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Caring for Our Shores – Appendix 1: Where to Get Help

Caring for Our Shores – Appendix 1: Where to Get Help Report and Information Hotlines (please note: all contact information was correct at time of printing but may no longer be valid) Enquiry Lines: Federal Government Enquiry Line: 1-800-667-3355, provides contact numbers for federal agencies (does not transfer calls). Enquiry B.C Transfer Line: 1-800-663-7867, will transfer your call to the appropriate agency or contact person. Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO): Emergency Hotline: 1-800-663-9453 (24 Hours) Observe Record & Report Hotline: 1-800-465-4336 Shellfish Information: Includes red tide updates, (604) 666-2828 (24 Hours) Marine Mammal Sightings or Animals in Distress: Reporting marine mammal sightings provides information that aids scientists in tracking the movements and health of certain populations. The more detailed information you can provide the better. Cetacean sightings (whales and dolphins), DFO, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, Graeme Ellis, 756-7245. Pinniped sightings (seals and sea lions), DFO, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, Peter Olesiuk, 756-7253. For live strandings or animals in distress, do not approach the animal or attempt to “rescue” it. Call Vancouver Aquarium (604) 685-3364, or page their marine mammal coordinator (Clint Wright) at (604) 686-9637. Alternately, call the DFO 24 hr Emergency Hotline 1-800-663-9453 (they will page Graeme Ellis, Peter Olesiuk, or someone else to help you). Ministry of Environment, Lands, and Parks (MELP): Seaweed Harvesting Permits: Courtenay, Ed Black, 897-7540. Provincial Emergency Response: 1-800-663-3456 (24 Hours) B.C Environment Report Line: 1-800-663-9453 (24 Hours) To report violations of environmental law, including freshwater fishing violations, illegal wildlife kills, and disposal of hazardous materials into streams. B.C Environment Planning and Assessment: 1-800-665-7027 Oil Spills (Pacific International Number): 1-800-OILS-911. Links caller to the appropriate state or provincial emergency dispatch services. The intended users are fishermen, recreational boaters, and other mariners who travel between west coast states and the province. Call via radio-telephone, cellular phone, pay-phone, or regular phone. Rare Bird Alert: A hotline for interested birders to report sightings of rare birds on Vancouver Island, or birds outside their normal habitat range. 592-3381. Certified Laboratories of Vancouver Island (for shellfish and water testing) M.B. Research and Development Ltd., Sidney, 656-1334 North Island Laboratories, Courtenay, 338-7787 Sewage Alternatives: Composting Toilets: Spiral Marketing, (604) 882-9493 Cisterns: Forest Lumber Company, 642-4899 Wastewater Treatment Systems: Engineered Pump Systems Ltd, (604) 584-3154 British Columbia Recycling Hot Line: 1-800-667-4321 Search and Rescue or Diver Distress: 1-800-567-5111 Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency: (604) 666-2431 Specific Contacts in the Cowichan/Nanaimo Area If you are outside the CVRD or Nanaimo areas, contact the corresponding person in your blue pages or call the government enquiry numbers listed above and ask for a local reference. Harvesting Permits: (Cowichan First Nations permits for food use) Cowichan Band Office, Wayne Paige, 748-3196. (Shellfish and finfish licencing information) DFO Nanaimo, 754-0400. Harvesting and Marine Fishing Violations: DFO Duncan, Linda Watkin (clerk), Elliot Teskey or Willi Jansen (Fisheries Officers), 746-6221. Department of Fisheries and Oceans Hotline, 1-800-465-4336. Regional Red Tide Updates: DFO Duncan, Linda Watkin (clerk), Elliot Teskey or Willi Jansen (Fisheries Officers), 746-6221. Property Development Questions: CVRD Planning Department, Dave Paras & Cheryl Weirz (Planning Tehnicians) DFO Habitat Management (Ladysmith to Sooke) Cindy Harlow (Habitat Technologist) 748-0278 MELP Duncan, Marlene Caskey (Habitat Protection Technician) 746-1224 Foreshore issues (DFO), Rob Russell, 756-7159 Water quality issues (DFO), Margaret Wright, 756-7269. Environmental Impact Assessments: MELP Nanaimo, Ron Bollans, 756-3100. Septic Issues: Public Health Inspector Duncan, 746-1414. Soil Testing: Vancouver Island Soil Testing Associates, Duncan, 746-8633. Land Use Violations: MELP Nanaimo, Keith Anderson (Senior Officer), 751-3100. Illegal Dumping: MELP Nanaimo, Diane Tetarenko (Conservation Officer), 751-3100. Hazardous Materials: Discharge into streams: MELP Duncan, Ken Broadland (Conservation Officer), 746-1257. Discharge into storm drains or fish kills: DFO Hotline, 1-800-465-4336. CVRD Recycling Hotline: Duncan, 746-2640, Ladysmith (toll-free) 1-800-665-3955. CVRD Website: http://www.cvrd.bc.ca Paint Collection Depot (phone before dropping off paint): Cowichan Valley Bottle Depot Duncan, 748-2066 Pharmaceuticals (including over the counter drugs, vitamins or prescription drugs) can be returned to any pharmacy in British Columbia. Government Organizations Agriculture and Agri-food Canada: Coastal Areas Branch, Box 2527, 103-620 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, B.C, V3L 5A8, Phone: 604-666-9283. (http://res.agr.ca/neri/) Canadian Wildlife Service: (Publications) Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Phone: 819-997-1095 Conservation Data Centre: Ministry of Environment, Lands, and Parks, Resources Inventory Branch, Box #9344, Station Provincial Government, Victoria, B.C, V8W 9M1. Phone: 356-0928. Cowichan Valley Regional District: 137 Evans Street, Duncan, B.C, V9L 1P5, Phone: 746-2500, Fax: 746-5612. Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO): Institute of Ocean Sciences: 9860 West Saanich Road, Box# 6000, Sidney, B.C, V8L 4B2, Phone: 363-6518, Website: http://www.ios.B.C.ca. Pacific Biological Station: Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, B.C, V9R 5K6, Phone: 756-7000, Website: http://www.pbs.dfo.ca. Habitat and Enhancement Branch: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 555 West Hastings St. Vancouver, B.C, V6B 5G3. Coastal and Marine Habitat Science Website provides scientific advice and information about marine habitats, particularly needed for managing, conserving and protecting our Pacific coastal zones. Can be accessed through the Institute of Ocean Sciences at http://www.ios.B.C.ca/ios.mehsd/coast/welcome.htm Environment Canada: 2224 West Esplanade, North Vancouver, B.C, V7M 3H7, Main Office: 604-666-6711, Library: 604-666-5914, General Information: 604-666-5900, Website: http://www.ec.gc.ca. Islands Trust: 2nd Floor, 1627 Fort Street, Victoria, B.C, V8R 1H8, Phone: 387-4000, Fax: 387-4047. Ministry of Environment Lands and Parks (MELP): Nanaimo: 2080 Labieux Road, Nanaimo, B.C, V9T 6E9, Phone: 751-3100, Fax: 751-3103 Victoria: 103-3179 Jacklin Road, Victoria, B.C, V8V 1X4, Phone: 474-5544, Fax: 474-6756 Municipal/Regional Planning Department: For more information about what measures your local government may have taken to protect marine habitat, and more information about Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Development Permit Areas, contact your local municipal/regional office, planning department. Naturescape British Columbia: Ministry of Environment, Lands, and Parks, #300-1005 Broad Street, Victoria, B.C, V8W 2A1, 1-800-387-9853. Purpose: Publishes “Naturescape” series for practicing stewardship at home. First Nations Cowichan Tribes, Box 880, 1820 Tzouhalem Rd., Duncan, B.C, V9L 3Y2, Phone: 748-3196, Fax: 748-1233. Halalt First Nation, RR #1, Chemainus, B.C, V0R 1K0, Phone: 246-4736, Fax: 246-2330. Homalco First Nation, 1400 Weikaikum Road, Campbell River, B.C, V9W 5W8, Phone: 287-4922, Fax: 287-9590. Lyackson First Nation, 5360 Smith Road, RR #6, Duncan, B.C, V9L 4T8, Phone: 246-5019, Fax:

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caring for our shores, intertidal, marine wildlife, stewardship

Caring for Our Shores – Section IV: The Law and the Shore

Caring for Our Shores – Section IV: The Law and the Shore Who Regulates What? Every part of British Columbia’s coastline falls under the jurisdiction of one or more of the following levels of government: municipalities, regional districts, First Nations Peoples, provincial, or federal government. Private property extends only as far as the mean ordinary high tide mark. Back to Index Ahead to Appendix 1: Where to Get Help To order a copy of Caring for Our Shores: A Handbook for Coastal Residents in the Strait of Georgia, contact: The Cowichan Community Land Trust Society #6-55 Station Street, Duncan, B.C, V9L 1M2 P: 250-746-0227, F: 250-746-9607 The Marine Ecology Station Sidney, B.C, P: 250-655-1555 Images used with special permission from Kerry L. Werry. To view more pictures of ocean creatures found in B.C waters, visit the B.C Diving and Marine Life I.D Page.

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caring for our shores, intertidal, marine wildlife, stewardship

Caring for Our Shores – Section III: Mapping and Monitoring

Caring for Our Shores – Section III: Mapping and Monitoring Imagine that when you bought your land the previous owners passed on a series of maps, charts, and surveys that marked thriving clam and oyster beds, stands of sea asparagus, seal haul-outs, and eagle trees. You would have been able to make informed decisions about your new property: where to place your beach paths and docks, how to orient your sundeck for the best view. You would also have known about sensitive populations of wildlife that shared your land and how to avoid harming them. That kind of information is not only a communication from one landowner to the next, it is a powerful tool. For instance, when cartographers surveyed the Georgia Strait in the 1700s, they measured depths of water along the coast, significant kelp forests and oyster beds, and unique land ecosystems such as the prairie meadows on Cortes Island. Today we can use their findings as a scale of how things were and to understand how far we must go to put things back in order. Back to Index Ahead to Section IV: The Law and the Shore To order a copy of Caring for Our Shores: A Handbook for Coastal Residents in the Strait of Georgia, contact: The Cowichan Community Land Trust Society #6-55 Station Street, Duncan, B.C, V9L 1M2 P: 250-746-0227, F: 250-746-9607 The Marine Ecology Station Sidney, B.C, P: 250-655-1555 Images used with special permission from Kerry L. Werry. To view more pictures of ocean creatures found in B.C waters, visit the B.C Diving and Marine Life I.D Page.

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caring for our shores, intertidal, marine wildlife, stewardship

Caring for Our Shores – Chapter 3: Let Nature Do the Work

Caring for Our Shores – Chapter 3: Let Nature Do the Work …how to minimize harm through careful building and landscaping Some of the largest alterations we can make to our properties are structural: digging fields for septic systems or channels for water pipes, clearing land for lawns and views, paving, roofing, and removing trees. Although many of these things help us to enjoy our property, they may also lead to potential problems through increased run-off and erosion. Impervious Surfaces Each time we pave or cover an area with impervious surfaces, we give run-off more travelling distance to cross before it drains into the ground; this reduces infiltration and increases evaporation, lessening the amount of potential groundwater. We also provide it with a smooth place to collect and gather speed. While a little bit of run-off might have passed through your property unnoticed, greater amounts sweep away soil, causing rills and cracks to develop. Run-off from agricultural or urban areas carries pollutants harmful to groundwater and wildlife; concentrated in large amounts, these can affect your health and the health the shore. Reducing Impervious Surfaces Reducing the amount of pavement on your property will help stop concentrated run-off from becoming a problem. If you are building a new house, choosing a taller, multi-storied design instead of a sprawling single level means less ground occupied by roofing. Development Upland development affects the drainage of surface and groundwaters by impeding its natural flow or giving it an “easier” route (in the case of buried pipes). Cleared land means less vegetation to act as a buffer against erosion. Not only that, but without the cyclical decomposition of roots, leaves, and organic matter present in forested land, your soil quality degrades rapidly. The ability of poor soil to hold water and nutrients is negligible. Shoreline Structures To lessen the impacts of erosion, landowners often erect shoreline structures such as breakwaters, jetties, seawalls, groins, and bulkheads. Some of these actually worsen the problem by disturbing patterns of sediment and nutrient transport or shifting the erosion problem down shore. Seawalls and bulkheads can also eliminate important shallow water habitats and affect water exchange with salt marshes. Natural Buffers Shoreline trees and vegetation perform a vital function: they absorb quantities of water that might otherwise erode banks, taking up excess nutrients and toxins before they reach the sea. They also anchor soil to the substrate and provide stability in steep places. To protect the shore against erosion, try obtaining some of the plants naturally found on your banks from your local native plant nursery. Some native vegetation particularly good at preventing seashore erosion includes: snowberry (deciduous, 0.5-2 m) salal (evergreen, 0.2-5 m) ocean spray (deciduous, to 4 m) evergreen huckleberry (evergreen, to 4 m) bigleaf maple (deciduous, to 35 m) willow (deciduous, 1-12 m tall) yew (evergreen, 2-15 m) native plant seed mixes (grasses, deciduous, 0.5-1.5 metres) Back to Index Ahead to Section III: Mapping and Monitoring the Shore To order a copy of Caring for Our Shores: A Handbook for Coastal Residents in the Strait of Georgia, contact: The Cowichan Community Land Trust Society #6-55 Station Street, Duncan, B.C, V9L 1M2 P: 250-746-0227, F: 250-746-9607 The Marine Ecology Station Sidney, B.C, P: 250-655-1555 Images used with special permission from Kerry L. Werry. To view more pictures of ocean creatures found in B.C waters, visit the B.C Diving and Marine Life I.D Page.

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caring for our shores, intertidal, marine wildlife, stewardship

Section II: Living On the Ocean

Section II: Living On the Ocean Until recently we believed the size and chemistry of the sea allowed it to absorb unlimited amounts of garbage, toxic chemicals, and household wastes. Now we realize that like any ecosystem the ocean can only take so much. The marine shore is a unique network of wildlife and habitat. Everything we do on the uplands affects the ability of the shore to buffer and filter out an onslaught of natural and imposed changes. Thinking Ahead Considering the way we affect the shore is important. For example, removing coastal vegetation to “clear up” the view may seem essential, but it is also an expensive capital investment and work that must be maintained. On the other hand, pruning a few of the trees directly in our line of sight contributes to a more natural panorama. Lessening our impacts and encouraging natural shorelines means less work, less expense, and more time to relax and enjoy the seashore. Although laws and regulations limit the kinds of activities that harm the ocean, governments can only reach so far. Individuals are beginning to learn that they can make a positive difference to the health of the land and sea simply by being aware and letting the natural elements of their property flourish. Simply owning land affords you some measure of control over the health of the marine shore. Back to Index Ahead to Chapter 3: Let Nature Do the Work To order a copy of Caring for Our Shores: A Handbook for Coastal Residents in the Strait of Georgia, contact: The Cowichan Community Land Trust Society #6-55 Station Street, Duncan, B.C, V9L 1M2 P: 250-746-0227, F: 250-746-9607 The Marine Ecology Station Sidney, B.C, P: 250-655-1555 Images used with special permission from Kerry L. Werry. To view more pictures of ocean creatures found in B.C waters, visit the B.C Diving and Marine Life I.D Page.

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Caring for Our Shores – Chapter 1: Water, Shores, and Intertidal Ties

Caring for Our Shores – Chapter 1: Water, Shores, and Intertidal Ties …some different shore types and how to identify them …an introduction to our tides, and marine food web Tidal Force On the B.C coast, there are two unequal high tides and two unequal low tides each twenty-four hours. Intertidal exploring in the Strait of Georgia is best during those summer days when extremely low tides expose the shore. In the winter, night owls can take advantage of nighttime low tides. The greatest tidal ranges occur in June and again in December. In the Cowichan region ranges vary from 16 feet on the northeast side of Valdes Island, to 12 feet in Saanich Inlet. For approximate tides in your area, purchase a tide guide at your local marina, sporting goods store, or book store. Seashore Habitats The kinds of animals and seaweeds living on the seashore are determined by a variety of local conditions: salinity, or the concentration of saltwater, water movement, and the surface characteristics of the shore. While these are some of the more obvious conditions, it is important to remember that other factors like nutrients have big effects, but leave no immediate “footprint”. Salinity To an oceanographer, nearly all the Strait of Georgia is an estuary, a place where saltwater and freshwater mix. During times of high freshwater runoff, the eastern shores of Valdes, and Galiano Islands are bathed in mainly freshwater while the western shores are more than 67% saltwater. This huge freshwater input is from the Fraser River. Most marine animals cannot tolerate drops in salinity caused by such significant dilutions of saltwater with freshwater. If you live on one of the eastern Gulf Islands, you may be aware that the western shores of your island are much richer in marine wildlife than eastern shores. Similar differences also occur on a smaller scale in the estuaries of the Cowichan, Chemainus, and Nanaimo Rivers. Water Movement The Strait of Georgia does not generate the same continuous swells and oceanic waves as the open Pacific Ocean. In the open strait, waves occur during local storms or from passing boats, and are rarely higher than six feet. The areas most protected from waves such as Ladysmith Harbour experience warm surface water during the summer. Oysters require such warm water to spawn, and up until recently, Ladysmith Harbour was known as Oyster Bay. Where land masses constrict water passage, the rise and fall of the tides translates into currents, rapids, and overfalls. Whereas some marine wildlife live in quiet conditions, many sponges, bryozoans, and sea squirts thrive on surfaces in contact with currents. These attached creatures rely on the drifting food carried to them by moving water. Bull kelp also lives in near shore waters with tidal currents. In the Cowichan region, these kinds of bottlenecks occur at several inter-island passes including Gabriola Pass, and Sansum Narrows. The richness of life associated with high currents in Gabriola Pass led to its recommendation for Marine Protected Area (MPA) status. Surface Characteristics The characteristics of intertidal surfaces are important for marine animals and seaweeds. Is a surface hard or soft? Is it smooth, or does it have cracks and crannies? Is a shore made of stable rocks, or is it unstable like a muddy sand beach? Whether a shore is horizontal, sloped, or vertical is also an important factor in determining which marine wildlife will use it for a home. For examples of some of the dominant shore types found in the southern Strait of Georgia, visit our shore types page. Bioluminescence Have you ever been surprised by a ripple of sparkles in the moonlit sea? Waves hitting the shore or wading feet stir up the water and cause some resident phytoplankton to chemically produce light internally or bioluminesce. The best time to enjoy a sparkling swim or paddle is during the hot summer months when the plankton are growing well and the evening waters are not too cold. The type of phytoplankton responsible for this magical display are called dinoflagellates. Back to Index Ahead to Section II: Living on the Ocean To order a copy of Caring for Our Shores: A Handbook for Coastal Residents in the Strait of Georgia, contact: The Cowichan Community Land Trust Society #6-55 Station Street, Duncan, B.C, V9L 1M2 P: 250-746-0227, F: 250-746-9607 The Marine Ecology Station Sidney, B.C, P: 250-655-1555 Images used with special permission from Kerry L. Werry. To view more pictures of ocean creatures found in B.C waters, visit the B.C Diving and Marine Life I.D Page.

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Caring for Our Shores – Section I

The intertidal zone is an exciting place where more than just the land and the ocean meet: it is a unique community where seaweeds and animals can survive both above and below the sea. Life in the intertidal zone (literally meaning “between the tides”) means adjusting to new conditions every time the tide changes–and this is happening nearly all the time. Imagine hiking up and down the walls of your house as the sun moves across the sky, all the while changing how much oxygen you breath and the costume you wear. This is life in the intertidal zone. Snails slide for cover under a seaweed hat; flower-like anemones transform into water saving blobs. Other creatures such as sculpins adjust slowly to the dropping salinity of their tidepool as it rains. Even barnacles batten down their hatches to avoid drying out. Ever changing conditions in the zone between high and low tide have created a richness of lifestyles and numerous adaptations. But even adaptations have limits: despite their versatility, most intertidal life will only survive within specific ranges. Along with competition for space and food, the effects of predators, tides, wind, sun, and air divide the intertidal zone into horizontal habitats. Back to Index Ahead to Chapter 1: Water, Shores and Intertidal Ties To order a copy of Caring for Our Shores: A Handbook for Coastal Residents in the Strait of Georgia, contact: The Cowichan Community Land Trust Society #6-55 Station Street, Duncan, B.C, V9L 1M2 P: 250-746-0227, F: 250-746-9607 The Marine Ecology Station Sidney, B.C, P: 250-655-1555 Images used with special permission from Kerry L. Werry. To view more pictures of ocean creatures found in B.C waters, visit the B.C Diving and Marine Life I.D Page.

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