WEST VANCOUVER STREAMKEEPER SOCIETY PRESIDENT S REPORT ON BEHALF OF THE DIRECTORS MAY 3, 2018

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1 Meetings WEST VANCOUVER STREAMKEEPER SOCIETY PRESIDENT S REPORT ON BEHALF OF THE DIRECTORS MAY 3, 2018 Previous AGM was held on May 4, 2017 Members Meetings held on October 5 and January 25. Seaside Social evening held at Hollyburn Sailing Club on April 19. There were four meetings of the Board of Directors. Administration Two board members, Rich Ketchen and Dave Reid, resigned during the past year. The board appointed Keith Pelletier and Liz Leduc to take these positions. Mike Perley was appointed Vice President by the board after the 2017 AGM and continued to serve as Secretary. Bill McAllister served as treasurer. I am completing my eighth term as president. Nelson Creek Hatchery Hatchery Operations Coordinator Elizabeth Hardy. Volunteer operated. We received eggs, that are raised to the fry stage, from two sources: o 102,000 chum eggs from the Alouette River Hatchery in Maple Ridge. o 30,000 coho eggs from the Capilano River Hatchery. The chum fry were released on April 5. The coho fry will be released into about 10 streams in early June. The District continues to assist hatchery operations by keeping a constant watch on the water supply for the hatchery. Fish Kill in Wood Creek Between 40 and 50 cutthroat trout were killed on April 19 in Wood Creek. We have been working with the District, DFO and the Province attempting to find the cause of this tragic event. We have not been able to determine the source of the presumably toxic substance that caused not only the kill of trout but also worms and insects.

2 New initiatives have been raised with the District in an effort to raise public awareness of the risks to fish and habitat from harmful actions by residents, gardeners and construction contractors something we have been doing for many years, yet we still experience disheartening events that, in this case, has wiped out a large population of resident trout in a small stream, Wood Creek, a tributary of Eagle Creek. Streamkeeper Course Held on July 8 and 9 last year - 8 members completed the two-day training session. Another introductory training session will take place on July 7 and 8. Ten members are registered for the course. Taught by Zo Ann Morten, Executive Director, Pacific Streamkeepers Federation and Dianne Ramage, Director of Salmon Recovery Programs, Pacific Salmon Foundation. SEP Workshop The Salmon Enhancement Program Workshop in 2017 was held in Quesnel on the long May weekend. Funded by DFO. Stewardship groups from around the Province gather to attend several sessions focusing on salmon and habitat projection and enhancement. Three members attended Bill McAllister, Greg Weary and John Barker. Student Outreach Storm Drain Painting o Now in the eleventh year of this program. o Six outings were undertaken last year included 4 at elementary schools 2 each at Ridgeview and Irwin Park plus an Eagle Harbour team of Streamkeepers and one outing with 3 branches of Royal Bank employees. o The total storm drains painted (and many re-painted) throughout West Vancouver is now 2,687 from the 40 events. o Coordinators Sherry Parrott and Sigrid Bailey, last year. This year Marlene Loader is assisting Sherry. CreekTalk Program for elementary school students o Bringing the story of creeks, fish, aquatic insects, vegetation and habitat to students in the classrooms. o Taking classes to streams or the ocean for hands-on learning. o Coordinators Hugh Hamilton and Marlene Loader. Spawner Salmon Surveys - Secondary Students o Last year was the eleventh year of this program 65 students on

3 14 teams last fall. o Students participating were from West Vancouver Secondary, Sentinel, Rockridge and Mulgrave. o Wrap-up held on December 12, Mayor Mike Smith, councillors, school trustees and other community leaders attended. o On January 22 a delegation of Streamkeepers and two Environment Protection Network (EPN) student leaders presented the results of the 2017 spawner salmon surveys to West Vancouver District Council. o EPN students assist at Community Events Adopt-a-Fish, Community Day and the Coho Festival. o Coordinator John Barker Temperature Logging We continue to monitor and gather temperature data at several locations in 8 creeks in West Vancouver Cypress, Eagle, Larson, Rodgers, Lawson, McDonald, Hadden and Brothers Creeks. The temperature loggers are downloaded by a team of volunteers every three months as we continue to build this data base. A graphical representation can be seen on the website under Our Creeks. Coordinator Charlie Cochrane Citizen Science Two elements to the program in addition to the Temperature Logging. Water quality testing ph, turbidity and dissolved oxygen. Sampling for aquatic insects, the food source for cutthroat trout and juvenile salmon. The same 8 creeks are being monitored twice a year. Coordinator Leslie Shuparski Herring Spawn Project Just completed our second season. Installed 12 vertically hung nets from mooring floats in Fisherman s Cove at Thunderbird Marina and West Vancouver Yacht Club. Another 12 nets were installed at Sewell s Marina in Horseshoe Bay. Objective to provide a medium for herring to use when they spawn. The nets are similar to those used in Squamish and False Creek where they have proven quite successful. Unfortunately, there was no evidence of herring spawn on these nets during the January to March spawning period. We plan on repeating the program next year. Coordinator Keith Pelletier

4 Nature Centre Five stewardship groups all societies - West Vancouver Streamkeepers, Old Growth Conservancy, Lighthouse Park Preservation, North Shore Wetland Partners and West Vancouver Shoreline Preservation came together to form a team striving to create a nature centre for West Vancouver. The West Vancouver Nature House Society was formed with Bill Chapman serving as President. It has come to be known as Navvy Jack Nature House; a name that identifies the historical significance of this dwelling, as well as a centre celebrating the natural capital in the community. The facility will continue to be owned by the District. A suggestion by the District, to staff and operate the Nature Centre, was well received by the board of Nature House and will be the basis of the business plan. A structural assessment of the building has almost been completed. From this, the cost to bring the building up to public space requirements will be estimated. A report to Council for review will complete this phase. Work Plan Two major projects in o Larson Creek Estuary Enhancement. Completed in September. The design was prepared by Balanced Environmental. British Pacific Properties donated the large size rock required. Oversight by the District during construction. Fully funded by donations. o The project to improve fish passage and upgrade habitat at Hadden Creek at the Capilano Golf and Country Club was cancelled. Contractor bids far exceeded the budget we were provided to undertake this work. In September last year, the grants we received were returned to the respective agencies. Future Projects 10 projects for Key in this list are: o The Lawson Creek Restoration Project, adjacent to Navvy Jack Nature House, awaits the outcome of the building assessment, which may include moving the building to the opposite corner of the adjacent park and possibly raising the height of the structure. This outcome will determine the path of the new creek channel which will flow through this small park to the west of Lawson Creek. o Repair and replace baffles in the Brothers Creek culvert which runs underneath the Upper Levels Highway. o Repair the support structure under the fish ladder on Hadden Creek at Stevens Drive. o Restore the large pool, including native vegetation, at the outlet end of the Eagle Harbour culvert. The pool was badly altered during the culvert repair last year. Coordinator Don Harrison Viewing Platform on Brothers Creek

5 Located on Keith Road, three blocks east of Taylor Way. Site is monitored year-round and kept clean and welcoming by a team of 11 Streamkeeper volunteers. The District provides an annual inspection and provides upgrades to the trail and protective fencing before the salmon return. Temporary signage advises the public each year when the returning salmon have arrived. Coordinator Dave Martin Creek Monitoring Creek Monitors 32 members covering 22 streams and tributaries. They conducted spawner salmon surveys last fall and, this spring, will be surveying for emerging coho fry starting this week. The results of the 2017 spawner salmon surveys from last fall can be seen on the website. Coordinator Laura Bekar Relationship with and Contribution by the District of West Vancouver Continued support by Mayor and Council. Monthly meetings with the District staff which includes representatives from Parks, Engineering, Environment and Planning. These meetings always include a review of EDP applications followed by site visits, when appropriate. Assistance with ongoing maintenance in creeks and construction of creek enhancements. Access to funding for stewardship groups has solidified Streamkeepers position as a funding partner with the District in a number of smaller projects. Larger projects have been all fully paid for by the fund-raising efforts of the Society. Mapping creating individual area maps for the storm drain painting program. Coordinator Bill McAllister Donations and Funding Sustained funding o Fisheries and Oceans Canada PIP grant o Park Royal and British Pacific Properties Memberships and donations from members. The Seaside Social many donors, with the major ones being Park Royal, Thrifty Foods and Loblaws City Market. Held on April 19. Many donated items which were awarded as door prizes. Project focused funding the five major projects in the last few years (McDonald Creek Centennial Rearing Pond, McDonald Creek Estuary Enhancement, Rodgers Creek Estuary Enhancement, Lawson Creek fish ladder and Larson Creek Estuary Enhancement) have all been fully

6 funded by the fund-raising efforts of the Society. Other than District staff project oversight, these salmon enhancement projects do not place a burden on the property tax paying community. Donations from individuals in the community. In-kind contributions: o Balanced Environmental foreshore work and estuary enhancement projects o British Pacific Properties rock supply o North Construction estimating and physical work o Sartori Environmental assessing opportunities for stream enhancement projects o CREUS Engineering civil engineering oversight o Chapman Land Surveying site surveys Funding Coordinator Bill McAllister Membership Record keeping, notices and membership contact. 251 members in 2017, compares to 240 in 2016, 228 in 2015 and 196 in And, 229 members so far this year. Membership Coordinator Liz Leduc Volunteer Participation Volunteer teams: o Nelson Creek Hatchery operations team of 8 and release of chum and coho fry another 6 per outing. o Cleaning the Keith Road Viewing Platform team of 11. o Temperature loggers downloading data 8 streams requiring teams of one volunteer per stream. o Storm drain marking 7 volunteers per outing. o 32 Creek Monitors who conduct spawner salmon surveys and emerging fry surveys on all creeks. o Spawner salmon surveys student program 14 teams each led by a Streamkeeper sponsor, 65 participating students. o Community events - Adopt-A-Fish (April) - 33 volunteers, plus Community Day (June) and the Coho Festival (September). Coordinator Liz Leduc Community Events Events in which Streamkeepers participated in the past 12 months. Community Day Saturday, June 3, 2017 Coho Festival Sunday, September 10, 2017 Adopt-A-Fish Saturday, April 28, 2018 Coordinators - Don Harrison and Liz Leduc

7 Awards Two EPN (Environment Protection Network) students from West Vancouver Secondary School were nominated by Streamkeepers for Youth Appreciation Awards for their leadership contribution during the Spawner Salmon Surveys conducted last fall. Fumika Noguchi and Alice Kang were selected as winners and they received their awards, presented by Mayor Michael Smith, on April 30. Communication Four newsletters were published since last year s AGM. Website kept up-to-date with announcements, photographs and additional information. Facebook page. Announcements to membership via , mail, Facebook or the website. Favourable support from North Shore News. Coordinated by - John Barker, Charlie Cochrane and photographer, Gabrielle Mustapich Committees and Coordinators The Society is managed by 18 Committees each run by a Coordinator Our participation in Navvy Jack Nature House Bill Chapman Nelson Creek Hatchery operations Elizabeth Hardy Streamkeeper course John Barker Community events Liz Leduc and Don Harrison Membership and volunteer participation Liz Leduc Spawner salmon surveys and emerging fry surveys Laura Bekar Work Plan Don Harrison Funding Bill McAllister Student Outreach Storm Drain Painting - Sherry Parrott Student Outreach CreekTalk Hugh Hamilton Student Outreach Secondary Schools - John Barker Temperature Logging Charlie Cochrane Citizen Science Leslie Shuparski Property development and creek protection Greg Harder Viewing Platform monitoring Dave Martin Herring Spawn Enhancement Keith Pelletier Regulatory, legal and insurance - Mike Perley Monthly meetings with District staff Bill McAllister Communications John Barker And finally, a big thank-you to all those who contribute in so many ways to make this organization, one to be proud of - one that is providing constructive work on behalf of

8 streams, salmon and the community at large. John Barker, President, On behalf of the Board of Directors of West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society. May 3, 2018