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SEHAB Roundtable Template––November 2017

SEHAB Member:  Elizabeth Hardy

Area: West Vancouver- Howe Sound- Pemberton

Community Advisor:   Rob Bell-Irving

Meeting Date:  November 3 to 5, 2017

Identify up to 3 succinct issues related to SEP that  you or your community would like SEHAB to take to DFO?

*SEHAB Work Plan/Sub Committees are: Wild Salmon Policy (Stock Assessment, Habitat), Aquaculture, and Capacity & Core Funding

Identify up to 3 succinct issues not related to SEP that you or your community would like SEHAB to take to DFO?

*SEHAB Work Plan/Sub Committees are: Wild Salmon Policy (Stock Assessment, Habitat), Aquaculture, and Capacity & Core Funding

Submissions and Comments from Community Groups:

Bowen Island Fish and Wildlife Club

1. Secondary Hatchery Water Supply:

Maintenance of water intake screen and internal hatchery control valves.

Planning with BIM and Metro Van Parks of location and re-routing of underground pipe from intake to Hatchery building

2. Monitoring & planning for coho fry release in streams that now have small or no flow during recent dry summer months.

Decision with Community Advisor and Metro Parks Planning to cease release of coho to a once productive stream that has now dried 3 consecutive summers.

3. Meetings & site visit with DFO Habitat Engineers to review required Bridal Veil Falls salmon ladder upgrades. Conclusion that minor upgrades would provide only short term benefit and replacement would require a major re-design and expensive construction. A business case will be prepared after more costing and detailed analysis of habitat that would be serviced.

North Shore Wetland Partners

• Negative impacts of salmon farming on wild salmon
• NEB ability to overrule the Fisheries Act is discouraging and places energy ahead of the environment.  Policy came in with last government and has not been removed by present government
• dog walkers, mountain bikers, other recreation activities impacting riparian zones, causing erosion, introducing invasives, and impacting water quality with feces
• Increasing number of homeless living along urban creeks, causing erosion and pollution in watersheds
• lack of enforcement, no way to charge, protection is guidelines only
• little change in enforcement over the years, priority is given to recreation and development over environment
• volunteers feeling burnt out and hopeless

West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society

Eagle Creek Culvert Upgrade Project

Background:  Creek is low gradient salmon bearing stream with chum and coho annually and occasionally pink salmon

Culvert near the mouth of the creek is 6’ corrugated metal, is deformed and eroded with separating seams.  Baffles were installed about 20 years ago.

Pool at mouth of culvert used as staging and spawning area by adult salmon, as habitat by juvenile salmon, trout and sculpin. 

Recent upstream salmon enhancement projects by the District to support spawning and rearing salmon in this watershed include; natural bottomed culvert under Marine Drive, 100 m of baffles in main tributary (Wood Creek) and complexing in an upstream park

Project:  District of West Van hired contractor to line culvert with shotcrete and baffles were removed and not replaced.  Several loose rocks placed in culvert to act as baffles.  Lack of baffles was discovered by Streamkeepers in mid-October.

Pool at the mouth of the culvert was filled in to form a rock “V” with small boulders.  Banks were denuded of vegetation and undercuts were lost.

Reaction:  Streamkeeper notified CA, Rob Bell-Irving, and phoned ORR.  Streamkeepers phoned director of Engineering and set up site visit, resulting in decision to install baffles immediately.  District sent notice to Province and DFO of emergency work.  Baffles installed in two days.  An attempt was made to restore the pond but not effective

Problems outlined by this experience:

• District did not communicate effectively with West Vancouver Streamkeepers, despite meeting monthly. Streamkeepers were not shown plans in advance, or notified of work being done
• Internally, the WV Engineering Department did not notify their Environmental Manager or the Planning Department of the project either before or during the work

Positives resulting from this experience:

• DFO was most helpful – at the local CA level for immediate action and from RRU with recommendations for the baffle design and securing them to the shotcrete base and walls
• ORR was interested in the problems of baffle removal and habitat loss and seemed to be attentive to the details. ORR phoned Streamkeepers back two weeks later (after new baffles were installed) and were planning to follow up on the case with WV District staff and CA with regard to both baffles and loss of pond habitat.

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SEHAB Roundtable February 2017

SEHAB Member:  Elizabeth Hardy

Area:  West Vancouver-Howe Sound- Sea to Sky

Community Advisor:  Rob Bell-Irving

Meeting Date:   February 25 & 26 2017

Identify up to 5 succinct issues that  you or your community would like SEHAB to take to DFO?

*SEHAB Work Plan/Sub Committees are: Wild Salmon Policy (Stock Assessment, Habitat), Aquaculture, and Capacity & Core Funding

Stories: Highlight important successes and challenges in your area that you would like to discuss this meeting. This can also be a place to provide background for the issues listed above.

Topic/Issue:

Successes:

Challenges:

Topic/Issue:

Successes:

Challenges:

Topic/Issue:

Successes:

Challenges:

Topic/Issue:

Successes:

Challenges:

Submissions and Comments from Community Groups:

Stewardship Pemberton:

We have the same comments as before really. Our relationship with our CA allows us to dream big. To create, facilitate and grow partnerships and relationships that would take us years to establish without our CA. 

In our last financial analysis as well, we really determined that the PIP support from DFO puts us just past the tipping point of being financially self sustainable as an organization. Without that support, we woudl have to cut much of our free community outreach events....our professional development opportunities would diminish...etc 

Here is a copy of our 2016 Summary report. Without the support of our many partners, including DFO, we would not be able to achieve a fraction of our accomplishments.  (too long to attach here, please check out Stewardship Pemberton on-line to see what this energetic group has accomplished)

Bowen Island Fish and Wildlife:

Elizabeth you will remember this recent email below on the importance of SEP much of which is delivered by Rob our CA.

In addition Rob is our technical support on all activities involved with our hatchery from Egg takes, interpretation of BMP directions, and release of fry to Bowen streams. Rob helps with Habitat Rehabilitation, grant applications and orchestrates reqd DFO resources. He assists with representations to local govt, and for 6 mos of the year we are in contact virtually daily for advice and consultation. Our community volunteer group could not operate without Community Advisor assistance.

Squamish Streamkeepers:

In late January 2017 the Squamish Streamkeepers put out 90 herring spawning nets 3 feet wide and 10 feet deep at False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf A and B Floats which is double what was put out last year. Last year hatched out about 40 million eggs and hopefully this year will expand on that as being our fourth year there should be a big jump in returns. The nets are shaken up twice a week to remove algae and this will be continued until hatchout several weeks after the eggs are laid.

The attached picture shows Marine Biologist Douglas Swanston with a fiberglass tube provided by TELUS to see if herring eggs will spawn on and hatch out from it as they need to rebuild the foundation of Science World and want to do so in a fish friendly manner now that herring are beginning to return to False Creek. We cut it into a number of pieces and hung them at Fisherman’s Wharf where annual herring spawning is consistent in February.

As our CA is about the only local DFO person left he is vital.  Without him there would be a total lack of info, organization, and help.  Our issue is the lack of DFO habitat personal so I 'm shocked that our CA is considered expendable.

West Vancouver Streamkeepers:

I do not have a comment on the letter to the Fisheries Minister except the urgency of adopting all appropriate recommendations of the Cohen Commission.

On the value of CA’s, I continue to stress the importance of these individuals to stewardship groups.  Without CA’s I could see a significant decline in the volunteer community (estimated at 22,000 of us) who devote time to streams throughout the province.   On this point, I had a short chat with Rebecca Reid at the PSF Conservation Stamp unveiling reception on November 14, 2016 and my parting words were - “if you ever decide to reduce the number of CA’s, do the courtesy of giving me a phone call to discuss”.  Her response was - “it wouldn’t be me that initiates that” which I accepted that she supports the role of CA’s.

Attached is the last newsletter published at the end of December highlighting other activities (to be found at http://www.westvancouverstreamkeepers.ca/dox/newsletter31.pdf).

Update on activities since June 2016

In recent months West Vancouver Streamkeepers have met with other salmon stewardship groups (Stoney Creek Environmental Committee and several other Burnaby stewardship groups, Bowen Island Fish and Wildlife Club, North Shore Streamkeepers) - exchange of ideas, update on and visiting projects, creek tours, etc.  This is a new initiative and one that will be continued.

Projects Completed:  Rodgers Creek Estuary Enhancement – interpretive signage installed in July.

Projects in the Works

• Larson Creek – estuary and lower creek enhancement possibilities – test hole in place to monitor ground water for salinity, water table and flow. Report due shortly.
• Lawson Creek fish ladder replacement – completed in September 2016.
• Navvy Jack House to be converted to a Nature Centre – working with District staff to complete a sustainable business plan as required by District Council.
• Lawson Creek – restoration of the lower creek in the area of the proposed Nature Centre – design completed. Funding should be in place soon.  Work to be completed along the shoreline in concert with a BC Hydro power line for Bowen Island.

New Projects:  Hadden Creek at Capilano Golf and Country Club – improved fish passage through a culvert exiting the golf course, naturalizing the stream and planting native vegetation.  Completion in August 2017.  87% funded.  Three more grant applications to complete the funding.

Citizen Science

• Water quality testing and aquatic insect sampling.
• Herring Spawn Enhancement – also covered in the newsletter.
• Temperature logging now in its sixth year.

Membership:   Total members for 2016 was 240.  92 volunteers.

Squamish River Watershed Society:

We would REALLY like to see habitat brought back into the Fisheries Act. Our biggest concern at the moment is the gutting of the Fisheries Act in 2013 and the inability we have to protect sensitive fish habitat.

I would also like to see some oversight of the CA’s role and an increased presence in our community from our CA.

North Shore Wetland Partners:

Our group is winding down but we will still be volunteering for the salmon, frogs and conservation. We have been attending North Shore Streamkeepermeetings the past year or so.

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SEHAB Roundtable Report –– November 2016

SEHAB Member:  Elizabeth Hardy

Area: West Vancouver - Howe Sound

Community Advisor:  Rob Bell-Irving

Date: November 2016

Key Issues:

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

1. Volunteers are passionately appreciative of the SEP programs that they receive. Several said that without support, they feel that their programs would cease to exist.
2. The support and partnership of DFO add legitimacy to group when establishing and when applying for funding.
3. Non replacement of retired DFO staff has resulted in overworked staff and less accessibility to volunteers.

Issues Specific to SEHAB’s Work Plan:

Submissions, Comments from Groups:

Stewardship Pemberton: 

The SEP program has incredible meaning to our group. We have facilitate this program for three decades, first through the Birkenhead River Hatchery and then, once this was decimated due to flooding, the SEP program served as part of the inspiration to build the Nature Centre and have an environmental education program within close proximate to our communities. It has been a conduit between First Nations and non First Nations, between schools and community groups. It has been a backbone of our offerings, and provided the science links that we rely heavily upon. 

In regards to who to turn to for assistance with habitat/restoration, we actually are well versed on our Board/community (some having had a background in fisheries as well as the SEP Program). 

The support/partnership of DFO has added weight and leverage to our funding applications. The have provided our group with legitimacy as we gained traction and started to become established. 

We need this to continue from DFO! Their PIP funding also supports training for our Board for habitat restoration/conservation, and supports our annual BC Rivers Day event, and assists us with operating our Nature Centre. IT is reliable income that we have come to depend upon - our only actual steady source of income that we receive from any level of government. 

Thanks Elizabeth for asking for feedback. I am going to be sending in a letter to all levels of government encouraging them to keep this program alive. 

Squamish Streamkeepers

Since Sam Gidora, DFO technician, retired last spring he has not been replaced. Consequently, Sam's responsibilities has been dumped upon Dave Nanson who is now overworked.  Dave is now the only person who helps us with respect to habitat.  This situation should not be allowed to continue.

Bowen Island Fish and Wildlife Club

We’ve been very busy here – habitat maintenance challenges brought about by the water levels and decisions on upgrade of our water supply. Also we are having the best chum returns in over 10 yrs – the whole Island is bubbling over with spawning stories. We must have 100 “temporary volunteers” reporting in … we have locals emailing us saying salmon are so much “a part of our cycle of life” and thanking we SEP volunteers.

Withdrawal or downsizing the SEP programs including the Terminal Creek Hatchery, our annual PIP grant, Salmon In Classroom, Hatchery tours and education programs, the DFO Community Advisor, the Bi-annual SEP Conference, our Bowen website, assistance to our local government and partnerships with them would all be viewed by our entire population as a major mistake and withdrawal of a valuable Federal Gov’t program.

And later adds:

He wants me to emphasize to you and in turn SEP management that without the SEP Community Advisors, the SEP PIP funding for the Terminal Creek Hatchery, the SEP federal hatcheries,  the  SEP volunteer & public school education support, our entire group of programs would need be shut down. Our 4000 residents and 10’s of thousands of Metro Vancouver visitors would be upset about the short sightedness of the Liberal Government. It would not be possible to continue any of our programs without SEP support. Please convey in the strongest way possible that DFO continue the very critical Salmon Enhancement Program.

West Vancouver Streamkeepers Society

• strength of returns

Chum salmon are very strong in Brothers Creek.  We are looking at the strongest return in the last ten years.  Coho, although arriving a little later than expected, are coming along fine.  Probably a normal year of about 100 plus in Brothers and Hadden creeks.  Chinook salmon - which are around 10 pounds - are showing more than usual in Brothers Creek.

Other creeks are definitely behind the average at this time.  Chum have been sporadic.  In most creeks we expect coho primarily.  Our spawner season is only two weeks old with coho historically returning until the end of December.

• projects completed or started since the last meeting (early June)

Lawson Creek replacement fish ladder located adjacent to The Legion building on 18^th Street.  The old lightly built, metal fish ladder was destroyed by winter storms and was recently removed.  A more robust concrete fish ladder was constructed, which was longer with larger boxes, more boxes and a lower gradient making it much easier for fish to advance.  Water is now deflected to the ladder which keeps a constant flow in the ladder and allows fish passage under all creek conditions.

Two other projects for mid-2017:

Fish passage in upper Hadden Creek to the Capilano Golf and Country Club.  This requires a fish ladder and amendments to the creek resulting in naturalizing the stream, widening it in places and changing the gradient.

Estuary enhancement project on Larson Creek will provide shoreline protection and improved access into the creek for spawner salmon.

• poaching/pollution/ other compliance issue

Constant watch.  Mostly clean watersheds.  Issues are mostly about retaining and protecting setback areas, particularly where old houses are being removed and new dwellings constructed.  The norm is to maximize the allowable footprint thus pushing toward the allowable setback.

• funding

Project funding opportunities appear fairly secure and very helpful.  Grant writing is a challenge with every source having different application dates, criteria, rules about the percentage of government funding allowed, timing of funds, allowable use of the funds and reporting out requirements once the project is complete.  This is just the reality but takes infinite patience and discipline.  If volunteer organizations are willing to go through this, there is certainly solid sources of funds.  Examples include DFO (Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program), Pacific Salmon Foundation, Environmental Damages Fund, compensation funds from municipal government from property developer or road construction by-law infractions (or negotiated settlements),  TD Friends of the Environment Fund, Community Foundations, Royal Bank and major corporations within and outside the community.

In addition to project funding is the sustained funding required just to keep our stewardship operation going.  The PIP grant, although modest, does cover about one-third of our normal operations.  We have been able to secure a five year funding agreement with a consortium of local businesses ($2,000 per year).  Additionally, donations from Streamkeeper members (total membership is 240) and people in the community who have come to know and appreciate our volunteer-driven work helps meet our sustained funding requirements.

• importance of SEP and DFO to your group 

It is inconceivable that DFO could consider reducing the role of CA’s.  To me, they are the backbone of all stewardship organizations.  There is no possible way any volunteer group can be allowed to conduct salmon enhancement projects without the input of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.  Legal issues, good science, habitat assessment, project support, recommendations and design all play into the efforts of Streamkeeper volunteers.

If PSF are correct, that there are 22,000 of us attending to local streams throughout the province, the value of this army of volunteers cannot be overstated.  This is a too powerful and productive contribution to society to ignore.  The fastest way to disassemble this team of stewardship volunteers is to take away the technical support provided by Community Advisors.  I have no doubt that we would lose most of our leadership and many of the 92 volunteers that have made our organization so successful.

North Shore Wetland Partners

NSWP is working on McKay Creek estuary in North Vancouver where the issues are proposed sea diking, and at Cypress Mountain in the headwaters of Cypress Creek where the issues are mostly water quality, invasive reed canary grass, and trail deterioration and infrastructure.  This group appreciates receiving lots of advice from Zo Ann and CAs Rob Bell-Irving and Sandie Hollick Kenyon.

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SEHAB Roundtable––June 2016

SEHAB Member:  Elizabeth Hardy

Area:  West Vancouver-Howe Sound

Community Advisor:  Rob Bell-Irving

Date:  June 2016

Key Issues:

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

1. Continuing frustration with funding application requirements that ask volunteer group to cover tax and require participation of other funders without knowing how much will come from grant.
2. Several groups mentioned how important PIP and PSF funding was to programs delivered.
3. Request to provide better support for questions posed by small hatcheries.

Stories:

A few examples of successes, failures, challenges.

At the Friday Night Forum in February, Jan Lemon and a volunteer from Bowen Island both talked to me about the same issue of siltation in water supply.  However, Jan had progressed further in finding a solution.  I was able to get the two talking and now Bowen Island will be installing the same technology as Jan.  I think this is an example of the importance of hearing about successes and challenges experienced by other groups throughout the province during SEHAB meetings.

Issues Specific to SEHAB’s Work Plan:

Submissions, Comments from Groups:

West Vancouver Shoreline Preservation Society

We found the DFO's Recreational Fisheries Partnership Program very difficult to apply for, to arrange and the final reporting required. Fortunately a local staffer provided a lot of assistance for us.    They don't allow the costs of tax such as GST to be included in project costs but we have to pay it.   It is difficult to arrange financing from other partners when it is not known how much will come from DFO. DFO expect the other contributors will confirm their participation before DFO will confirm their participation and then if some items in the budget is under spent and some other item over spent because budget estimates are not precise then DFO will change their participation.   It is very frustrating.    We are not sure we want to do another RFPP project.   

Bowen Island Fish and Wildlife Club

1. Water supply siltation at Terminal Creek Hatchery

The solution being installed this summer is called COANDA SCREENS manufactured in Kamloops. It is being installed at the Oldfield Hatchery in Prince Rupert. Rob Bell-Irving has contacted Rob Dams(sp) the CA responsible and the costs and results will be forwarded to us when available. Initial information we have looked at sounds positive.

2. Bowen Island Municipality (BIM)

We have established a very good working relationship with the council, working committees and staff. BIM have been an important participation partner in completing a habitat restoration project at Tunstall Bay.

3. Hatchery Operations/Fish Science

We have spent much time in the past 2 yrs implementing the biosecurity and operating procedures contained in the BMP manual. As a result a number of questions, not dealt with in the manual, particularly in the areas of incubation, ponding & feeding have been raised. We would like to have a session with a biologist/scientist where we could discuss these matters in detail. If these areas are of interest to other hatcheries perhaps DFO would offer a hands on seminar at one of their full time operations.

Squamish Streamkeepers

Future funding is still a mystery.  Our CA, Rob Bell-Irving, has met with us and others but we await his email explaining what we are to expect.

Jonn should comment on the rest however our False Creek work is encouraging.  We are now using several 3 * 10 foot nylon mesh nets suspending from wharfs in a sub tidal fashion.  Inter tidal installations are usually harmed by various oil spills.  Last April a fire consumed the Squamish Terminals east pier, our primary Herring roe habitat.  This Herring spawn season we worked with our secondary roe habitat: Terminals west pier, so the upper Howe Sound Herring population suffered a small setback.

Jack

I have a meeting tomorrow (Friday) with the False Creek Hotel as they wish to expand the herring enhancement there. Next Feb will be the first returns from our three years of wrapping 117 creosote pilings and hopefully there will be a big jump in spawners. The FC Hotel wants to get the local school kids involved and perhaps start a herring festival. I can report better next week.

The first year we had about 50% hatch out on 40 million eggs. Second year perhaps 5 to 10 % survival from 20 million eggs due to a boat burning and sinking. This year perhaps 60 to 75 % survival on 20 million eggs as our experimental deep nets avoided the surface oil.. Jonn Matsen

Whistler Fisheries Stewardship Group

The Whistler Fisheries Stewardship Group (WFSG) was pretty quiet last year. We continued with water quality monitoring (lakes and streams) plus spawning counts, but didn’t tackle a rehabilitation project.

Our current level of interaction with the government is minimal. We receive $1500 from DFO’s PIP program and it covers our supplies needs for the volunteer programs mentioned above.

All in all, not much to report out at this time.

Stewardship Pemberton Society

 Not much has changed for us regarding government support. We continue to receive funding from PIP which allows us to really put on some great community outreach initiatives.

We are really happy with two projects that are happening due to the support of PSF. We are building a large 3D outdoor watershed model of the Lillooet River Watershed to be housed at the Nature Centre. It will be about 4x8 meters, and include culturally and ecologically sensitive areas. We are excited about this as it has been a vision of ours for a long time. It will allow us to educate about our watershed more effectively. 

We are also bringing Stream of Dreams to our community this September to coincide with BC Rivers Day celebrations at the Nature Centre, and our 10 year anniversary.  We received funding for every student at Signal Hill and the French School to participate (560 students!). 

Both projects have a matrix of funders, but PSF formed the backbone of our funding. 

We continue to work in areas related to species at risk, and are extremely disappointed with the lack of enforcement regarding the Biro development where the red listed sharp-tailed snake resides. This is on private land. We are hoping a safety net order will be deployed but are not holding our breath. It seems an opportunity to showcase stewardship collaboration with development was completely lost, and ultimately the species will pay the price. 

We have been very successful in our efforts to work in the area of food sustainability and food justice. We have been working on community agricultural initiatives on 67 acres of land in Pemberton in partnership with the Village of Pemberton, continue to manage the Pemberton Creek Community Gardens, the Crabapple project and Pemberton Fruit tree projects  that aims to reduce human bear conflict, and more.  So much to tell. 

Our approach to strive towards financial sustainability through our social enterprise continues to provide a solid foundation for our organization, although as all others experience, funding is crucial to our success. 

We presented to SD 48 in Squamish April 15th and had over 50 teachers attend our workshop focuses on the benefits of nature education in the school system. It was a fantastic success! 

We have had a very very busy year, again. 

West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society

In recent months West Vancouver Streamkeepers have met with other salmon stewardship groups - exchange of ideas, update on and visiting projects, creek tours, etc.  This is a new initiative and one that will be continued.

• Stoney Creek Environment Committee and several other Burnaby stewardship groups
• Bowen Island Fish and Wildlife Club
• North Shore Streamkeepers

Projects Completed

• Rodgers Creek Estuary Enhancement
• Maintenance work on two coho salmon rearing ponds completed

Projects in the Works

• Larson Creek – estuary and lower creek enhancement possibilities
• Lawson Creek fish ladder replacement
• Navvy Jack House to be converted to a Nature Centre
• Lawson Creek – restoration of the lower creek in the area of the proposed Nature Centre

Administration

• AGM held on May 5. Existing board re-elected and the officers remain the same.
• Work will start this fall on meeting the requirements of the new Societies Act.

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SEHAB Member:  Elizabeth Hardy

Area:  West Vancouver- Howe Sound

Community Advisor:  Rob Bell-Irving

Date:  November 2015

Key Issues:

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

1.  The foreshore is becoming increasingly important to volunteer groups.  Four groups have done foreshore and/or estuary projects.

2.  PIP, RFCPP and PSF funding was mentioned several times in a positive light as appreciation that the programs exist.  Stable and predictable funding is very important.  A few groups mentioned an increase in PIP would be nice to cover increasing costs.

3.  Habitat loss is a concern, in the continuing loss of wetlands for recreation, and beach manipulations impacting forage fish spawning areas

Stories:

A few examples of successes, failures, challenges.

A few expressions of disappointment that the new Fisheries Minister is not from the west coast.  For example: 

I had hoped to hear good things coming from this ceremony but am very disappointed. Certainly the Liberals have accomplished diversity and equality in their cabinet but after 2 hrs of “swearing” the last minister appointed seems to have Fisheries tacked on to his responsibility for the North. I have nothing against Mr. Too Too from Inuvik but I’m not sure he could differentiate a sockeye from a coho .. or that he has ever heard of the Cohen Commission.

I was hoping to be inspired by a minister who had some interest in the Pacific Region and who would be motivated to pursue some return for taxpayers from the excellent work done by Justice Cohen. We have a newly elected Liberal MP from West Vancouver/Sunshine Coast who could do that.

I’m no longer hopeful that all of the work done by the many stewards of Pacific Salmon and my own small volunteer contribution will make any difference.

Issues Specific to SEHAB’s Work Plan:

 Submissions, Comments from Groups:

WEST VANCOUVER SHORELINE PRESERVATION SOCIETY

Elizabeth, the attachment describes a project the WVSPS has approval for and funding to proceed. Plan is to commence sometime after Nov 11th.      We had nice assistance from the DFO  Recreational Fishing Partnership Program people.      PIP is a bit confusing for us as our excellent Treasurer, Jack Wood, died last year and we are trying to learn the ropes so to speak, but we understand the PIP people will provide the Application Form and some guidance in proceeding with it. It has been a very helpful program although with the cost increases experienced the small amount of the grant needs to be increased.  Our Community Advisor, Rob Bell-Irving, is very helpful.                

Relations:  Province has not been helpful nor a hindrance although the local MLA, Ralph Sultan, has been very supportive. The provincial government just ignores anything to do with “wealthy West Vancouver” in my opinion.       

Science Branch could help us by requesting Canadian Hydrographic Services to survey the shoreline from the Lions Gate Bridge to the west and providing us and West Van with the data.  Also Science Branch, assuming the West Van Lab is under them, could help us.                   

The New Fisheries Act seems to be beneficial in that we don’t need to jump through a lot of irrelevant hoops to get approval to do in-the-water work, we just need to show it isn’t damaging or will be beneficial.         Moving rocks and putting them in the water is not something volunteers can do so DFO’s insistence on large participation from volunteers does not work very well for us.    One silly thing the DFO does is insist on using legal size pages/paper for Agreements, etc. Difficult and unreasonable for volunteers so they should go to regular 8 x 11 pages.     

Thanx for all the work you do to help us along.    Ray R     

Bowen Island Fish and Wildlife Club

Foreshore rehabilitation at Explosives Creek Tunstall Bay.  We recently completed a projected that received funding from PSF and a very significant volunteer effort. Explosives Creek enters Howe Sound in a large bay open to the SW.  There are strong winds and high tides each fall & winter. This combined with heavy public usage and a sailing club which stores & launches boats at this location had caused foreshore erosion. A joint effort with the Municipality, the local Community, and our group has finished restoration work, fencing, and upgrade of the lower 100 m of Creek. The project required many hours of planning with the Community & Municipality but has paid off with good working relationships with all involved. DFO and PSF assistance were fundamental in the success of this project. We are awaiting chum & coho to enter the Creek any day now.

In Spring 2015 we conducted hands on education of 7 volunteers on the Best Management Practices documented in the SEP BMP Manual. The daily operations at our Terminal Creek Hatchery will operate more smoothly and with enhanced biosecurity in future. We found the reporting requirements to be onerous and very time taking and summarized these into several “short form” formats.

A new and significant effort was made to upgrade our website and develop a much closer working relationship with our Municipal Council and staff. This is paying off with much improved joint working relationship and sharing of labour time & costs on our habitat projects.

A joint meeting with West Vancouver Streamkeepers has helped us re-organize our group and some of our streamkeeping  procedures.

West Vancouver Streamkeepers Society

Spawning Salmon:  A good return of pink salmon.  There were a few chinook in with the pinks in the largest creek, a tributary of the Capilano River.  Currently this creek has some chum and coho, but returns are slow.  Chum or coho have been seen in two other creeks.  The feeling is that it is a strange year - the returns are slow in coming, but hopefully will build as November progresses.  Thirty streamkeeper volunteers are doing spawner surveys, as well as teams of high school students.

Storm Drain Marking:  This program is going strong with over 2000 storm drains painted by elementary school students in 27 events.  Four groups of Scouts will be added next spring.

WVS continues to have strong contact with all levels of government.  MLA will be doing a spawner survey with WVS next week, and the new MP has requested a meeting.

Three main projects have been completed.  Rodgers Creek had foreshore improvements and as the work was being done, the pink salmon were trying to access the creek- the first time pinks had been seen in this creek.  A fish friendly culvert was placed on Hadden Creek, removing an undersized perched culvert which was a barrier to spawning salmon.  A pond was constructed to raise the water at the mouth of a culvert on McDonald Creek to improve access.  Streamkeepers are monitoring this project to see if it worked and what improvements can be made. 

The Cohen Commision will be a topic when WVS meet with the new MP.

***WVS would like to see RFCPP continue.  Volunteers appreciate predictable and stable funding.  Costs are increasing.

North Shore Wetland Partners

We are doing a lot of work in Lower Mackay Creek Estuary and Wetlands this year, supported in part, directly or indirectly by DFO, as a result we are working more with Sandy Hollick-Kenyon in NVD. We love the support of the Public Involvement Program and our community advisers who have helped us through some very rough times we can't say enough good about how great they're contributions are to our communities it feels like we survived a dark part of our history. The financial contribution from the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program is supporting the work as is the seed funding we received through PIP program to support our group. It is great to see a program generating funds to put back in the resource like fishing licences. It would be great if a similar set up applied to all recreational activities that affect salmon habitat including headwaters estuaries & wetlands. 

The problems in Cypress creek headwaters do not change. Wetlands are still being filled in and limited water retention is a problem in high water rain events & drought. Mountain biking and trail running are growing sports that impact trails, hydrology, invasive species  Parks have limited resources for maintenance  volunteer work alone cannot bring these areas back to manageable by themselves. We need watershed planning as we continue to fragment away all the habitat in knee jerk reactions putting out fires as they happen sucks.

Forage Fish concerns need to be raised DFO has guidelines for this kind of work that can interrupt sediment flows that forage fish need for beech spawning. Forage fish need increased protection, education with enforcement looking at the way spawning  beeches here are groomed for sun tanners with heavy equipment annually, off leash dog walking & a host of recreational activities below the high tide line on spawning beeches We need to work together 
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Herbicide use is an ongoing concern as more riparian areas are left to fill with invasive species creating  the cost effective way to deal with this is herbicides. Looking at how long & poorly organised current giant hog weed Jap Knott weed programs are in our different communities  approvals for a water herbicide for Spartina is an example of expanding reliance on the permit use of herbicides to deal with lack of education to quickly react. Who's scientists will be monitoring those areas closely for any negative impacts on fish, birds, pollinators, amphibians, reptiles etc as none do currently. 

Changing climate has brought about flood plain & fire interface planning we will need to protect our streams for salmon & call for watershed planning.  Hope that helps

Details

Hits: 4099

SEHAB Member:  Elizabeth Hardy

Area:  West Vancouver-Howe Sound- Pemberton

Community Advisor: Rob Bell-Irving

Date: November 2015

Key Issues:

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

1.  Lack of support from DFO to volunteer groups and no idea who else to turn to for help
2.  Lack of recognition from DFO for volunteer skills
3.  Continued frustration for lack of enforcement for fishing violations

Issues Specific to SEHAB’s Work Plan:

Submissions, Comments from Groups:

West Vancouver Shoreline Society:

The West Van Shoreline Preservation Society has had a tough year with one Director suddenly dying, one other suffering a debilitating stroke and two others undergoing some treatment so 2014 was not a good period for us. 

We made application under the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnership Program for a grant to complete a project.  It required quite a bit of cost estimating, liaising with potential partners, etc and then we haven’t heard a thing since submitting the application. We phoned two different DFO people asking if we could come and talk to them to get some guidance and help but NO, just do the online stuff and hope it is accepted. Very poor attitude by DFO.  But one doesn’t complain or they will blacklist you for the future.     I note one place they said the bureaucracy was outstripping volunteer time.

Workshops – somehow it seems these are scheduled when we have something else scheduled and are often far enough away that several days time is involved so we haven’t been able to attend them. Someday maybe.