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The Steward Spring 2010 important creek, which flows out at Cherry Point Beach in Cobble Hill. Initial fieldwork helped us understand our newly adopted creek’s importance, identifying Coho and Chum salmon spawners for example. Workshops in February and March with Dave Polster and Dave Clough taught restoration techniques to local streamkeepers, including how to restore eroding creek banks using tree cuttings. Participants also learned other instream methods to help nature recover from damage caused by human development. Project funding comes from EcoAction and the Public Conservation Assistance Fund.www.cowichanlandtrust.caLocal Streamkeepers Begin Garnett Creek RestorationWith the assistance of the Cowichan Land Trust, a new Streamkeepers group is forming to restore Garnett Creek and increase habitat for salmon and cutthroat trout. Slopes along the banks must be stabilized to reduce erosion. Log jams must be cleared and native plants added to the banks. Gravel used by spawning fish needs enhancement. Plus, new signage will increase awareness of thisLocal artist Rod Carswell is painting a mural to raise awareness about local eelgrass meadows, sponsored by the Cowichan Land Trust. It will be shown at the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre. See page 2 for more information.Know Your WaterfowlIn the last Steward, we accidentally printed a picture of a Mute Swan in our migratory waterfowl section. The problem was: Mute Swans don’t migrate. Part of educating people about local waterfowl has to cover even these basic facts. Only some of the waterfowl living in the Cowichan Valley are migratory. Do you know which ones live here year-round and which only stop in for the winter? See page 3 for answers.Greater White-Fronted GooseTundra SwanMute Swan To find out about future streamkeeping events or any other Cowichan Land Trust news, visit our website: www.cowichanlandtrust.ca Canada Goose Cackling Goose Trumpeter SwanThe StewardSpring 2010Spreading Awareness About EelgrassIncreased public awareness of eelgrass habitats in Cowichan Bay and Maple Bay will be part of our Eelgrass Restoration Project’s legacy as it ends in March. Local artist Rod Carswell is creating a beautiful mural in Cowichan Bay showing off the nearby eelgrass habitat. The Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre has offered a site on its pier to display the 3-foot by 9-foot piece of art. Look for it to be completed later this spring. The Cowichan Land Trust is also making educational signage for Maple Bay Marina. It will explain the vital role eelgrass plays in the ecosystem, how local meadows are being affected and how people can help protect them. Maple Bay Marina will install the sign and include information about their environmental practices, which have earned them a “Green Marina” distinction. Along with the restoration work done last summer and our ongoing mapping of local eelgrass beds, we believe this project has made a significant positive impact on this important part of the Cowichan Valley’s ecosystem. It is–especially for those of us who have a heightened interest in nature immediately outside our door–springtime and the beginning of another year. Perhaps now, the best way to remind yourself why our participation in the Land Trust is important is to stop doing Message all those other important or from the demanding or just routine President things that take up so much Jim Ayers of our time. Instead, go for a walk in some favorite place or to some nearby special place you’ve heard of but haven’t yet explored. Enjoy, relax and when you return consider calling the Land Trust office or one of the board members to ask what you can do, in a very specific way, to help preserve the natural beauty of this place for generations to come. Sunday, I am going to go find that stand of big, old fir trees on the Koksilah River–the ones the loggers refused to cut down. I will listen to the birds and the river and the stillness. I’ll do it early in the morning when the sunlight and shadows contrast strongly, and I will try to feel, if not understand, what that place and those trees meant to men who put their jobs on the line because they judged, “This should be preserved.” If it’s not raining, I’ll have tea, a sandwich and a nap with a root of one of those big old trees for a headrest.EELGRASS EVENTSSaturday, March 27 Learn Eelgrass Mapping Techniques Come out if you want to learn about mapping eelgrass meadows. Workshop happening on March 27th from 9am-12pm at the Island Savings Centre. Please RSVP to amber@cowichanlandtrust.ca. Early May Eelgrass Mapping We need volunteers to come out and help us map the eelgrass beds at either Kin Beach or Cherry Point. Exact date will be posted at www.cowichanlandtrust.ca. We recommend volunteers attend at least one mapping workshop, such as the March one above.The Steward The StewardSpring 2010 Spring 2010Know Your WaterfowlMute Swans and Canada Geese are the only two of the six waterfowl depicted (see page 1) that don’t necessarily migrate. In recent years, a non-migratory Canada Goose population has developed in the Cowichan Valley,. The fast growth of these new residents is a concern for many Cowichanians. Some worry our presently small Mute Swan population may follow a similar pattern. The Land Trust is investigating the problem through a series of consultations and public meetings with the goal of developing an action plan that presents solutions.WATERFOWL EVENTSMonday, March 15 – 7pm to 9pm Waterfowl ForumFreshwater EcoCentre, 1080 Wharncliffe Road, DuncanAdd your voice to a discussion on regional problems with waterfowl. We’ll focus on two key issues: 1) Loss of habitat and concentration of migratory waterfowl on agricultural land 2) Sanitary concerns about resident, non-migratory Canada Geese Bring your ideas and experiences to the table and help us create an action plan that works.Cowichan Land Trust T-Shirts are Available!• Available in the colours white, black, chocolate, olive, light blue, dark green • Available in men’s and women’s sizing • GREAT LOW PRICE OF $20! Call the Land Trust today or drop in to pick up this hot new item for your wardrobe and help support the Land TrustCowichan…

Fall 2009TheSteward Where does the Cowichan Valley Green Map go from here? • We want to help you be better stewards of your land and natural places that are important to you. • We want to help develop effective community partnerships that lead to better care of the land. • We will continue community mapping by developing web-based mapping tools and resources for the community. In the Green Map Project… We collected data… Data becomes colourful map information… Information pondered becomes knowledge… This knowledge upon reflection, can lead to wisdom… But ultimately we hope… It leads to… Action. Visit the Land Trust Green Mapping website for more information: maps.cowichanlandtrust.ca Green Map is BornAfter conducting several community mapping workshops in the spring and countless editing sessions over the summer with many supporters, the Cowichan Land Trust is ready to launch the Cowichan Valley Community Green Map. The Cowichan Land Trust will join other community partners in the Cowichan Sustainable Harvest Festival at Providence Farm on Sunday, September 27th to celebrate the launch of the Cowichan Valley Community Green Map. We are excited to give the map back to the community, and share the values and concerns you told us. The theme of the green map is that we are all connected to this land, the people and the food. The message of the green map is that when we value the land, we will take care of it and it will take care of us. By telling the stories of local people and the many groups and individuals that care for the Valley, we hope to open new doors of partnership for conservation and stewardship.Attention Members!Annual General Meeting is coming up on September 30th from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Providence Farm in the St. Anne’s Garden Room Come celebrate a great year with the CLT and sample local food and refreshments. The StewardFall 2009 Fall Fun The Top Ten List!Autumn is a great time of year to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Yes, there is still some gardening and yard work to do, but it should be minimal once you harvest your produce. You can cut down on your work by letting some seed heads stand in the garden. The foliage will add beauty to your yard and the seeds will provide food for the birds in the winter. You can also save work by throwing your leaves in the compost pile or by using them as mulch in your flower beds and around your trees. What will you do with the time you save in the yard? Here are some suggestions to help you and your family get the most out of autumn: 1. Discover a new place in the Valley to hike and enjoy the spectacular autumn colours 2. Go birdwatching at Somenos Marsh 3. Pick apples for the Cowichan Green Community ‘FruitSave Program’ (see //www. cowichangreencommunity.org/food_security/ cowichan_valley_fruit_save_program.html) 4. Build a mason bee nest to attract these native pollinators to your yard http://www.yesmag.ca/projects/bee.html 5. Go for a bike ride through our beautiful Cowichan wine country 6. Fly a kite at China Beach or join those crazy surfers 7. Use a GPS device to go Geocaching (see Geocaching.com for more information) 8. Check out the local markets like the Saturday Duncan Farmers Market 9. Go canoeing or kayaking on the Cowichan River or on Cowichan Bay 10. Jump in a pile of leaves, and then compost them Whatever you choose to do this fall, savour the unique colours and textures of the season. It is a wonderful time of year for all the senses. Take some time to enjoy the scenery!Mission Possible: Chase Woods SavedThanks to a successful fundraising campaign and overwhelming public support, Chase Woods has been saved from future land development. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), with the help of local partners such as the Cowichan Land Trust and private donors, was able to achieve the seemingly impossible goal of raising $1.7 million by July 24, 2009. Now the NCC would like to thank everyone for their support. On Sunday, September 27 from 3 to 5 p.m., the NCC is hosting a community celebration for Chase Woods at Affinity Guest House at 5155 Samuel Road in Duncan. Coordinator of Conservation Projects Katie Blake and other members of the NCC will be there to express their thanks to the community. Chase Woods on Mount Tzouhalem is an ecological treasure in the Cowichan Valley because of the significant trees and wildlife in the area. Douglas fir forests and Garry oak woodlands along with animals such as Peregrine falcons, Pacific treefrogs and Great blue herons will now be preserved for future generations. The StewardFall 2009 Can migratory waterfowl co-exist with farming?The sight of migratory birds overhead means Fall is on its way! It also means the Cowichan Land Trust (CLT) is busy with waterfowl habitat stewardship in the Cowichan Valley. The Land Trust will be visiting local landowners, farmers, and community members to hear their perspectives on waterfowl conservation. The Cowichan Valley is located on the Pacific Flyway and receives large populations of swans, geese and other migratory waterfowl species over the winter. Urban development in the region is putting pressure on waterfowl habitat. As wetlands are lost, more birds rely on farmlands for foraging areas. Waterfowl foraging can damage farmers’ crops and fields; however, farmers currently don’t receive compensation for these losses. The CLT will be looking closer into these and other issues in order to help create a regional stewardship action plan by March 2010. The success of waterfowl habitat protection relies on support from both community members and local farmers, whose work is extremely important for food security. The Land Trust is investigating how farming and waterfowl habitat protection can become more compatible. The Comox Valley and the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust offer great examples of how communities have sustainably managed waterfowl habitat within farmland settings. The CLT would like to hear from anyone who is inter interested or has waterfowl or wetland related concerns. For

Summer 2008 The Steward COWICHAN LAND TRUST #6 – 55 Station St, Duncan BC, V9L 1M2; Phone: 250-746-0227 Email: cclt@naturecowichan.net; Website: www.naturecowichan.net Our research student helps migratory waterfowl! We are planning to hold a public meeting for anyone who is interested in protecting waterfowl habitat. Please contact us ! Monika Pakstas Madeline Southern Erin Ward Monika Pakstas has completed a report, which has unearthed and compiled research and documents relating to Somenos Marsh, Quamichan Lake, Cowichan Estuary and Chemainus Estuary. These are extremely important places for migratory bird overwintering, feeding and resting. This summer we worked on the Stewardship Support Project like bees on their hive. Our team of 3 helped support land stewards by identifying ecologically sensitive sites on privately owned lands as well as current, imminent and potential environmental issues or threats. By doing site visits and providing information about conservation tools we assisted and encouraged locals to conserve/restore ecologically important places in the Cowichan Valley. We kept as busy as orchard bees – buzzing through the fields and fields of wonderful ways we can improve the health of our community’s waterways and landscapes. PEOPLE LOVE GARRY OAK WALKS The Somenos Garry Oak Protected Area has a long, rich history of First Nation traditional uses and also has many rare and endangered species. This summer we organized walks led by local experts. If you want to learn more about these fascinating landscapes contact us at the office! The three busy bees would like to give John Scull our deepest thanks for all his good humor and guidance this summer. The Steward Summer 2008 Underwater Gardening: Cowichan Bay Rows of eelgrass are spreading the seeds of change… Eelgrass planted with 1m spacing Taken during transplant by: Jamie Smith Coastal Photography Studio WHY IS EELGRASS IMPORTANT? Among the richest and most productive of all biotic communities, eelgrass provides a diversity of habitats for marine life: BIG SALTY THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS! On June 27th and 28th a strong team of over 50 volunteers, coordinated by the Cowichan Land Trust, helped transplant 2000 eelgrass shoots in Cowichan Bay. SeaChange Marine Conservation • 80% of commercially important fish Society and Precisions Identification led the depend on eelgrass during part of their biological methods and taught helpers how to attach lifecycle anchors made out of iron onto the eelgrass shoots at • Pacific herring and smelts deposit their Hecate Park boat launch. Anchors will hold the eggs on eelgrass blades eelgrass roots in place underground and give them a • Birds, fish, crabs, snails and several other chance to establish and spread by seed and rhizomes. organisms depend on eelgrass for food On Saturday, many volunteers stayed longer than and shelter they had originally signed up for, enjoying the personal satisfaction of knowing they are Eelgrass helps to slow coastline erosion contributing to bringing back a vital marine ecosystem. For more info: www.seachangelife.net/index.html Funders: BC Conservation Foundation, Pacific Salmon Foundation and CVRD The Steward Summer 2008 AGM Notice: When: SEPTEMBER 17th , 7pm Where: Cowichan Land Trust Office: 55 Station St, Duncan SO YA WANNA BE IN A STEWARD GROUP? Our community outreach during this summer has unveiled some of the barriers that locals face when they try to protect nature. The main barriers that we identified are lack of: technical expertise, time, funding, support from organizations / municipalities and neighborhood coordination. In order to help break down these barriers, we are now focusing on starting, revitalizing and supporting environmental stewardship groups. In order to support community environmental stewardship groups, we will be contacting various groups and individuals who want to start groups and begin identifying their concerns and visions. We will be providing workshops to facilitate dialogue, coordination, technical skills, resources, and planning. We also hope to help create a common understanding of the human and biological community. Workshops will be provided based on the needs of groups. If you already are, or want to be in a stewardship group and would like support please contact the office at: 250-746-0227. Please stay tuned to www.naturecowichan.net for workshop announcements. In Memory of Charles Poole… A Debt of Gratitude By John Scull Charles Poole was a Director of the Cowichan Land Trust from 1996 until he resigned, for health reasons, in 2007. He passed away this March. As I consider the loss of my friend and associate, my principle emotion is gratitude, for his friendship, humour, integrity, and good will, and for his tremendous contribution to our organization and to conservation in the Cowichan region. His deep understanding of business and accounting resulted in the Land Trust acquiring a reputation for integrity and financial responsibility with our supporters, local government, and other conservancies and land trusts. He took a lead role as the Land Trust representative on the committee to purchase the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, assisted with the purchase of the Holland Creek Trail Corridor, and took an active role in all our conservation activities and projects. Charles is an example to all of us, showing the importance of contributing our skills and our time to the community. Through his work at the Land Trust he has left a lasting legacy in the community and in the hearts of those of us who were privileged to work with him. STREAMKEEPERS COURSE OCT 4 & 5 Come learn the skills required to evaluate, measure and monitor your local potential fish-bearing streams! The workshop runs from 9am-4pm each day, with instructor Dave Clough. Lunch provided. More info available at www.pskf.ca. Participants are asked to donate $60 at the time of registration and they can purchase the Streamkeepers Manual for a discount price of $20. Sponsor for this program: PCAF The Steward Summer 2008 A Message from the President At the beginning of May our Board of Directors started creating a Five Year Plan for the Land Trust. Nature Cowichan Network Our new logo shows that the Cowichan Land Trust is a partner in the Nature Cowichan Network, an informal cooperative organization created by the Cowichan

TheStewardNEWSLETTER – SUMMER 2007 COWICHAN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST SOCIETY A Message from the PresidentHard to believe it has been almost a year since I agreed to take on the role of President ofthe Cowichan Community Land Trust (CCLT). This year has seen a few changes to the CCLT Board – we have a new past-president, Jim Ayers, who thankfully is still involved in covenant work; we have lost our long-time treasurer, Charles Poole, whose health has not allowed him to take on this responsibility for us any longer; and we have gained a new and energetic board member, Cindy Carleton. CCLT has been working hard this past year. You may have seen CCLT mentioned in the local papers recently because we were honored with the Silver Award from the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund for the work CCLT staff, members and the community have done to re-establish sub-tidal eelgrass meadows in Cowichan Bay. For now, that project has wrapped up. But stay tuned; the interest is out there to continue eelgrass restoration in our local marine waters. Speaking of Cowichan Bay and newspapers, earlier this month a News Leader headline read “National Marine Park in the works”. According to the article, public feedback has redrawn the original proposed reserve boundary to include Cowichan Bay and Maple Bay in the National Marine Conservation Area Reserve (NMCA) proposed for the Southern Strait of Georgia. As part of the Tzouhalem Project several years ago, CCLT met with Bill Henwood of Parks Canada to ask that Sansum Narrows be included in the NMCA. The potential addition of Cowichan and Maple Bays would mean Sansum Narrows would receive marine conservation status, and all our hard work on eelgrass in Cowichan Bay could be afforded additional protection. In this Issue Message from the President Volunteer Appreciation Green Day Stewardship Support Upcoming AGM New Eelgrass signWe are just beginning our next project – Stewardship Support and we have also welcomed the Friends of Quamichan Lake as our newest committee. Well, my experience this year has been a full one, and I have enjoyed it immensely. Ann and the CCLT Board are wonderful people to work with. I look forward to meeting more of our members in the coming months while helping with Stewardship Support. Best regards, Tracy Fleming1Green Day!By Alexis BakerAs the Business Outreach Representative I will be organizing events and fundraisers throughout the summer for the Cowichan Community Land Trust Society. Green Day is a fundraising event that creates awareness and support for land conservation in the Cowichan Valley and can be held at your convenience. To participate, each business or office will choose a day where employees donate money to wear green on their chosen ‘Green Day.’ Clients or customers will be asked if they would like to make a donation to support the CCLT with all proceeds going to protecting the Cowichan Valley. Supporting businesses will receive a window decal that shows you are a local Green Day supporter. A link for your business is also available through our Nature Cowichan website at www.naturecowichan.net where our Green Day business directory will promote your business and recognize your commitment to protecting the natural beauty of the Cowichan Valley. I would like to acknowledge the Canada Summer Jobs Program through Human Resources Development Canada for sponsoring me to work for a great cause this summer.CCLT Volunteers and Members:‘WE Appreciate YOU’ Day…Join us at Hecate Park in Cowichan Bay Saturday, August 18th at Noon and let us buy you lunch!To show you how much we appreciate you we are celebrating our Volunteers and all the good work that we can accomplish with your help. This will also give everyone a chance to see the newly installed Eelgrass sign that recognizes the great community effort that went into making the project such a success.Please bring along a plate, glass and utensils and a folding chair for your comfort… and R.S.V.P. to 746-0227.Hope to see you there!2 Stewardship Support ProjectBy Amanda DoddApproximately 90 percent of the land base in the Cowichan Valley is privately owned and iscurrently under significant development pressure or impacted by recent developments. This makes land stewardship essential for the preservation and protection of natural habitat in the Cowichan Valley. The Stewardship Support Project is a two-year environmental program that will allow us to support landholders interested in conserving and protecting ecologically sensitive areas on their land. Land Stewards will be contacted and supported with networking opportunities and be encouraged to create or join a stewardship group around a local natural feature, like a stream or natural area, and to continue their voluntary commitment to the natural areas on their land. Landholders who are new to land stewardship will be encouraged to commit to a voluntary Stewardship Agreement. Many local ecologists volunteer their time and expertise to assist us in helping landholders with concerns about the natural areas on their property. Land Stewards can also take advantage of our resources and can receive a site visit to their land to help with issues that affect them and the health of natural areas. If you are interested in learning more about the Stewardship Support Project give our office a call, or you can stop by for a visit.Check out the New Eelgrass Sign!By Ann ArchibaldOur Eelgrass project recently wrapped up with a new addition to Hecate Park. A new Eelgrass Interpretive sign has now been installed at the boat launch location in Cowichan Bay where most of the eelgrass volunteers worked during our transplanting events. Hecate Park has also been undergoing some changes with a newer design, benches and viewing areas that our Eelgrass sign fits into very well. Over 6,000 eelgrass shoots have been planted in the Cowichan estuary and so far the transplants are growing. Some of the good indications for the return of eelgrass are three ‘natural’ beds of eelgrass found near the transplanted sites. These small beds are no more than a foot across but may show that this area is ‘naturally’ recovering