Thu, 13 Jul 2023
Tags: Community / PCAF

18 Community Grant Projects Receive Funding

Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society - Volunteers working on The Kootenay Lake Kokanee Salmon Spawning Habitat Research and Restoration Project

HCTF’s Community Grants (formerly PCAF) will be providing funding to 18 different projects working to complete volunteer-based conservation projects in BC. The Foundation approved $149,656 in grants this year for projects ranging from creek restoration to bat protection and monitoring. A full list of this year’s grant recipients is below.

You can find out more about HCTF’s Community Grants program here.


Mill (Harrop) Creek Kokanee Spawning Gravel Weir

SPONSOR: WEST ARM OUTDOORS CLUB

The West Arm Outdoors Club is undertaking a kokanee spawning habitat project in Mill Creek located at Harrop BC. Two gravel platforms will be constructed at the lower reach of Mill Creek before it flows into the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. Volunteers and local community members will build two engineered gravel platforms that are designed to support quality spawning gravel. Kokanee spawners will utilize the platforms and club members will work with the Ministry of Forests–fisheries to count spawner numbers.


Simpcw Caribou Lichen Collection

SPONSOR: SIMPCW NATURAL RESOURCE DEPARTMENT

Simpcw is undertaking a lichen collection project to aid in a supplemental caribou feeding program. The Project will deploy help from community members, while on a guided interpretive walks, volunteers will aid in lichen collection. The lichen, along with an ungulate grain feed, will supplement caribou diets during the winter to help improve overall health for the herd.


Whitebark Pine Community Cone Cleaning

SPONSOR: SIMPCW NATURAL RESOURCE DEPARTMENT

The Whitebark Pine Community Cone Cleaning Project will help conserve and restore whitebark pine populations, which are keystone species in high elevation forests of Simpcw Territory. Whitebark pine cones contain nutrient-rich seeds that are important food sources for wildlife and are critical to the tree’s reproductive cycle. Community members will help to remove the seeds from the cones, then clean and prepare the seeds to grow new trees for restoration planting. Some of the seed will also be retained by the community for food and medicinal use. The project will provide an opportunity for community members to get involved in conservation efforts, learn more about the importance of whitebark pine trees, and build partnerships between different organizations.


Revitalizing Lost Lagoon

SPONSOR: STANLEY PARK ECOLOGY SOCIETY

This project will revitalize Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park with six connected artificial islands and six floating logs for wildlife. The goal is to improve the natural infrastructure surrounding Stanley Park’s freshwater ecosystem and enhance biodiversity for climate resiliency. The project will engage community volunteers in hands-on habitat enhancement and restoration to foster an appreciation for freshwater ecosystems and build a community of stewards and create a knowledge transfer strategy to encourage sustainable behavior changes for the protection of freshwater in Canada.


Elk Valley Cottonwood Restoration – Phase 2: Conservation Lands

SPONSOR: ELK RIVER ALLIANCE

Elk Valley Cottonwood Restoration – Phase 2: Conservation Lands will restore riparian and floodplain forests on conservation properties in the Elk Valley. Volunteers will plant thousands of native plants to improve and protect aquatic and terrestrial habitat for vulnerable species like Westslope cutthroat trout, elk, grizzly bear, blue heron and other species while improving flood resilience to protect downstream communities.


Silver Star Black Bear Education Trail

SPONSOR: SILVERSTAR PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

The Silver Star Black Bear Stewardship Group will use art, wonder and play to inspire people to conserve black bears in their habitat. Multiple themed stations along a newly formed black bear education trail will be created, each with its own unique purpose. The stations will guide the public on black bear biology and behaviour as well as provide stories of bears in their habitat throughout history.


S,DÁYES Flycatcher Forest Restoration Project

SPONSOR: RAINCOAST CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Raincoast’s Forest Conservation Program (FCP) aims to strengthen protection and stewardship of rare Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF) forests characteristic to BC’s south coast. A strategy to achieve this goal has been to establish a land trust. Having co-purchased two conservation properties on S,DÁYES (North Pender Island) since 2021 we are working to establish restoration strategies that involve community members, honour W̱SÁNEĆ Knowledge systems, enhance biodiversity, increase carbon sequestration, and maximize climate resilience.


Stewardship Initiatives for Invasive Plant Management on Public/Crown Lands

SPONSOR: EAST KOOTENAY INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL

The East Kootenay Invasive Species Council is utilizing HCTF Community Grant funding to mobilize individuals for invasive species management across the East Kootenays. Through this community-driven initiative, resources for tackling invasive species are being made accessible to the public. The project aims to assist in identifying invasive species, actively removing them, and restoring sensitive ecosystems by replanting native species. Tangible outcomes are being achieved as a result of this collaborative effort.


Education and Restoration at Dallas Creek

SPONSOR: WILDCOAST ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Wildcoast Ecological Society will restore a portion of Dallas Creek in James Park with the help of community volunteers and 400 students from Ecole Moody Middle School of the Arts. Everyone will learn how to protect their neighbourhood creek so that it may provide habitat for salmon and other wildlife for generations.


Bat Habitat Protection and Community Education

SPONSOR: NORTH OYSTER AND AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The North Oyster Hall located in Yellow Point area in Ladysmith, has discovered hundreds of bats roosting in the attic of the hall. This is the largest roosting site in mid Vancouver Island. Our goals are to provide a safe and secure nesting area for the bats, and to be engaged in providing community education on bats and bat conservation. We will set up a live webcam for public viewing and learning about bats and produce informational material that will be available to the public and engage volunteers taking part in bat counts.


Fish Habitat & Riparian Restoration Stewardship Workshops

SPONSOR: B.C. WILDLIFE FEDERATION

The B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Fish Habitat Stewardship Workshops will restore streams and green spaces in Metro Vancouver and Invermere and train participants to become stewards of their local streams. BC is home to many native fish species that are under threat from anthropogenic-caused habitat loss and fragmentation. In many of BC’s urban streams, the quality of available habitat and resident fish populations have been dramatically declining due to pollution and development. Many fish species are extremely vulnerable to climate change, often as a result of struggling to adapt to rapidly changing environments. Our workshops address these issues by improving habitat conditions for native species through habitat enhancements and streamkeeper training.


Lois Creek Stream and Wetland Enhancement Project

SPONSOR: WILDSIGHT

The Lois Creek stream and wetland enhancement is a small-scale ecosystem restoration focused project. It will enhance stream and wetland function along Lois Creek, in Kimberley BC, while engaging many grassroots community groups and local citizens.


Riparian Habitat Restoration and Reed Canarygrass Removal in Mallard Creek

SPONSOR: COMOX VALLEY PROJECT WATERSHED SOCIETY

Robust and healthy riparian corridors through agricultural land are important landscape assets for salmon, amphibians, and birds, providing rearing, spawning, and nesting habitat and filtering pollutants from nearby farming activities. Project Watershed will remove an aggressive invasive forage grass, Reed canarygrass, from Mallard Creek and reestablish a native riparian species that will enhance habitat quality within this stream for fish, amphibians, and birds.


Firehall, Lily and Bilston Creek Riparian Restoration Projects

SPONSOR: BILSTON WATERSHED HABITAT PROTECTION ASSOCIATION

Funding from this grant will be used for educational signage and for restoration of riparian areas along Firehall, Lily and Bilston Creeks in the Luxton neighborhood of Langford. The creeks in that part of Bilston Watershed have been and continue to be heavily impacted. Many new residents of the area are not aware of the restoration potential and ecological value of the creeks. Thanks to the high volume of pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic in Luxton, signage and restoration activities in the Luxton neighbourhood will effectively raise awareness of the interconnectedness and vulnerability of the entire Bilston Watershed.


Ecosystem Restoration via Cultural and Prescribed Fire in the Dry Interior

SPONSOR: B.C. WILDLIFE FEDERATION

The B.C. Wildlife Federation is partnering with First Nations, NGOs, and the government to undertake cultural and prescribed fire treatments in three sites in the Interior, along with other restoration techniques, to restore wildlife and vegetation habitat. Subsequent research will monitor wildlife and vegetation activity to demonstrate the effects of prescribed burns on wildlife and vegetation, which will be used to support future prescribed burn projects. The Community Grant will be used to train volunteers setup and maintain cameras used for data collection and vegetation monitoring.


Quadra Hill Wetland Restoration and Carbon Enhancement Project

SPONSOR: GALIANO CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION

The Galiano Conservancy Association is restoring 3 ha of degraded pasture and farmland into a forested wetland ecosystem to improve ecological connectivity across its 660+ ha Mid-Island Protected Areas Network. The goal of this project is to restore and enhance the landscape and increase its ability to absorb freshwater and sequester carbon through native vegetation and wetland creation. Central to this goal is establishing climate-resilient western redcedar forest.


Turtles and Toads: Engaging Volunteers To Protect Two At-Risk Species

SPONSOR: COASTAL PARTNERS IN CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Western Painted Turtles and Western Toads are two at-risk species that face many threats in the South Coast region of BC. To protect these iconic species, the Coastal Partners in Conservation Society will engage volunteers and the public to restore habitat and collect important breeding and migration data that can be used to mitigate threats and preserve populations of these species, and their habitats, for years to come.


Lower Craigflower Creek Riparian Restoration

SPONSOR: COASTAL COLLABORATIVE SCIENCES (A DIVISION OF WORLD FISHERIES TRUST)

Coastal Collaborative Sciences (a division of World Fisheries Trust) is working with CRD Parks, the Town of View Royal, the Songhees Nation Marine Team, the Gorge Waterway Action Society, New Roads Recovery, and other community members and stewards to restore the degraded reaches of lower Craigflower Creek. This restoration project will remove invasive plants that have taken over the floodplains and replace them with native riparian vegetation to support birds, amphibians, and endangered salmonids within Craigflower Creek. This multi-year project will improve the stream’s resilience to the impacts of climate change by increasing shade, flood and erosion control, and biodiversity, while providing environmental education, outreach, and natural beauty to our local community.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022
Tags: PCAF

8 Community Conservation Projects Receive PCAF Funding

Volunteers supporting the Metchosin Parks Holly Eradication Project funded by PCAF.

HCTF’s Public Conservation Assistance Fund (PCAF) will be providing grants to 8 different organizations working to complete volunteer-based conservation projects in BC. The Foundation approved over $46,281 in PCAF grants this year for projects ranging from meadow restoration to enhancing barn swallow habitat. A full list of this year’s grant recipients is below.

You can find out more about HCTF’s PCAF program here.


Linley Valley Native Pollinator Meadow Restoration

GRANT RECIPIENT: Nanaimo & Area Land Trust

The NALT Linley Valley Native Pollinator Meadow Restoration project will restore 800 square meters of meadow in the much-loved Linley Valley Cottle Lake municipal park. We hope to transform a non-native grass meadow to one filled with native flowering plants beneficial to native pollinators and birds. In tandem with this restoration work we will be doing education and outreach with the public and with elementary school classes on the benefits of enhancing habitat with native plant species for our threatened native pollinators.


Metchosin Parks Holly Eradication

GRANT RECIPIENT: Metchosin Invasive Species Cooperative

Invasive species in the Metchosin area are becoming a significant concern in our parks and boulevards. MISC members made a presentation to the Metchosin Parks and Trails Committee in April 2018 to bring attention to the proliferation of holly in our area. The Metchosin Parks and Trails Committee passed a unanimous resolution to eradicate holly from all Metchosin parks.


Mill (Harrop) Creek Kokanee Spawning Gravel Weir

GRANT RECIPIENT: West Arm Outdoors Club

This proposed project is intended to involve the local community in a pilot restoration project for West Arm of Kootenay Lake kokanee. Local people will assist in construction of two spawning platforms on Mill (Harrop) Creek. An engineered design calls for logs to be located across the creek at two locations with kokanee spawning gravel placed upstream of the logs thus providing good habitat for kokanee.for kokanee to spawn in.


Cedars for the Next Century

GRANT RECIPIENT: Galiano Conservancy Association

The Galiano Conservancy Association is restoring the Chrystal Creek watershed in a 4-5 year project on Galiano Island. The goal of this project is to restore and enhance natural infrastructure across the watershed, improving the landscape’s ability to absorb freshwater and sequester carbon through native reforestation and wetland creation. Central to this goal is the establishment of diverse native vegetation within a successional framework that will result in the restoration of climate-resilient western redcedar forest in the long term.


Gambier Island Amphibian Monitoring

GRANT RECIPIENT: Gambier Island Conservancy

This project aims to determine the presence and distribution of the Coastal Tailed Frog, Wandering Salamander and Red legged frog on Gambier Island by eDNA testing in the seven largest watersheds on the island in order to inform the Islands Trust Conservancy and Howe Sound Biosphere initiative’s conservation management plans.


Xwaaqw’um Stream Restoration

GRANT RECIPIENT: Stqeeye Learning Society

This project will lead to the conservation of Xwaaqw’um through practices grounded in the knowledge of Quw’utsun Elders and Knowledge Keepers and collaborating with partners who hold Western knowledge and expertise. The benefits from this project are the presence of Quw’utsun Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and the restoration of stream, riparian and wetland habitat at Xwaaqw’um.


Barn Swallow Nesting Structure

GRANT RECIPIENT: Victoria Rowing Society

Support and enhance the population of Barn Swallows at Elk Lake by building a new nesting structure and providing access to new nest sites within an existing building. The project will also prevent accumulation of feces (on equipment) and enhance understanding of Barn Swallows amongst facility-users and the general public, ensuring continuing support for the nesting population currently using the boathouse.


Wetland Protection Toolkit

GRANT RECIPIENT: Invasive Species Council of BC

The Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) is engaging volunteers to be wetland stewards through the Wetland Protection Toolkit project, which will benefit fish and wildlife directly through education and habitat restoration. The toolkit includes resources, habitat restoration at Swan Lake in Victoria, and virtual sessions to encourage local action throughout the province. The focus will be on invasive species, native plants, and their effects freshwater fish and wildlife habitat.


Mon, 4 Apr 2022

Now Accepting PCAF Grant Applications for 2022-23

This Cassin's Vireo was banded by volunteers as part of the Bird Migration and Community Education Project, funded through PCAF (photo by Jannaca Chick).

HCTF is now accepting applications for the Public Conservation Assistance Fund (PCAF). Applications must be submitted via the Survey Apply online system before 4:30pm (PST) on Friday, May 13, 2022.

Before beginning your application on the Survey Apply system, we strongly recommend that you complete your application on the Word worksheets posted on our website. Once completed you can copy-and-paste your answers into the online form. The worksheets also provide a useful overview of the questions and information requirements.

Please visit our PCAF FAQ to find useful tips and guidance for the new Survey Apply system. To access application resources and the link to apply, visit our PCAF Apply webpage.

Questions? Please contact Lisa Wielinga for further details.

Wed, 11 Aug 2021

11 Community Conservation Projects Receive PCAF Funding

The Aleza Lake Research Forest Society working on a headwater-stream monitoring program that harnessed local volunteer efforts and citizen science.

HCTF’s Public Conservation Assistance Fund (PCAF) will be providing grants to 11 different organizations working to complete volunteer-based conservation projects in BC. The Foundation approved over $115,000 in PCAF grants this year for projects ranging from wetland restoration to enhancing fisher nesting habitat. A full list of this year’s grant recipients is below.

You can find out more about HCTF’s PCAF program here.


Western Painted Turtle Research, Protection, Enhancement Project

GRANT RECIPIENT: Greater Twin Lakes Area Stewardship Society

The Turtle Project Subcommittee of GTLASS is embarking on a 3 year project to protect and enhance the sustainability of the Western Painted Turtle (Inter-mountain population) which is designated as a Species of Concern. The main threat is urbanization in the Twin Lakes area, exacerbated by climate change and increased forestry activity.The goals of this project are to monitor the activities of the turtle population to collect accurate data on numbers of road crossings, mortality rates, and nesting sites; to put in place mitigation measures such as traffic calming measures, fencing, and enhancing or creating new, safer nesting areas.


S,DÁYES Flycatcher Forest Restoration Project

GRANT RECIPIENT: Raincoast Conservation Foundation

In September 2020, Raincoast Conservation Foundation (“Raincoast”) and the Pender Islands Conservancy Association (“the Conservancy”) joined forces to launch a fundraising campaign towards the purchase and protection of a 13 acre property on North Pender Island. The name for the forest (S,DÁYES Flycatcher Forest,) was chosen to honor the cultural history of North Pender Island and to highlight the vital habitat being protected for the many species found here, namely olive-sided flycatchers. This land acquisition is the first in a larger effort to maintain contiguous forests and habitats across Pender Islands and funds will support the work of developing a management and restoration plan, prioritizing ecological integrity and resilience.


Cedars for the Next Century, Phase 2

GRANT RECIPIENT: Galiano Conservancy Association

The 28-hectare Chrystal Creek watershed forms the heart of the Galiano Conservancy Association’s (GCA) 76 hectare Millard Learning Centre (MLC), which lies within the critically imperiled Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF) biogeoclimatic zone. The overarching goal of this project is to restore and enhance natural infrastructure across the watershed, improving the landscape’s ability to absorb freshwater and sequester carbon through native reforestation and wetland creation. Central to this goal is the establishment of diverse native vegetation within a successional framework that will result in the restoration of climate-resilient western red cedar forest in the long term.


Snk’mip Marsh Sanctuary Wetland and Riparian Restoration Project

GRANT RECIPIENT: Valhalla Foundation for Ecology

This project will support volunteer activities linked to our restoration work at the Snk’mip Marsh Sanctuary. Volunteers and community ambassadors are crucial to building support for conservation, and play a hands-on role in restoring and expanding amphibian, reptile, bird and other wildlife habitat. Project activities will support volunteer coordination, biological oversight, volunteers participating in weed-pulls, planting bees, and the installation and monitoring of bird nesting boxes.


Pacific Gardens Reclamation Project

GRANT RECIPIENT: Nanaimo & Area Land Trust

This project focuses on the preservation and restoration of Pacific Chorus Frog habitat near the Chase River. This project will be carried out in partnership with the Nanaimo & Area Land Trust (NALT) and volunteers from both NALT and the residents of Pacific Gardens Co-housing.


Fish Habitat & Riparian Restoration Stewardship Workshops

GRANT RECIPIENT: BC Wildlife Federation

The BC Wildlife Federation’s Fish Habitat Restoration and Education Program is partnering with two community stewardship groups to host educational workshops that will increase community knowledge of freshwater fish habitat, riparian restoration, and best practices for future conservation initiatives. This project will substantially improve and expand wetland and riparian habitat and create a place for people to interact with nature and learn more about wetlands and their restoration.


Lloyd Wetland Stewardship

GRANT RECIPIENT: Wildcoast Ecological Society

This project involes the restoration of a wetland in North Vancouver that provides important ecosystem services for a variety of species in the marsh as well as an adjacent creek. This uniquely urban wetland provides vital habitat for a variety of birds, cutthroat trout and other salmonids.


Tracking Bird Movement using Motus – TLBO (2021 Pilot: Saw-whet Owls)

GRANT RECIPIENT: Tatlayoko Field Station Society

During the late autumn of 2021 the Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory (TLBO) will deploy Motus radio tracking tags on Northern Saw-whet Owls that are caught as part of the TLBO’s annual owl banding program. Note this project is part of a collaboration with shared methodology and goals, the content of this application is largely consistent with the Rocky point Bird Observatory PCAF project.


Vancouver Bats Project

GRANT RECIPIENT: Wildcoast Ecological Society

Federally endangered and provincially red-listed, the Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) faces many threats including habitat loss and degradation, predators, and human disturbance. While focusing on this charismatic species, we will also conduct surveys for bat species with known overlapping range in the Vancouver area, including the provincially red-listed Keen’s Myotis (Myotis keenii) and the provincially blue-listed Townsend’s Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus Townsendii).


Grand Forks Grasslands Livestock Exclusion

GRANT RECIPIENT: Southern Interior Land Trust

In 2020, SILT purchased 144 hectares of grassland habitat just east of the City of Grand Forks, BC. SILT’s goals for its Grand Forks Grasslands property are: a) to protect and maintain habitat for bighorn sheep, deer, and several species at risk, b) to reduce and restore habitat damage caused by motor vehicle trespass and cattle grazing, and c) to increase public awareness and care of the property.


Tracking Bird Movement Using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System (2021 Pilot: Northern Saw-whet Owls)

GRANT RECIPIENT: Rocky Point Bird Observatory

During autumn 2021, Rocky Point Bird Observatory (RPBO) will deploy Motus radio tracking tags on Northern Saw-whet Owls as part of RPBO’s annual owl banding program. Note this project is part of a collaboration with shared methodology and goals, the content of this application is largely consistent with the Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory PCAF project.


Mount Trematon Riparian Biodiversity Restoration Project

GRANT RECIPIENT: Lasqueti Island Nature Conservancy

The Mt Trematon Riparian Biodiversity Restoration Project will allow for natural and assisted regeneration of plant and animal communities along Trematon Creek, Lasqueti Island. The Mt Trematon Nature Reserve is 140 acres (56.7ha) of red-listed Coastal Douglas Fir Forest (CDF) owned by Islands Trust Conservancy (ITC) and includes 7 different CDF ecosystems. With PCAF support, our goal is to protect and restore the riparian zone on Mt Trematon Nature Reserve by increasing biodiversity, habitat, and resilience in this threatened forest ecosystem.


NatureKids BC: Communities in Conservation

GRANT RECIPIENT: Young Naturalists’ Club of BC Society (NatureKids BC)

NatureKids BC (formerly the Young Naturalists’ Club of BC Society) is a registered grassroots charity that helps children get outdoors to explore, play, learn about and take action for nature through an award-winning network of volunteer-led family nature clubs that extends across British Columbia. Our Community Nature Clubs host youth members, ages 5-12, and their families, to learn about and step up for nature. As members of a local volunteer-led nature club, they participate in Explorer Day field trips, stewardship projects, and citizen science activities with the assistance of volunteer nature mentors (local biologists, environmental and educational specialists, natural history experts, and outdoor enthusiasts) who share their passion and expertise about wildlife species and their habitat.


Blue Heron Habitat Enhancement and Sensitive Areas Signage

GRANT RECIPIENT: Hatzic Watershed Restoration Society

This project will enhance roosting habitat for Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) by installing perches and sensitive area signage to deter disturbance of nesting and feeding waterfowl by motorized vessels at Hatzic Lake near Mission, BC. Restoration of disturbed riparian areas where signage is to be installed through invasive Flowering Rush (Botumus umbellatus) removal and planting of native shrubs. Visible roosting structures and educational signage will bring awareness to the issue of motorized boats speeding through habitat home to species at risk. This will benefit multiple species of birds as Hatzic Lake is home to a diverse bird population, well known among birdwatchers and bird surveyors.


Kitimat Rod & Gun Association Fisher Nesting Enhancement Project

GRANT RECIPIENT: Kitimat Rod & Gun Association

This project will construct, install, and monitor fisher nesting boxes to provide nesting and rearing sites that have been degraded due to the loss of old-growth habitat. For fisher nesting habitat to start to occur naturally requires trees in the 100 year age class, and has been a key factor in fisher population declines and limiting population growth. Studies have been positive confirming that the installation of nesting boxes are successfully used by female fishers to give birth and rear young.

Sun, 14 Jul 2019
Tags: PCAF / Stewardship

Haliburton Wetland Turns Ten!

Haliburton wetland

A decade ago, a group of volunteers began an ambitious project: transform a field overgrown with invasive reed canary grass into a wetland able to support wildlife. Today, Haliburton Wetland in Saanich, BC, stands as a fantastic example of how people and nature can co-exist.

Last week, Dr. Purnima Govindarajulu gave HCTF staff members Karen Barry, Jade Neilson and Courtney Sieben a tour of the wetland located at Haliburton Community Organic Farm. Although it took some time for the constructed wetland to look natural, it is now fully functioning and has become home to a variety of wildlife species such as tree frogs, long-toed salamanders, and birds.

Over the years, HCTF has provided a total of $24,600 from the Enhancement and Restoration granting stream and from the Public Conservation Assistance Fund (PCAF) for this project. It’s great to see that this project is continuing to make a difference for wildlife species ten years on! You can read more about the Haliburton Wetland in the following HCTF project profile.


Background

The property is a former reservoir site for Saanich under the ALR. In 2001, the property was slated for a housing development but Saanich stepped in to purchase the land and lease it to the Haliburton Community Organic Farm Society. It is now run as a community farm and several producers grow food for consumption, plus there is a native plant nursery on site. The wetland was created in an adjacent area that was formally dominated by grasses.

HCTF provided $10,000 for wetland restoration and creation of a demonstration project, and later $5000 seed funding. More recently, the project received $9,600 from PCAF for tools, native plants, construction of watershed models and stream restoration expertise.

To see a video of the wetland construction (17 min), see https://haliburtonfarm.org/biodiversity/

Entrance to the wetland site

Entrance to the wetland site

Enhancement and Restoration Activities

The wetland site was overgrown with reed canary grass so early efforts focused on installing mats and removing the grass and other non-native species. Experts were called in to assist with designing the wetland. It took a few years for the constructed wetland to look natural.

Pond liner laid down to smother reed canary grass

 

Now that the wetland is functioning, tree frogs and long-toed salamanders have moved in, as well as wetland birds (herons, red-winged black birds). Other enhancement activities include installing bird nest boxes and maternal bat houses. Chickadees, Violet-green swallows, and Bewicks wrens have nested in the boxes, but the bat boxes have not been used yet.

Monitoring activities are conducted regularly and include checking bird boxes, minnow trapping the wetland, and checking wood structures and pit fall traps for amphibians.

Bird box and mason bee box

 

Wetland and replanted area

Wooden cover boards used as an active trap for salamanders

Challenges

The restored area will require ongoing maintenance. In other words, it’s not possible to leave it and “let nature take its course”. In particular, removal of invasive plants is a significant challenge (morning glory, thistles, reed canary grass, etc.). The group has limited capacity for conducting detailed monitoring, so there is a desire to have more student groups, graduate students, and volunteers involved.

Another concern is the high number of non-native European wall lizards. With the increase in these lizards, there seems to be a decline in crickets at the site and it’s possible these lizards are eating many native insects.

Future plans

  • To create more riparian area in order to provide suitable habitat for red-legged frogs.
  • To create another series of small vernal ponds.
  • To increase the involvement of students and initiate an ongoing education program linked to school curriculum.

Purnima with Jade and Courtney

Thu, 4 Apr 2019
Tags: PCAF

PCAF is Keeping Up with the Curlews of BC’s Skookumchuck Prairie

HCTF’s Public Conservation Assistance Fund provides small grants to organizations and individuals who need financial help to implement a conservation project. PCAF funded projects focus on hands-on, community-based initiatives with a high volunteer component.
In the case of the Long Billed Curlew Habitat Project, volunteers were involved in surveying habitat for the mating birds, followed by nest finding and monitoring. With their help, researchers have been able to learn about curlew migration, following individuals as far south as California’s Imperial Valley.

Read more about the project in this article, originally published in BirdWatch Canada.