Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Steward
COWICHAN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST SOCIETY NEWSLETTER – SUMMER 2007
CCLT has been working hard this past year. You may have seen CCLT mentioned in the
local papers recently because we were honored with the Silver Award from the Habitat
Conservation Trust Fund for the work CCLT staff, members and the community have done to
re-establish sub-tidal eelgrass meadows in Cowichan Bay. For now, that project has
wrapped up. But stay tuned; the interest is out there to continue eelgrass restoration in our
local marine waters.
1
Green Day!
By Alexis Baker
Green Day is a fundraising event that creates awareness and support for land conservation
in the Cowichan Valley and can be held at your convenience.
To participate, each business or office will choose a day where employees donate money to
wear green on their chosen ‘Green Day.’ Clients or customers will be asked if they would like
to make a donation to support the CCLT with all proceeds going to protecting the Cowichan
Valley.
Supporting businesses will receive a window decal that shows you are a local Green Day
supporter. A link for your business is also available through our Nature Cowichan website at
www.naturecowichan.net where our Green Day business directory will promote your
business and recognize your commitment to protecting the natural beauty of the Cowichan
Valley.
I would like to acknowledge the Canada Summer Jobs Program through Human Resources
Development Canada for sponsoring me to work for a great cause this summer.
To show you how much we appreciate you we are celebrating our Volunteers and all the good
work that we can accomplish with your help. This will also give everyone a chance to see the
newly installed Eelgrass sign that recognizes the great community effort that went into making
the project such a success.
Please bring along a plate, glass and utensils and a folding chair for your
comfort… and R.S.V.P. to 746-0227.
2
Stewardship Support Project
By Amanda Dodd
Approximately 90 percent of the land base in the Cowichan Valley is privately owned and is
currently under significant development pressure or impacted by recent developments. This
makes land stewardship essential for the preservation and protection of natural habitat in the
Cowichan Valley. The Stewardship Support Project is a two-year environmental program
that will allow us to support landholders interested in conserving and protecting ecologically
sensitive areas on their land.
Land Stewards will be contacted and supported with networking opportunities and be
encouraged to create or join a stewardship group around a local natural feature, like a
stream or natural area, and to continue their voluntary commitment to the natural areas on
their land.
Landholders who are new to land stewardship will be encouraged to commit to a voluntary
Stewardship Agreement. Many local ecologists volunteer their time and expertise to assist
us in helping landholders with concerns about the natural areas on their property. Land
Stewards can also take advantage of our resources and can receive a site visit to their land
to help with issues that affect them and the health of natural areas.
If you are interested in learning more about the Stewardship Support Project give our office a
call, or you can stop by for a visit.
Over 6,000 eelgrass shoots have been planted in the Cowichan estuary and so far the
transplants are growing. Some of the good indications for the return of eelgrass are three
‘natural’ beds of eelgrass found near the transplanted sites. These small beds are no more
than a foot across but may show that this area is ‘naturally’ recovering now that there are
adjacent transplants.
Some challenges to the eelgrass habitat remain with the large amount of sediment brought
into the estuary from the Cowichan River system. While the eelgrass plant and its
rhizomatous growth pattern is well adapted to the sediment settling that makes up estuarine
conditions, it is unclear at this point whether the sediment conditions in the Cowichan estuary
is limiting to the transplants. During the early spring monitoring we found that the eelgrass
3
transplants were deeply covered by sediment but thankfully were not covered above the leaf
sheath, which would impact their growth.
Human activity is also a challenge around the eelgrass transplant sites. We are currently
trying to raise funds for another transplant in the North shore area where activity is limited.
Hopefully we can restore that area to the ‘lush eelgrass meadows’ remembered by many.
Thanks to the CVRD staff and Area D Director, Mike Tansley, for their support. Thanks also
to our project funders and our community volunteers.
Thank you!
Address:_______________________________________________________________________________
Application is hereby made for membership in the Cowichan Community Land Trust Society. If admitted, I/we state that
we support the objectives of the Society and agree to be governed by the present and future Constitution and bylaws of the
Society.
Signature:____________________________________________________________________