Projects

Quamichan Watershed

Quamichan Watershed The Quamichan Watershed Stewardship Society (Quamichan Stewards) was formed as a sub-committee of the Cowichan Land Trust in the spring of 2006 to respond to the continuously declining health of Quamichan Lake. After two years of initial research and investigation it was able to move forward to prepare a Watershed Management Plan. With nearly $50,000 from the federal EcoAction Community Funding Program, $10,000 funding from the Pacific Salmon Foundation and substantial in-kind and cash donations from the community, the Management Plan takes the whole Quamichan Watershed into consideration and provides a blueprint for restoring the lake to health. The plan was developed in partnership with all of the stakeholders, including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the B.C. Ministries of Environment and Agriculture, the Municipality of North Cowichan, local farmers, and residents of the watershed. In May of 2010 the Quamichan Stewards received a new grant from the federal Environment Canada EcoAction Community Funding Program to begin implementing the Management Plan. To kick this off, the Quamichan Stewards co-hosted the BC Lake Stewardship Society’s 2010 Community Forum. This was made possible with the addition of other funding from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Nature Trust, Pacific Salmon Foundation and Sea Spring Salmon Farm. This event was a huge success and drew in over 400 people! The Quamichan Stewards are working with the Cowichan Land Trust to spend the next year completing the following projects which were given high priority in the Implemantation Guide of the Managent Plan: Develop a lake access strategy to increase the visibility of the Quamichan Watershed and promote recreation and educational activities. Reduce non-source nutrient input from land and water acivities in the Quamichan Wateshed by promoting septic field education, leading conversions from septic to sewer, and building rain ponds (wetlands) near streams that flow into Quamichan Lake. Protect native plant species by holding invasive species workshops and volunteer work parties to remove invasives from around Quamichan Lake. Use and promote the watershed as a venue for recreation, education and wildlife events by hosting a Spring Fishing Derby in April. For more information about the Quamichan Watershed Stewardship Society or the Quamichan Watershed project, contact Kai at 250-746-0227 or kai@quamichanlake.ca

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Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre

Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre 1845 Cowichan Bay Road    250 597 2288 For open hours and the latest program information, please visit the Nature Centre website: www.cowichanestuary.caLocated in beautiful Hecate Park at the west end of Cowichan Bay Village, the Nature Centre offers opportunities for visitors of all ages to learn about the estuary, the bay, and the watershed through informative interactive exhibits and fun hands-on activities.  School programs and interpretive programs for other groups can be booked at any available time.  We also offer weekly summer science camps, and host films and other special events including facility rentals. The Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre offers exciting volunteer opportunities for adults and youth.  These include; nature interpreters when the Nature Centre is open to the public for visitors, educational program leaders, participating in monthly bird counts, working on ecosystem restoration projects, creating and maintaining displays and equipment, and many other volunteers roles needed by all non-profits. Make a donation to the Estuary Nature Centre online by clicking here, or downloading the form below and returning it with a cheque to: The Cowichan Community Land Trust,6 – 55 Station StreetDuncan, BC V9L 1M2 Estuary Nature Centre Management Committee Jane Kilthei, Committee Chair, Cowichan Land TrustKai Rietzel, Cowichan Land TrustJohn Scull, Cowichan Land Trust BoardEric Marshall, Cowichan Valley Naturalists SocietyKerrie Talbot, Chair, Area D Parks CommissionGail Mitchell, CENC VolunteerHaley Guest, CENC Coordinator Previous committee members and ongoing supporters who we would like to thank include: Rod Carswell (Cowichan Land Trust Board), Tracy Fleming (Cowichan Tribes), Graham Gidden (CVRD Parks), Cheri Ayers (Cowichan Tribes), Guy Johnston (Fishermen’s Wharf Assoc), Nan Goodship, Carol Hartwig (CVNaturalists), Norm Olive (CVRD Project Manager), Erin Ward, Shari Willmott, Vanessa Elton, Madeline Southern, and Dwight Milford.

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Cowichan Land Trust Member and Volunteer Joins TLC to \”Pony up for the Point\”!

Cowichan Land Trust Member and Volunteer Joins TLC to “Pony up for the Point”! From The Land Conservancy website: TLC Member and Cowichan Valley Resident, Jim Wisnia, has decided that it’s time to “Pony Up for the Point”. To assist with the campaign to raise funds for Sansum Point, Jim has pledged to cut off this pony-tail once he has raised $5,000. Jim first began growing his hair a little longer when he found it kept his neck warm while working outside at the North Vancouver Outdoor School.  His current pony-tail, which is about 12 inches long, has been in the works for the last couple of years.  In the back of his mind he always thought he might be able to use it for a fundraiser. As someone who loves a good hook, “Pony up for the Point” was a perfect fit. “Sansum Point is a very special property and is a wonderful amendment for the Stoney Hill Area,” said Jim.  “From diverse marine shore fauna to skyline rocky outcrop plant communities, there are so many reasons the property is worth protecting.  It’s important that we continue to help raise the funds required to encourage more partnerships with local government in the future.  It will also free up TLC to focus on other important projects.” Jim and his wife Lyn were happy to donate to help save Sansum Point when the opportunity first arose in early 2011. As long-time TLC Members, they love to get out and enjoy nature and have a deep appreciation for the important natural and cultural values of Sansum Point. Through his endless enthusiasm Jim hopes to inspire his friends and many others to Pony Up for the Point. The highest donation will even have the option to be the one to cut off the pony-tail!  TLC is forever grateful for Community Action Heroes like Jim.  The inspiration, awareness, and funds raised through their efforts make a lasting difference for B.C.’s special places. Join Jim and Pony up for the Point today! When the property came up for sale in 2011 TLC secured an option to purchase the site, valued at $1.85 Million, and partnered with the Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Cowichan Land Trust.  After an intense 5 month fundraising campaign, the property became a Cowichan Valley Regional District Park in early September. TLC and the Cowichan Land Trust have carried on with fundraising to fulfill their financial contribution and thanks to this generous gift only $380,000 remains to be raised.

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Sansum Point Saved for Future Generations!!

Sansum Point Saved for Future Generations!! DUNCAN, B.C. – The acquisition for Sansum Point closed today and the 128-acre property will now become parkland for current and future generations. As of early September, the property will be owned by the Cowichan Valley Regional District and be turned into parkland for all to enjoy. In the meantime, TLC and the Cowichan Land Trust will carry on with fundraising to fulfill their financial contribution of $495,000. This three-way partnership is an important step for building future parkland acquisitions in the Valley. “The CVRD is exceptionally pleased to have developed a working partnership with TLC and the Cowichan Land Trust to acquire Samsun Point. We look forward to continuing to work with these groups and with others to ensure that parkland and open spaces are available in the Valley. When residents in the CVRD voted to implement the Regional Parkland Acquisition Fund during the last election, they said parkland was an important priority. Sansum Point is a wonderful community asset and over time will become even more of a treasure,” says Gerry Giles, CVRD Chair. Over the past five months, the two land trusts along with the Cowichan Valley community have done an amazing job of fundraising to protect the coastal bluff and vulnerable Coastal Douglas fir ecosystem located on the Stoney Hill Peninsula, valued at nearly $2 million. “Support to date has been overwhelming and we are extremely grateful for each gift. With a little more time, I’m confident we will reach our goal. There are still lots of stones to turn over when it comes to fundraising for Sansum and we are committed to seeing it through,” says Bill Turner, TLC’s Executive Director. Recent fundraisers by Wilderness Kayaking and Godfrey-Brownell Vineyards brought in another $5,000 for the campaign and, with the support of the Duncan-Cowichan Chamber of Commerce, businesses like Godfrey-Brownell have agreed to take Sansum Point under its wing for the next year by hosting various fundraising events to keep the cause top of mind in the community. “We have created an action-oriented partnership that will ensure the protection of important areas for our grandchildren to enjoy,” says Roger Hart of the Cowichan Land Trust. “This is a gift from our generation to the next, just as we are able to enjoy unique places like Stanley Park, which could otherwise have become prime real estate.” For individuals wishing to donate to Sansum Point, please call 1-877-485-2422 or visit conservancy.bc.ca Businesses interested in hosting fundraisers for Sansum, please email: membership@conservancy.bc.ca. TLC and the Cowichan Land Trust still need to fulfill their agreement to raise $495,000 toward the Sansum acquistion. We need your help! There are a number of ways to donate: 1) Click the link to the Canada Helps website. Here, you can select the fund/designation “Sansum Point Land Acquisition” and pay using a credit card or PayPal. You will instantly be issued a tax-receipt for your donation. 2) Stop by our office at #6-55 Station Street in downtown Duncan with cash or cheque and we will gladly write you a tax-receipt. *Please note we cannot process credit cards. 3) Send a cheque by mail to: Cowichan Land Trust, #6-55 Station Street, Duncan BC V9L 1M2. Be sure to indicate the donation is for “Sansum Point”. We will then send you a tax-receipt in the mail for your donation. By donating through the Cowichan Land Trust, your donation will be held in a separate account for this acquisition. If the Sansum acquisition does not go through, your donation will remain “in-trust” for future land acquisitions with the Land Trust. Click here to look at some of the other Sansum Point promotional materials including brochures, maps, videos and the Sue Coleman print.

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WiTS Project

What’s WiTS? The Cowichan Community Land Trust is involved in conserving and monitoring trees for wildlife through the Wildlife Tree Stewards program. WiTS is a stewardship initiative of the Vancouver Island Region of the Federation of BC Naturalists (FBCN). The goal is to conserve dwindling coastal wildlife tree habitats through volunteer monitoring, landowner agreements, and community education along the Strait of Georgia on Vancouver Island. Volunteer wildlife tree stewards and cooperative landowners are crucial to this initiative. Volunteers document and monitor wildlife tree as well as provide invaluable local knowledge. Landowners provide access to, and information regarding their trees. While monitoring trees, observers have reported owl nests, Peregrine Falcons, Golden Eagles, Marbled Murrelet activity, hawk nests, a diverse array or passerine activity (warblers, vireos and flycatchers), and even a honey bee colony! Wildlife trees are defined as any standing dead or live tree with special characteristics that provide valuable habitat for the conservation or enhancement or wildlife. Buffer trees in heron colonies, especially in mixed deciduous stands, provide important migratory bird feeding and nesting habitats. A vegetated buffer can also lead to shifting the emphasis from protecting the single tree to maintaining a broader viable habitat and greater biological diversity. The Importance of the WiTS Initiative The southeast coast of Vancouver Island and associated islands contain some of the most altered ecosystems in British Columbia. Within these ecosystems, agriculture, forestry and urbanization are placing many wildlife species at risk. Yet, the ability to see wildlife is one of the great reasons we choose to spend time on Vancouver Island. The WiTS initiative is built on the results of a decade of fieldwork conducted on Great Blue Herons (a threatened species in BC) and on Bald Eagles by Vancouver Island naturalists and biologists. This new initiative is expanding to include trees and habitat important to wildlife species. Veteran trees in BC, as they deteriorate, can support up to 80 wildlife species from Pileated Woodpeckers (pictured here) to salamanders. Natural treed areas provide people with an opportunity to access nature. These are places to observe and learn about the natural environment as well as view a diverse array of wildlife species and other living organisms. Natural treed areas provide desirable microclimates and require less landscaping and chemicals than in area or exotic trees and plants. Read more at the Wildlife Tree Stewardship website.

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South Cowichan Stewardship Project

South Cowichan Stewardship Project The South Cowichan Stewardship Project is a two-year environmental program designed to conserve and protect ecologically sensitive areas along critical streams and rivers in the south Cowichan Valley. Privately owned lands bordering these streams will be the primary focus of the project. The aim of the project is to assist individual landowners in identifying critical habitat along streams and rivers within their properties and increase their appreciation of the need for environmental protection and conservation. As responsibility for protecting critical habitat falls largely to the landowner, site specific management plans will be developed for interested landholders, providing advice and recommendations as to how to maximise their protection efforts. The landholders and other members of the public will be encouraged to form community groups and participate in workshops focussing on stream stewardship. These larger community activities will be used to plan and organise environmental protection activities that are beyond the ability of the individual landowners. Where possible, Stewardship Agreements and Conservation Covenants will be entered into with individual landholders to recognise and facilitate their long-term commitment to environmental protection and conservation.

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