From June 14^th to 16^th, British Columbians can fish the province’s fresh and tidal waters licence-free, as part of the 14th Annual Family Fishing Weekend. Presented by the Family Fishing Society of BC and hosted by volunteer led community groups, the event is part of an ongoing effort to get more people hooked on fishing and appreciative of BC’s tremendous aquatic and marine resources. In addition to free fishing, the weekend will be celebrated with 50 specific community events across the province, many featuring the Freshwater Fisheries Society’s popular Learn to Fish sessions. HCTF has provided many years of funding for both Family Fishing Weekend and Learn to Fish programs, as part of the Society’s goal of increasing angler participation.

HCTF has recently committed $500,000 to the acquisition of the South Block of Elkink Ranch by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. This connective property will increase the Sage and Sparrow Conservation Area to over 3,100 acres of continuous South Okanagan grassland habitat, and will also bridge the current gap between the Chopaka East and Kilpoola components of the South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area.

As one of Canada’s most endangered ecosystems, these grasslands provide critical habitat for a diverse range of amphibian, reptile, bird and mammal species, some which occur nowhere else in the world. Resident species-at-risk include Lewis’s woodpecker, grasshopper sparrow, and burrowing owl. Together, the properties also provide an important wildlife migration corridor.

In accordance with the Foundation’s goal of encouraging public use and enjoyment of BC’s fish, wildlife and habitats, the acquired lands will be made publically accessible, providing recreational opportunities compatible with maintaining the property’s conservation values. These opportunities include non-motorized access to the property for hunting.

HCTF is pleased to have contributed to NCC’s campaign to secure this important piece of grassland habitat, and sees Elkink South Block as a valuable addition to the Foundation’s many existing conservation investments in the South Okanagan. The Nature Conservancy of Canada is in the final stages of fundraising for this property, and we are very hopeful that they will be ultimately successful.

Changes are afoot at the HCTF Board, with the Board saying farewell to three departing Board members and welcoming the recent appointments of Madeline Maley (appointed by the Province of BC) and Michael Green (appointed by the BC Trappers Association). Madeline and Mike replace Andrew Wilson and Dave Hatler respectively, both of whom stepped down from the Board at the beginning of April. More recently, we say a fond farewell to Al Martin, whose term on the Board expired in mid May, 2013. All of the departing Board members have long histories of leadership and commitment in the conservation field, and we wish them all the best in future endeavors.

New Appointees

Madeline is the Executive Director Regional Operations South Area for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Madeline joined the Ministry of Forests and Range in 1995 as a forester working on Vancouver Island, having previously worked in Ontario as a consultant for First Nations and the forest industry as well as having worked for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Madeline moved to Kamloops in 2003 as an Operations Manager, Compliance and Enforcement, Stewardship and Corporate Services. In 2007, Madeline moved to the Southern Interior Regional Office as the Regional Staff Manager, Compliance and Enforcement and Stewardship. She held the position of Acting Regional Executive Director from 2009 to 2010 and then with the formation of Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations took on the role of Executive Director for the South Area. Madeline is a Registered Professional Forester with undergraduate and graduate degrees in forestry from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Mike is a past President of the BC Trappers Association, as well as a past Director, Executive Director and certified Trapper Education Instructor. More recently, he is retired from the BC Coroners Service, as the Deputy Regional Coroner for the Northern Region. In addition, Mike spent ten years doing contract monitoring of interactions between domestic sheep and large carnivores on forest cut block grazes. He operated a remote northern trapline for 25 years (with dog team for eight). He has Bachelor and Masters degrees in English and has taught in public schools and a secure youth containment facility (prison).

Welcome to the Foundation!

The six-inch concrete sill at the outlet of Westwood Lake near Nanaimo didn’t look like much, but when James Craig, BC Conservation Foundation fisheries biologist showed HCTF staff the other end of the lake – we were impressed! The additional water storage in the lake as a result of the sill construction was just enough to maintain year-round flows in the outlet stream that was previously dry most of the year. It now has the potential of supporting cutthroat trout and coho salmon.

This is the third HCTF project evaluation that HCTF staff have carried out this spring. East Coast Vancouver Island Water Storage Feasibility was a 5-year project completed in 2011-12. Project leader James Craig explained the goal of the project was to look at streams and lakes at various sites on the east coast of Vancouver Island to determine how to improve flows for fish habitat. Most of the work was behind the scenes, working with landowners, water licensees, local governments and other stakeholders to resolve the administrative and regulatory barriers to ensure there is enough water for fish. This kind of project takes diplomacy and perseverance on top of the fisheries expertise – thank you, James, for using these skills on behalf of fish conservation in BC.