Project Report 2011

AGM 2012: FFCCSoc Projects Report, 2011

We have had another active year with our projects in 2011. In total, we had a 95 volunteer turnout over all our projects, many members contributing to several. The result was 944 volunteer hours in total; this is a record and represents a 50% increase over last year, which was itself a record. We can congratulate ourselves for this significant effort, and heartily thank all those people who came out to participate in the projects. We look forward to similar support in 2012; there is always some things anyone can do, so don’t hesitate to get involved.

1. Bank Restoration, Hof Waldeck Farm:  This was our most ambitious restoration project to date. Seventy-seven meters of creek bank on the Hof Waldeck Farm was protected with rock and large woody debris (logs) to prevent further erosion and subsequent degradation of the downstream stream bed. Nine members participated over the period 28 July – 12 August, under the supervision of our DFO consultant Jack Newman, and the artistic excavator work of Ray Tinkling. Trees were planted at this time along the bank to further stabilize the site. A site visit was made on October 4 by the workers, grantors and local press to inspect the results of the work. Monitoring of the site will occur over the winter.
2. Tree Planting & Tending:  Tree planting is one of our major on-going projects; trees along the stream banks help stabilize the banks, reduce erosion, provide shade for the fish and act as a carbon sink. Activities in 2011 included 6 tree planting sessions in the spring and fall, one tree potting session and two water & weeding sessions at Jacquie Thomson’s. We planted a total of 271 trees in the riparian area of French Creek. Special thanks go to Jacquie for the work she has done in tending our potted trees.
3. Hogweed Removal & Control:  Hogweed removal continued actively this year under the guidance of Mike Jessen. Seven work parties were organized over the year; further details may be found in the February Newsletter.
4. Hamilton Marsh Easter Tour:  Again in conjunction with the Brant Festival, our annual Easter Tour of Hamilton Marsh was held April 17. Further details on our activities on Hamilton Marsh are related by Ceri Peacey in our February Newsletter.
5. Dudley Marsh Water Level Monitoring:  We (mostly Des Davidge and John Peacey) monitored the water height and flow out of Dudley Marsh weekly over the year, relaying the results to DFO and Nature Trust of BC. Des’ article in the February describes the battles that occurred with the beavers and other creatures.
6. RDN/MoE Water Sampling:  The Regional District of Nanaimo and the Ministry of Environment, through RDN’s Community Watershed Monitoring Network, asked a number of environmental groups to participate, including FFCCS. Over the summer and fall of 2011, we conducted measurements on the water quality at three sites on French Creek. A total of 10 weekly measurements of temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and turbidity were made; results are being accumulated by MoE, who will issue a report. We expect to continue these measurements next year.
7. DFO Fish Count:  We assisted DFO once again in its annual count of fish fry in a pool in French Creek beside the MillerRoadCommunityPark. Fish size, weight and species were determined; the coho count was second highest seen at this site: 528 wild and 63 hatchery.
8. Pratt Road Log Jam Removal:  We were requested to be the community sponsor for a project supervised by biologist Dave Clough: the removal of log jams upstream of the Pratt Road crossing on French Creek. The jams forced water into the surrounding forest at high water, resulting in pools of water stranding fish fry as the water receded. The jam was successfully removed in the late summer by an excavator.
9. Display Board Presentations:  We exhibited our display board only one location this year, Earth Day, on April 4.
10. Grant Applications:  We were successful in obtaining grants and donations totaling almost $39,000 for our restoration work on French Creek from Pacific Salmon Foundation, Terasen Gas (now FortisBC), EPCOR, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, BC Hydro, Parksville-Qualicum Fish & Game Association, BC Wildlife Federation, Island Timberlands and Coastal Community Credit Union. We greatly appreciate this support.
11.  Reports and Projects Completed:  Two projects were formally completed in 2011 with the submission of final reports to the Pacific Salmon Foundation: French Creek: Riparian Planting 2009/10 and Assessment of Potential Impacts of Weir Development on the Flora & Fauna of Hamilton Marsh. From the latter project, three reports have resulted, written by external consultants, namely: Assessment of Potential Impacts of Proposed Water Level Changes on Amphibians, Fish, Birds, and Plants at Hamilton Marsh; Hamilton Marsh Storage Feasibility Investigations; and French Creek Flow Monitoring Summary Report 2006-2010. The latter report results from the five years of flow measurements we undertook. Copies of any of these reports are available.

Submitted by:            Sandy Robinson

For AGM, February 22, 2012