caring our shores

Welcome to the contents page for Caring for Our Shores: A Handbook for Coastal Landowners in the Strait of Georgia. The handbook provides information for waterfront landowners in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, including: stewardship tips and property enhancement activities, maps of lower Vancouver Island’s east coast, an introduction to intertidal ecology, and illustrations. The following sites are summaries of some of the book’s chapters. I. Welcome to the Seashore Chapter 1: Water, Shores, and Intertidal Ties …some different shore types and how to identify them …an introduction to our tides, and marine food webs Chapter 2: Special Places …some unique marine places in the Cowichan Region II. Living on the Ocean Chapter 3: Let Nature Do the Work …how to minimize harm through careful building and landscaping Chapter 4: Down the Drain …exercising our power to preserve through smart household choices Chapter 5: Sewage and the Seashore …some facts on sewage and septic systems Chapter 6: Greening Your Land …important things to consider on your farm or in your garden Chapter 7: Out to Sea …ideas for boaters Chapter 8: A Visit to the Beach …ideas to consider when using your beach for recreation or harvesting Chapter 9: Commercial Uses of the Shore …monitoring the impacts of commerce and industry III. Mapping and Monitoring the Shore Chapter 10: Where to Start …steps for recording the diversity of your shore IV. The Law and the Shore Chapter 11: Public and Private Rights …your rights as a marine waterfront landowner Chapter 12: Legal Tools for Marine Protection …important legislation for the protection of waterfront habitat Chapter 13: Making a Case …some illegal uses of the shore and how to report them Appendices Appendix 1: Where to Get Help …numbers, information hotlines, and organizations related to the marine environment Appendix 2: Latin Names for Wildlife …scientific names for wildlife named in this book Appendix 3: References and Resources …helpful and interesting publications Appendix 4: Identification Key …a visual guide to some seashore creatures   To order a copy of Caring for Our Shores: A Handbook for Coastal Residents in the Strait of Georgia, contact: The Cowichan Community Land Trust Society #6-55 Station Street, Duncan, B.C, V9L 1M2 P: 250-746-0227, F: 250-746-9607 The Marine Ecology Station Sidney, B.C, P: 250-655-1555 Images used with special permission from Kerry L. Werry. To view more pictures of ocean creatures found in B.C waters, visit the B.C Diving and Marine Life I.D Page.