Welcome to the contents page for Caring for Our Shores: A Handbook for Coastal Landowners in the Strait of Georgia. The handbook provides information for waterfront landowners in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, including: stewardship tips and property enhancement activities, maps of lower Vancouver Island’s east coast, an introduction to intertidal ecology, and illustrations. The following sites are summaries of some of the book’s chapters.
I. Welcome to the Seashore
Chapter 1: Water, Shores, and Intertidal Ties
…some different shore types and how to identify them
…an introduction to our tides, and marine food webs
Chapter 2: Special Places
…some unique marine places in the Cowichan Region
II. Living on the Ocean
Chapter 3: Let Nature Do the Work
…how to minimize harm through careful building and landscaping
Chapter 4: Down the Drain
…exercising our power to preserve through smart household choices
Chapter 5: Sewage and the Seashore
…some facts on sewage and septic systems
Chapter 6: Greening Your Land
…important things to consider on your farm or in your garden
Chapter 7: Out to Sea
…ideas for boaters
Chapter 8: A Visit to the Beach
…ideas to consider when using your beach for recreation or harvesting
Chapter 9: Commercial Uses of the Shore
…monitoring the impacts of commerce and industry
III. Mapping and Monitoring the Shore
Chapter 10: Where to Start
…steps for recording the diversity of your shore
IV. The Law and the Shore
Chapter 11: Public and Private Rights
…your rights as a marine waterfront landowner
Chapter 12: Legal Tools for Marine Protection
…important legislation for the protection of waterfront habitat
Chapter 13: Making a Case
…some illegal uses of the shore and how to report them
Appendices
Appendix 1: Where to Get Help
…numbers, information hotlines, and organizations related to the marine environment
Appendix 2: Latin Names for Wildlife
…scientific names for wildlife named in this book
Appendix 3: References and Resources
…helpful and interesting publications
Appendix 4: Identification Key
…a visual guide to some seashore creatures
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.