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:

SEHAB Work Plan	Local Issue, Specific  Examples	Actions by Community or DFO	SEHAB Opportunity
Wild Salmon Policy (Stock Assessment, Habitat)	Frustration with lack of protection for species on private land and during development
Aquaculture	Clarity in hatchery operating procedures requested by small hatchery.	Request a session with biologist or scientist to discuss issues specific to small hatcheries
Capacity & Core Funding	Frustration with RFCPP ·         Tax paid by volunteer group ·         Difficult to arrange for additional funding when amount from DFO unknown ·         DFO requires commitment from others that they themselves do not do ·         DFO can change their participation based on imprecise estimations by others

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.