The Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society (FRSCS) has just released a new online video tutorial designed to educate anglers on how to fish for and handle sturgeon in ways that minimizes stress on the animals that make up this world-class catch-and-release fishery.

“This video is a critical resource for all anglers targeting White Sturgeon,” said Erin Stoddard, government biologist and HCTF project leader. “White Sturgeon are a special species, with special concerns and unique qualities that make this fishery distinct from all other recreational fisheries. By applying these best practice techniques, this catch-and-release fishery can have a minimal effect on these amazing fish,”

Founded in 1997, the FRSCS is dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Fraser River white sturgeon. The FRSCS identifies and addresses issues that affect the sturgeon in the Fraser River watershed using critical data collected through its award-winning, volunteer-driven monitoring and assessment program. In addition, the FRSCS conducts public relations and communication initiatives and offers the HSBC Fraser River Sturgeon Education Program – a curriculum-based education program sponsored by HSBC Bank Canada, to promote community understanding of white sturgeon.

The FRSCS recognizes the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and anglers, hunters, trappers and guides who contribute to the Trust, for making a significant financial contribution to support this video. Without such support, this project would not have been possible.

Ross Peck has been elected Chair of the HCTF Board of Directors, succeeding long-standing Chair Harvey Andrusak. Harvey remains on the Board as one of two appointed members from the BC Wildlife Federation. Ross previously served as the HCTF Board’s Vice Chair and Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee. Dr. Winifred Kessler replaces Ross as Vice Chair and Madeline Maley has been appointed the new Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee. You can read more about the HCTF Board of Directors here.

On June 2^nd, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, WildBC facilitators and Project WET BC Coordinator Kerrie Mortin were jointly honoured with the Project WET Canada award, presented by the Canadian Water Resources Association (CWRA) at their National Conference in Winnipeg.

In the early 1990s, the CWRA began to investigate how they might enhance their work across Canada by extending water education to youth. After consultation with youth educators from a variety of both governmental and non-governmental agencies, they decided that it was not necessary to develop a new program. Rather, the task would be to choose a high quality youth education program which could be effectively implemented in Canada. Project WET was established in 1984 by the North Dakota State Water Commission to educate the public about water resources and their management. By the mid-nineties, it had developed into a network reaching across the United States and with its own curriculum and activity guide. The CWRA decided this was the program that could help them meet their water education goals in Canada. Project WET held its first “preview” workshop in Saskatoon in 1995, and the program quickly spread within Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia. At present, Project WET has reached nearly 10,000 Canadian educators, with full-day certification workshops delivered in all provinces and territories.

Of these nearly 10,000 educators qualified to deliver Project WET programming, fully 30% have been trained in British Columbia. The CWRA presented the Project WET award to WET Facilitator Heather Murray on behalf of Kerrie and her team in recognition of BC’s long-standing efforts to promote quality water education.

As part of the award ceremony, Kerrie put together the following video showcasing the energy and commitment of the BC team in educating youth about water quality, sustainability and stewardship. Enjoy!

A big thank you to the dozens of volunteers that attended last weekend’s community planting event at the Seymour River estuary. The group did a phenomenal job of planting thousands of native plants during the low-tide window on Saturday morning. The plants will provide a critical source of food and shelter for fish, insects, birds and other animals.

The planting event was featured on CBC News Vancouver:

HCTF is pleased to announce the 2015 Public Conservation Assistance Fund (PCAF) grant recipients.

This year’s approved projects include:

~ The Kootenay Community Bat Project received a $5000 grant to help connect Kootenay residents with bat conservation by providing instruction and materials to build, install and monitor bat?houses. The Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance also received a $1080 grant for the construction and distribution of maternity-sized bat boxes to local land owners.

~ The Salt Spring Island Conservancy received $10,000 to establish a native plant nursery to be used as a source of vegetation for upcoming wetland and riparian restoration work at Blackburn Nature Reserve.

~ Wildsight in the Kootenays received a $5000 grant to build a wetland to filter stormwater outflows and improve water quality in Lakeside Park, Nelson. Students and volunteers will participate in the planning, monitoring and construction of the wetland.

~ Ecole KLO Middle School in Kelowna will use their $10,000 PCAF grant to daylight 250 m of creek and restore a destroyed wetland that historically provided nesting habitat for painted turtles.

~ The North Okanagan Naturalist’s Club received $8000 to support their program to tag and monitor Western Rattlesnakes on the Campbell Brown Ecological Reserve. The PIT tags will help biologists determine the ongoing health of these populations and the effectiveness of a snake fence to reduce road mortalities.

~ The Caledonia Ramblers Trust received a second PCAF grant this year to complete a plank pathway around the Ancient Forest Trail. This pathway will complement the recently completed Universal Boardwalk that provides access to the forest for those visitors in wheelchairs, and others with mobility or mental health challenges, to experience this unique inland temperate rain forest.

In total, twenty-two community-based fish & wildlife projects will receive over $132,000 in grants. You can view the full list of approved PCAF projects here.

PCAF grants are unique among HCTF funding opportunities in that they require projects to include a strong volunteer component that is designed to increase British Columbians’ participation in conservation activities.

Please note: As the spring intake resulted in the Fund being fully subscribed, there will not be a second call for PCAF proposals this September. Your next opportunity to apply for PCAF funding will be May of 2016.

Here’s another opportunity to participate in an HCTF-funded restoration project. The BCIT Rivers Institute has organized a volunteer planting day at Seymour River Estuary on Saturday, June 13^th.