My number one concern is the dilution of the role/duties of the Community Advisor.”
b. “Area bureaucrats do not understand the role of the CA.”
c. “The Department needs to provide more support for CA’s.”
d. “Our CA is getting pulled apart, and I’m concerned we’ll lose him.”
e. “We need more support on the ground for stewardship – more funding for
more CA’s and watershed coordinators.” (HRSEP model)
f. “Our CA needs assistance in supporting projects.”
2. Mt. Douglas Creek Streamkeepers – Stormwater management is the group’s biggest challenge to success, and they hope that the new Marine Conservation Area, which includes Mt. Douglas Creek’s watershed, will have a positive impact on storm water quality.
3. Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society
a. Low flows in coastal streams continue to have a negative impact on south
coast coho.
b. Excellent steelhead returns last winter.
c. Society is working to improve communication between local agencies and municipalities to protect riparian areas.
Volunteer Recognition
Representatives of the Goldstream Volunteer Salmon Enhancement Association and Mt. Doug Streamkeepers attended Workshop ’07 in Williams Lake last month. Comments were more than favorable on overall event organization and the quality of the workshops. Bob Bridgeman asked to pass on particular appreciation to ZoAnn Morten for organizing transportation to and from Williams Lake.
Education
1. Stream to Sea
The Department’s education program continues to thrive on South Vancouver Island,
thanks in part to the Department’s commitment to provide warm bodies to support activities. About 120 classroom incubation projects operated over the winter with good results. A fungus issue originating in one of the hatcheries carried over into classroom projects; however, survival rates were average or better after an initial spike in mortalities shortly after egg delivery.
The classroom incubation program continues to facilitate the development of other activities; the result is a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The consistent participation of School Districts and the Department allows this evolution over time.
2. EcoJustice Conference – Victoria
The Anglican Church of Canada hosted an ecojustice conference at UVIC in May. Eighty
delegates from across Canada and Australia attended. Two of the focus groups were streamkeepers and shorekeepers. Up to 15 delegates in
each group completed ‘keeper training on survey sites near or on campus.
3. Regional Stream to Sea
On June 21
st
, the Department’s RHQ is hosting the second of two workshops toward a five-year strategic plan for the Pacific Region’s education program. All Community Advisors, Education Coordinators and OHEB Area Managers are invited to attend.
This one-day event will incorporate recent studies on the program into a draft strategy. The Department will present this draft to the annual Regional education conference in August.  The new strategy will replace the existing plan which expired last year.

SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND REPRESENTATIVE – DON LOWEN
COMMUNITY ADVISOR – TOM RUTHERFORD
MAY 13, 2006
1
Overview – Tom Rutherford, Community Advisor
Based on presentations made at the May 6/06 Community Partners Recognition Day for South Vancouver Island partners, community programming is alive and well. Most participants are engaged, effective and inspired.
The community’s ability to protect habitat is always an “in your face” challenge. Tom is concerned that the effects of global warming will affect the morale of community partners. The
Department needs a strategy to deal with this possible outcome of climate change on salmonid populations. In the face of this, is public involvement still a meaningful experience? The Department needs to find ways to ensure that it is.
Common Themes in Presentations Made at Community Partners Recognition Day - Based on reports from 20 organizations supported by Tom, these recurring themes emerged:
1. The Department’s inability to respond to habitat issues.
2. Decrease in presence of Fishery Officers.
3. Constituents feel powerless.
Volunteer Recognition
Community Involvement Recognition Day, May 6/06 - Tom Rutherford (Chair), Don Lowen, Peter
McCully and Micqualyn Waldie planned this biennial recognition event for Tom’s clients. A full day of group presentations, workshops, awards and great food included talks by Dr. Don McKinlay, DFO Senior Enhancement Biologist (“The Past, Present, and Future Role of Hatcheries for B.C. Salmon”) and Dr. Peter Ross, DFO Research Scientist (“What do marine mammals tell us about the state of the ocean?”)
Approximately 85 representatives from 35 organizations attended. Ten groups received awards for years of participation.
Reception for Tom Rutherford – Those attending the above event conspired to surprise Tom Rutherford with a lunch reception on the same day, honouring twenty-five years of outstanding public service. James Boland, who designed and implemented the Public Involvement Program, Salmonids in the Classroom, and the SEP Task Group, spoke on behalf of the Department. Peter McCully (Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association) spoke on behalf of DFO’s community partners.
Three of the four original Community Advisors – Bob Hurst, Don Lawseth and Trevor Morris – joined James, Tom and his family at the head table. The organizers collected about $2.5K for a cash gift for the Rutherford's.
Education
Shorekeeper Training Weekend October 22/23 – Victoria Stream Team - The Victoria Stream Team
presented a Shorekeeper Training Workshop for Greater Victoria secondary students, April 28
and 30
th
. The agenda included mapping, ID and inventory skills required to assess the health of the intertidal area of a shoreline.
th
, 29
th
SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND REPRESENTATIVE – DON LOWEN
COMMUNITY ADVISOR – TOM RUTHERFORD
MAY 13, 2006
2
Ten students from five institutions participated. Fisheries and Oceans staff provided classroom
instruction Friday evening and assisted with onsite work through the weekend at Patricia Bay. DFO contracted Shelee Hamilton to oversee onsite work.
Classroom Incubation, South Vancouver Island - Projects in the five school districts that encompass Tom Rutherford’s area all enjoyed outstanding success this year. Although reports are still coming in, it appears that mortality rates are very low. I will include a detailed report in the fall roundtable submission.
EcoMotion Summer Institute - August 28
th
to 30 
th
- From August 28
th
to 30 
th
, EcoMotion Institute offers   three days of inspiration, healthy movement and relaxation. All activities will take place in or leave from the Mary Winspear Center in Sidney.
Community and classroom educators will find ways to develop teaching and organizational skills that will further our collective effort to create stewards. EcoMotion will feature case studies of, and journeys to, some of Greater Victoria’s field study sites and venues. Workshops include “what to do when the bus arrives”, the specifics of the new science curriculum (BC Ministry of Education), unit and lesson planning ideas, and the art of storytelling.
To receive an information/application package, contact Don Lowen at 388-4756 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Community-Based Social Marketing - How effective is your outreach program? Research demonstrates that simply providing information usually has little or not effect on behaviour. Join environmental psychologist and community based social marketing guru Doug McKenzie-Mohr for a one-day workshop to learn more effective approaches to delivering programs that change environmental behaviour. Registration fee of $145 covers lunch and a free copy of Dr. McKenzie-Mohr’s book Fostering Sustainable Behaviour: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing. To register see www.waterinthecityvictoria.ca/registration or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. More information on this approach can be found at www.cbsm.com.
Salmonpeople – The Victoria Tour (Peter Donaldson and Don Lowen) - Salmonpeople is a watershed of partnership projects based on the power of stories and the life work of educator, community facilitator, and performance artist, Peter Donaldson.
Peter Donaldson and Donald Lowen are building a community coalition to bring the Salmonpeople Tour to Victoria as a civic centerpiece for catalytic change. The tour requires a broad and diverse coalition of local entities to cross-promote it with their own programming and stewardship efforts. Here’s the calendar so far: 
1. On August 30
th
, Peter will present a storytelling workshop at the EcoMotion Institute. (See above.)
SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND REPRESENTATIVE – DON LOWEN
COMMUNITY ADVISOR – TOM RUTHERFORD
MAY 13, 2006
3
2. From September 21
st
to 23
rd
, Peter and Don will organize three days of sustainability workshops with students, teachers, business leaders and community groups.
3. On September 24th, the coalition will collaborate with a local theater to co-produce Salmonpeople.
Current coalition members include the Watership Foundation, Greater Victoria School District, Victoria Stream Team, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. To find out how you can participate, contact Don Lowen at 388-4756 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND REPRESENTATIVE – DON LOWEN
COMMUNITY ADVISOR – TOM RUTHERFORD
FEBRUARY 13, 2006
1
Overview – Tom Rutherford, Community Advisor
“There is a perception by my clients that DFO is "caught between models" with respect to implementing habitat protection programming. We aren't doing it "the old way" and nobody seems to be sure what the "new way" will be. This concern in no way reflects on habitat practitioners or C&P staff, but there seems to be some confusion (both inside and outside the department) about who will be doing what and how, with respect to protecting fish and fish habitat. (and whether we have the horsepower to do so...)
I've received comments about PSEF's seemingly unilateral decision to allocate all funding to the Fraser River. This could just be sour grapes from Vancouver Island, but the perception was that David Anderson's vision was a trust fund for fish and fish habitat coast-wide, not for one river system.
The current and collective revision of our South Coast education delivery model is another example of everyone working together despite some differences in viewpoint, ensuring that we are achieving the best possible outcomes with our education programming.”
David Aldcroft, SEHAB Alternate (Cowichan Valley Naturalists)
1. There is a continued perception on the ground that all levels of government continue to
download responsibilities to volunteers, community groups, or to the wrong agency. Why give the responsibility of investigation of deleterious substances in fish-bearing streams to an agency (Environment Canada) that cannot respond? This is occurring at a time when there is no shortage of public funds to properly protect vital habitat, assess stocks, etc.
2. (Following attendance at a Marine Protected Area meeting) MPA’s are another unnecessary level of bureaucracy. Much of the MPA mandate is already a DFO mandate. Why did the Department not receive these resources?
3. There has been no response from the Department – or the media, for that matter – on poor coho returns last fall. What are the management implications of this disaster?
4. Re EPMP – We have evolved from a. No net loss, to b. No net loss of production, to
c. No net loss of production unless it impinges on profit
d. What’s next?
Education
Streamkeeper Training Weekend October 22/23 – Victoria Stream Team
The Stream Team and Terasen Gas, Inc. presented a Streamkeeper Training Workshop for Greater
Victoria secondary students, February 11
th
and 12th at Edward Milne Community School, 6218 Sooke Road. The agenda included mapping, inventory and measuring skills required to assess the health of a stream – watershed mapping, water quality, aquatic invertebrate inventory, physical characteristics, etc.
Twelve students from five institutions participated. Susan Low provided instruction.
SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND REPRESENTATIVE – DON LOWEN
COMMUNITY ADVISOR – TOM RUTHERFORD
FEBRUARY 13, 2006
2
 Note – Susan Low believes that there is a market for 5 to 7 workshops per year, just for students.
Since the resources for a Streamkeeper Coordinator disappeared about 5 years ago, no one is able to tap this demand. The Victoria Stream Team commits to organizing one streamkeeper event per year. More of these events would increase the Stream Team membership and the number of trained volunteers ready to join an aging corps of volunteer stewards.
Classroom Incubation, South Vancouver Island
In spite of warm hatchery incubation temperatures that hurried the delivery schedule, the eggs are
extremely viable this year. Only one of 95 projects has reported greater than average mortality to date.
Volunteer Recognition
1. South Vancouver Island Pacific Salmon Foundation Dinner Auction - The dinner committee has
chosen Kathy Reimer’s Island Streams and Enhancement Society as the volunteer group to be recognized at its February 25
th
event.
2. Community Involvement Recognition Day, May 6/06 - Tom Rutherford (Chair), Don Lowen,
Peter McCully and Micqualyn Waldie are planning this biennial recognition event for Tom’s clients. This is a full day of group presentations, workshops, awards, great food and better company.
Report - Muir Creek Protection Society
Muir Creek and Tugwell Creek are two watersheds just west of Sooke on the southwest slope of
Vancouver Island.  Muir Creek takes its name from John Muir and the first pioneer family who settled in the area in the late 1800’s. John Muir was a magistrate and a member of the first provincial legislative assembly. Two of his sons were killed at Muir Creek in a wagon accident.
The T’souke First Nation traditionally used the area for winter dancing and smoking fish. The world’s tallest freestanding totem pole came from Muir Creek and was carved by a team led by Mungo Martin. It was erected in Beacon Hill Park. T’souke First Nation has been informed of our intentions and is supportive.
The land around both of these creeks is owned by TimberWest (http://www.timberwest.com/woodstour.cfm#).
The portion surrounding the adjacent West Coast Road on the east of Muir Creek by the ocean was sold by TimberWest and is now being developed. The upper slopes, in between the two creeks, have been flagged with falling boundaries but not yet cleared. Old growth trees can be found in the lower areas along both sides of Muir Creek and its embankments for a distance of almost two kilometers. The largest tree found so far is a cedar at 29’ 6” in circumference. There are numerous Sitka spruce over 20’ in circumference, the largest being 25’3”. In all 9 trees have potential to be included in the Big Tree Registry of B.C. Some of the watershed areas by the creeks were previously logged in the late 19
th
early 20
th
century, but impressive old growth trees have survived right by the rivers, and on the
SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND REPRESENTATIVE – DON LOWEN
COMMUNITY ADVISOR – TOM RUTHERFORD
FEBRUARY 13, 2006
3
slopes. These trees are now surrounded by more or less mature second growth.  Logging has proceeded
recently above the creek watersheds and in the upper reaches of both streams, but so far both streams flow clear, even in recent months with high precipitation. 
These areas are easily accessible since West Coast Rd., part of the new Pacific circle route, travels right through it.  In fact, the area is a popular swimming place in the summer, and the Muir Creek estuary is a haven for fly fishers.  There is abundant wild life in and around the streams, including river otters, mink, bears, eagles, herons, king fishers and dippers, all of whom depend to some extent on the population of fish in these streams.  In both streams, there are substantial runs of chum (hundreds to thousands) with subsequent forays of foraging sea run cutthroat and steelhead. Recently, there have also been sightings of Coho and a few occasional Spring/King Salmon. 
Ocean beaches next to Muir Creek have one of the most prominent and easily accessible showings of Cenozoic fossils on Vancouver Island. School children, including ESL students, have visited on educational field trips for years.
TimberWest is currently poised to log both watersheds. Since it is now privately owned land, they are entitled to log down to the stream - the regulations require them only to leave 20 to 40 trees per 200 m of creek length, depending on the size of the stream – more trees for wider streams. The trees stand up to 250 feet tall. Due to the costs incurred by needing to use helicopters in order to remove these trees it is felt that the area will be harvested of all of its old growth fir, cedar and spruce trees on the slopes above creek. There are also large trees located right beside the stream - hopefully they would not be felled due to the impact on the creek, but TimberWest is not prohibited from taking them. The second largest registered yew tree in B.C resides at Muir Creek. TimberWest has currently numbered trees on Muir Creek to presumably create a space for clearing the big trees out by helicopter. 
Meanwhile, a Muir Creek Protection Society (MCPS) formed and registered as of November 25, 2005. (http://www.muircreekprotectionsociety.org/) Under the leadership of its president, Alanda Carver, it is rapidly accumulating members (currently 200), as well as support from numerous individuals and organizations who have a stake in the watershed, including the Otter Point & Shirley Residents & Rate Payers Association (OPSRRA,  http://opsrra.ca/), Shirley Education Action Society, Surf Riders, Charter fishermen, Fly Fishermen, the Sierra Club of Canada, BC Chapter (http://www.sierraclub.ca/bc/), Juan de Fuca Community Trails and Seaparc Parks Commission .MCPS  would like to pursue a business like approach which includes benefits for the owners of the land, i.e., TimberWest, and to avoid confrontation in the effort to preserve this watershed. 
One potential solution would be to turn the lower end of the creeks into a park. This would be a matter which would have to be spearheaded by the Capital Regional District (CRD) here in Victoria or the provincial government. The Regional Director and local planner have expressed support in concept for this idea. The local developers also seem to be interested in a park on the basis that it would enhance the value of their developments. MCPS would like to work towards a deal with TimberWest, which might be possible if some kind of compensation can be offered. 
We are therefore hoping to form a coalition that might be able to purchase the trees in place before they are cut, and/or the land or perhaps the provincial government could be convinced to offer some less ecologically sensitive land in exchange for pieces around these creeks. Our very rough estimates are that the area in question should encompass a few km of stream and a variable width riparian zone up to 500m wide where required to protect the old growth trees. There are no parks available for recreation in
SEHAB ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTION - SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND REPRESENTATIVE – DON LOWEN
COMMUNITY ADVISOR – TOM RUTHERFORD
FEBRUARY 13, 2006
4
this area, most of the land is privately owned by forest companies due to the E&N land grant. After
harvesting it sounds as though the plan for the area may include TimberWest selling the land for residential use. Between Grant Rd. in Sooke and French beach Provincial Park there is only thirty five acres of parkland in an area spanning over 10 000 acres. When this area is developed where will these people recreate if we’ve cut all the trees?