Society News for the Knowing Community

November­December, 2009 1

Thanks for picking up this edition of the Peninsula Streams newsletter. Please read on for an update on all of our exciting activities and visit our website at http://www.peninsulastreams.org/ for more. –Francesca Loro, Stewardship Coordinator

Chalet Creek – at our annual planting event with the Deep Cove Gr. 3 students we found earthly homes for over 45 red alders (photo courtesy of volunteer Heather Goulet). A big thank you to our volunteers for leading the event! We also spent a weeknight clearing blackberry bush from the riparian zone in preparation for the planting. Several members reported damage at the mouth of the creek – Fisheries & Oceans is investigating.

Tod Creek – the Tod Creek Flats project is moving along well: Scott Murdoch of Murdoch­De Greef Inc. delivered an excellent PowerPoint presentation of progress to date. You can view this PowerPoint on our website by clicking on our Technical Reports link.

Hagan/KENNES Creek – The Hagan Creek/KENNES Watershed Project and PSS would like to thank everyone who came out to our Halloween Bonfire event on Saturday, October 31 st , 2009. Central Saanich Mayor Jack Mar and Councillor Alastair Bryson joined 35 volunteers at the big burn, from seven week old Kahlil Jones to many of our veterans in their 60s and 70s. In early October an excavator removed almost a kilometre of invasive Himalayan blackberries from the Hagan Creek riparian zone on Anne Waterhouse’s property. Fifteen bush piles were made and burned on Saturday 31 st , with burning continuing into Sunday. Our volunteers also set to work and a good­sized dent was made in the blackberry bushes remaining entangled in the trees on the streambank. A hearty lunch of hotdogs, sandwiches (courtesy of the Red Barn Market) and hot apple cider was provided. In recent years we have done creek restoration work on the adjacent properties. Stay tuned via email for information on a Hagan Creek work party planned for November 14 th .

Reay (Kelset) Creek – A special thank you to Peter for his tireless work cutting back the blackberry bushes. This past summer VAA finished removing contaminated soils from the upper creek on airport lands. Everyone please watch for coho returning and call Ian if you spot any.

Peninsula Streams Society Newsletter November – December 2009

Society News for the Knowing Community

November­December, 2009 2

Tetayut (Sandhill) Creek – Tetayut was the site of our major restoration project this year. For two weeks in October, pond renovation & major channel reconstruction, complete with meanders, pool­ riffle combinations, and gravel additions took place. Thank you to our new and extremely dedicated volunteer Jim Kirby, who showed up every day to provide invaluable support. Financial support from the District of Central Saanich, Michell Excavating Ltd. and the Pacific Salmon Foundation made this project possible.

Channel construction. Building a riffle spine.

Renovating the pond.

Tseycum Creek – the long­awaited (4 years) hydrological study is now in Ian’s hands….the District of North Saanich is moving towards implementing some of the Delcan report’s recommendations. Call Ian for more information, or check out our next newsletter.

Environmental Education Program – We have now completed the 2008/09 program, which included teaching 460 Gr. 3 students about watersheds, pollution and the salmon life cycle. Over the months of September and October we planted alders at 6 restoration sites with the students. Thank you to Peninsula Co­op for their financial and in­kind support of our Alder Tree Program, and to our volunteers for helping us facilitate these events.

Society News for the Knowing Community

November­December, 2009 3

Integrated Stormwater Management Planning – The District of Central Saanich (DCS) has recently adopted the ISMP report and its recommendations which is great news for our Peninsula watersheds! Peninsula Streams will be active helping DCS implement the recommendations. You can view the report at the DCS website at www.centralsaanich.ca

Peninsula Streams is powered by its great volunteer base. We would not be able to do many of our activities without their dedication, skills, enthusiasm and plain hard work. So, thank you to our volunteers for their – Your! – time and effort, we could not do it without you!

This month, we want to give special recognition to a relatively new volunteer, Jim Kirby, who joined the PSS volunteer team this year. Jim not only stepped up to fill a vacancy on our Board of Directors, but quickly became indispensable over the course of our Adam Kerr Park restoration project, which took place in early October. Jim is also a dedicated member of Shorekeepers. Thank you for your commitment to making a difference, Jim!

Jim Kirby at Adam Kerr Park

Thank you to Thrifty Foods for their continued support of our environmental education initiatives, including the successful inaugural Creatures of Habitat conference.

Photo courtesy of Christine van Reeuwyk/Peninsula News Review

Society News for the Knowing Community

November­December, 2009 4

• Become a Member. For the price of a latte, you can become a valued member of PSS, which entitles you to vote at our AGM. You will also gain access to our e­ newsletter and volunteer call­outs. (A membership purchase form can be found at the bottom of p.4) • Volunteer on our Public Display Committee This group attends public events, markets etc. to raise the profile of PSS, hand out informational pamphlets, sign up new members, etc. • Volunteer on our Fundraising Committee Fundraising to support our programs is an ongoing project for us and we are always interested in your ideas and assistance. Introductions to businesses are particularly appreciated. • Shop at Thrifty Foods and use our pre­programmed Smile Card. Thrifty Foods donates 5% of your bill to our education programs and it doesn’t affect the new “club Thrifty” program. Please remember us at the till; it doesn’t cost you a penny to support us! If you would like a smile card or one to give to your friends, please contact Francesca at 250.363.6480. • Shop at Tru­Value Foods (Brentwood Bay) and quote #46 from the Spirit Board when you make your purchase. Tru­Value Foods donates a sum of goods to PSS equal to 1% of your bill, at no extra cost to you!

• Donate on our website through Canada Helps, a secure online donation system. You can use the “ Donate Now” button on the website to securely and electronically donate to the society. You will then receive a charitable receipt for income tax purposes.

Chalet Creek

Tseycum Creek

TenTen Creek

Reay Creek

Tetayut Creek

Hagan Creek

Noble Creek

Tod Creek

Graham Creek

Blue Heron Creek

Chalet Creek

Tseycum Creek

TenTen Creek

Reay Creek

Tetayut Creek

Hagan Creek

Noble Creek

Tod Creek

Graham Creek

Blue Heron Creek

Society News for the Knowing Community

November­December, 2009 5

Please support Peninsula Streams Society’s sponsors and donors: Canoe Cove Marina Clace Holdings Coast Capital Savings Jacques Whitford Axys Several Skills Production RITM Mineral Corp NSERC Westport Marina Judith Cullington & Associates Port Sidney Marina Village Gallery Ltd. Thrifty Foods Trendsitions Strategy Management VanCity Credit Union Rhys Davis Ltd. Mr. C. Mearnes Victoria Airport Authority Bowker Family Mr. B. Drury Mrs. M. Haig­Brown Haig­Brown Fly Fishers Assoc. Mrs. G. Bruce Mark Hobson Mr. P. Chandler Slegg Construction Materials Ltd. Ms. D. Chown Ms. P. McAvity Ms. A. Scoones Tru­Value Foods – Brentwood Bay Dr. J. Clearihue Mrs. S. Guy Ms. Anne Waterhouse Sherwood Marine Centre Peninsula Co­op Bodine Family Mrs. S. Irving Michell Excavating Ltd.

Foundations, Associations, & Governments: District of Central Saanich Town of Sidney District of North Saanich Pacific Salmon Foundation Capital Regional District TD Friends of the Environment BC Ministry of Advanced Education Environment Canada Dee M. Bailin Family Fund Victoria Foundation ­ Environment Fund, Woodsome Fund, Oolichan Fund, Alistair S. Thomson Fund Sidney Anglers Association Sidney Lions Club Victoria Airport Authority Haig­Brown Fly Fishing Association Fisheries and Oceans Canada CRD Environment ­ Stormwaters, Harbours and Watersheds Program Tsawout First Nation

Contact us at: Peninsula Streams Society Ian D. Bruce 250.363.6596 Ian.Bruce@dfo­mpo.gc.ca 9860 W. Saanich Road Francesca 250.363.6480 Francesca.Loro@dfo­mpo.gc.ca North Saanich, B.C. V8L 4B2 Check out our website for updates at www.PeninsulaStreams.org

The Peninsula Streams Society newsletter is published up to six times per year. Do you have something to add to the newsletter? Submissions are accepted on a continual basis, inclusion is subject to space availability and content

appropriateness. Please contact Francesca.

Peninsula Streams Society ­ 2009 – 2010 Membership

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Peninsula Streams Society Institute of Ocean Sciences 9860 West Saanich Road Sidney, BC V8L 4B2