Download these minutes as a .pdf
Present (15) Karen Munro, Chair, Julie Pavey, Graham Knell, Sandie Hollick-Kenyon,Zo Ann Morten, Janet Dysart, Bob Gelling,Doug Hayman,Jan Lander, Sharon Porter, Brian Comey, Ron den Daas, Barbara Frisken, Richard Tak, Lorne Poersch,
Regrets: Angela Negenman
Municipal Reports – North Vancouver District: (Richard Boase report read by Julie)
2014 DNV In Stream Capital & Operating Project list
Following is the list for this year. There will be additions and deletions as we progress with design. Parks will confirm Donovan Pond fish ladder.
1) Rehabilitate deteriorating culvert on Mission Creek under NewdaleCrt. The culvert is badly eroded and will need to be repaired. A very difficult job but quite high up in the watershed. No fish salvage expected at this site.
2) Replace wood stave culvert on Mission Creek at Silverdale Pl. Culvert is at the end of service lifecycle. Fish salvage and appropriate BMP’s likely required.
3) Rehabilitate deteriorating twin concrete culverts on Keith Creek under East 21st. Fish salvage and appropriate BMP’s likely required.
4) Rehabilitate deteriorating ductile iron culvert on Coleman Creek under Doran Rd. Fish salvage and appropriate BMP’s likely required.
5) Replace wood stave culvert on St. Martin’s Creek at St. Georges Rd. Culvert is at the end of service lifecycle. No fish salvage is expected at this site.
6) Replace and/or rehabilitate existing storm sewer infrastructure on St. Martin’s Creek at DowsleyCrt. Culverts and pipes are at the end of service lifecycle. No fish Salvage expected at this site.
7) Replace and/or rehabilitate existing culverts on Maplewood Creek at the intersection of Mt Seymour Pky. & Riverside Drive. Plus two additional downstream (immediately west) culverts. Very sensitive work site. Fish salvage and appropriate BMP’s will be required. Of note to NSSK this is the removal and/or abandonment of storm outfall into Hogan’s Pools.
8) Mosquito Creek hydrological improvements to the reach beside existing lower parking lot at William Griffin Park. Design work is being sought for in stream boulder weirs and/or other structures to recruit and hold gravel and finer fraction bedload to stimulate benthic production and habitat.
9) Relocate existing Griffin channel outlet to Mosquito Creek mainstem. Design work being sought to move the outlet channel farther south to the lower gradient section of Mosquito Creek, thereby reopening Griffin Channel to salmonids.
10) Replacement of 1200 wood stave culvert on Hoskins Creek under Kilkenny Rd. This culvert is at the end of service lifecycle.
NSSK requested assurance all culverts be fish passable.
In response to the question about the culvert replacements and consideration of fish passage improvements, Richard provided the following information:
The tender document has the following statement;
• Evaluate and recommend construction and restoration techniques, including equipment to be utilized, re-use and/or disposal of excess fill material, culvert installation methods, as well as potential fish passage issues and constraints;
So fish passage is a requirement in the design of all the proposed works.
An email update will be sent for future discussion of William Griffin project when updated information received, with the drawings that you have already viewed.
Municipal Reports – City of North Vancouver (Angela Negenman)
Earth Day at Heywood Park – The City is celebrating Earth Day at Heywood Park! Please join the City of North Vancouver and other community groups from 12 to 4 pm on Sunday, April 27 to celebrate Earth Day in Heywood Park. This event is building on the wonderful Earth Day celebrations of previous years. The City will be hosting an invasive pull and native planting with Evergreen and tools and light refreshments will be provided.
Living City Grants – As part of its ongoing commitment to environmental, social and economic sustainability, the City of North Vancouver offers a Living City Grant. This is an annual grant that provides funding opportunities for small-scale, community-based parks and environmental initiatives. The deadline for applications is Friday, April 25th. For more information please go to www.cnv.org/Your-Government/Living-City/Grants-and-Awards
Green Necklace at Mahon Park – The City is planning the next section of the Green Necklace greenway that will run along Jones Avenue from Keith Road to 21st Street. The proposed three metre wide, multi-use, off-road, asphalt pathway will be an extension of the first section that runs through Victoria Park, providing safe alternative transportation and recreation opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. It will provide an important connection from the sports fields, play spaces and natural areas of Mahon Park to Carson Graham Secondary and the Central Lonsdale Town Centre We would love to hear what you think. Please fill out our www2.cnv.org/greennecklacequestionnaire. Your feedback will help shape the creation of a concept plan which will be presented for your review at the next Open House. Deadline for Questionnaire submission is 4pm on Friday, March 21st.
Integrated Stormwater Management Plan Open House – Held on Thursday, February 27, 2014, 6 – 8pm in the City of North Vancouver City Hall Atrium. The City and District of North Vancouver are improving the way stormwater and watersheds are managed by developing an Integrated Stormwater Management Plan (ISMP). Instead of moving stormwater out of the area as quickly as possible, ISMPs maximize the social, ecological, recreational, and economic benefits that watersheds provide. CNV and DNV are developing a Request for Proposal to obtain a consultant and updates will be provided as available. You can find our online questionnaire at www2.cnv.org/ISMPCommunitySurvey, please visit it as we appreciate as much input as possible. For any additional comments please email to ISMP@cnv.org.
Official Community Plan Town Hall Meetings – Whether you are a City of North Vancouver resident or work or volunteer in the City, the City invites you to drop in and join the conversation. In December, Council released a draft Official Community Plan for discussion and input through a series of events and outreach activities. A variety of public input opportunities have been underway to reach both broad and specific audiences. A series of Town Hall Meetings will be held to conclude the input on the Draft Plan.
Town Hall Meeting #2: Central Lonsdale
Thursday, April 3rd – Queen Mary School Gymnasium (updated location)
6:30-7:00pm: Material on display, 7:00-9:00pm: Presentation & Discussion
Town Hall Meeting #3 – Two Suites
Tuesday, April 15th – Queen Mary School Gymnasium
6:30-7:00pm: Material on display, 7:00-9:00pm: Presentation & Discussion
Town Hall Meeting #4 – Lower Lonsdale
Tuesday, April 22nd – Pinnacle Hotel Ballroom
6:30-7:00pm: Material on display, 7:00-9:00pm: Presentation & Discussion
Municipal Reports – North Vancouver District (Graham Knell, Trail and Habitat Co-ordinator)
- Have removed a vast quantity of invasive plants from Blueridge Creek – work done by Blueridge Elementary School andBlueridge Community Association
- Will be working with Sharon Porter and local residents to plant Riverside Dr. side of Hogan’s Pool – the pool is very exposed.
- Will be planting with Scouts riparian plants next to MacKay Creek behind the indoor Tennis Club.
- Will be working with the Deep Cove Brownies to plant along Parkside Creek
- Dirty Duo group working in the south section of Lynn Canyon Creek to improve rudimentary crossings of wetland and plant riparian plants – hopefully will improve quality of water flowing into Lynn Creek.
Award from Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Karen passed the award to Zo Ann Morten, who will be posting a photo on website and Facebook.
DFO Community Advisor(SandieHollick-Kenyon)
Little to report other than what groups will report. Will do smolttrapping in Mosquito Creek & Wagg Creek. Wagg Creek this week—traps will be set this Thursday afternoon, March 13 and picked up on Friday morning. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, along with the City and District of North Van are interested in fish distribution in the Mosquito Creek watershed. .
Pacific Streamkeepers Federation(Zo Ann Morten)
No PSkF report at this time. There is a Facebook page up now though: The URL for PSkF Facebook page is –https://www.facebook.com/streamkeepersfederation?ref=stream
Presentation – What Swims Beneath (Julie Pavey)
“What Swims Beneath” was a partnership project managed by the City of Port Moody. The project was initiated with a group meeting of government agencies and community partners in response to a call for project applications to the federal Environmental Damages Fund (EDF). The group identified the need to update information on fish species that were present in Port Moody Arm as the last inventory had been conducted over 20 years before. Port Moody is a city that has experienced rapid community growth of 13.6% between 2001-2006 and the partners felt it was important to share the information with the community and new residents to engage them in protecting fish habitat in Burrard Inlet. This resulted in project goals for community engagement. Even the name was selected by the partners to inspire curiosity and interest in the waters of Burrard Inlet around Port Moody. The partners identified the need for a coordinator to manage the day to day work of the project and were able to hire Ashley Graham. The project was partially funded by the EDF with in-kind contributions from the project partners. The results of the project and names of partners can be found at the “City of Port Moody” website, under Parks & Recreation, Natural Environment and then under “What Swims Beneath”. After viewing this, it is easy to see why the City of Port Moody received B.C.R.P.A.’s Program Excellence Award for What Swims Beneath.
The project goals were:
1) Conduct fish inventory of Port Moody – (unexpected result of project initiative was a full year of data rather than 3 months as project partners continued with the work with support from DFO)
2) Share knowledge at community level about biodiversity of inlet
As part of the outreach tools; staff in the Port Moody communications department designed a brand for the project that was fun and colourful. The outreach for the project included:
- A school age colouring contest (the picture done by high school students) in which it was ensured local seaweeds and fishes were used. On the back there was a description of fish and biodiversity.
- There was a Community Event at Rocky Point Park in July which involved the partners setting up stations along the peer. There was a live tank which allowed visitors and residents with all the fishes from study. The project provided a large map where visitors could mark where they lived along the inlet and see their relationship from a watershed perspective. There were around 1000 attendees to the event.
- Land Owner Package: 275 homes along the water were visited in person, asked for their perspective as to how the inlet changed over the years since they lived there and provided with a pledge form to help protect “What Swims Beneath”. Lawn signs given to homeowners.
- Light Industrial Businesses in a designated drainage were visited in person and information on best practices for their business category was shared with them. This provided a helpful opportunity to talk to them about the important role they can play in protecting Burrard Inlet.
The project resulted in assets that remain with the project partners, including a water quality meter and a beach seine net.
Lessons learned:
1) Having a project coordinator was critical to success
2) It takes time to implement community outreach – get timing right
The results of this project’s findings was compared to that done 20 years ago and can be done again 20 years from project date.
18 species of fish were sampled during the project work, with a focus on all species including forage fish – important to both now and in the future.
NSSK enquired about the total budget—$50,000 cash along with in kind work would bring to total to approximately $100,000.
An acknowledgement from the website “This report would not be complete without the contribution of the following reviewers: Scott Ducharme, Ruth Foster, SandieHollick-Kenyon, Murray Manson, Dr. Guy Martel, Brian Naito, Julie Pavey and Ryan Pavey”.
Thank you Julie for presenting this project to our group!!! It is much appreciated and we have a lot to take back with us to our own communities as a result.
Finances(Karen Munro, interim treasure)
Bank balance as of February 28, 2014 is $4,102.19.
Friends of Hunter Park (Janet Dysart)
1. LVCA/LVSA Park Clean-up Partnership
The annual partnership of Lynn Valley Seniors Association(LVSA) and Lynn Valley Community Association (LVCA) in the Park Clean-up Project is taking place on Saturday, April 12 beginning at 9am. This year, we will be working to clear invasive plant growth along the right-of-way path west of Allan Road at Draycott and through to Mountain Highway including the undeveloped area north of that. The hospitality tent will be at Allan and Draycott. Most tools are provided but having gloves, hand pruners and a trowel would be helpful. Dress for the weather as this is a rain-or-shine event!
2. Friends of Hunter Park
We will be doing a weed pull and planting plus bug survey and a limited salmon fry survey together with Graham Knell, NSSK, neighbours and Lower Mainland Green Team. Always good attendance and fun to do.Saturday April 26th 10am–1pm, starting at Chaucer Rd park entrance. Coffee provided by Waves, and snacks. Rain or Shine.
Hastings Creek (Doug Hayman)
The contractors working at Wendell Place got the debris out of Hastings Creek that was left in the stream from the bridge decommissioning. What was not removed had moved down to the entrance of the ladder at Mountain Hwy & Lynn Valley Road. Graham managed to get it out, which must have been a fairly big job. Thanks for doing that Graham.
Bob G has been keeping an eye on the work behind Argyle School and caught them pumping dirty water into Hastings Creek, which he reported to the District.
The building contractors working at Harold and Baird did not have any filter cloth on astorm water drain near the creek. I happened to run into a bylaw officer and he took care of that as it is now covered with new yellow filter cloth cover.
Mackay Creek(Brian Comey)
Approximately 40,000 pink salmon fry were released into Mackay Creek this evening. Lots of people and children attending-–just great to see kids gently placing their bucket of fry into the creek along with the supervision. Nighttime release gives the fry a better chance to dodge the cutthroat trout when navigating downstream to the inlet.
The chum salmon have been developing well and will be put into the feeding tub within one week. The next big release will be the chum salmon fry; the anticipated date is in approximately four weeks with different school groups.
There was a problem with the feeding belt this week and we are looking into having it repaired this week. All equipment and other operations are running well.
With all the work that has been completed in the estuary we are hoping to see a better return of spawning salmon this fall.
Upper Mackay Creek (Ron den Daas)
No signs of emergent Coho in Upper Mackay Creek yet.
The recent high water brought on by heavy rains and melting snow continues to reshape the creek below the Handsworth Bridge.
Ron den Daas has applied for a PSF SEP Grant through the Coho Society that will support the creation of banners to be installed along the Marine Drive and Main Street corridor. The banners featuring environmental conservation themed art created by local school kids will announce Coho Festival 2014 and identify salmon bearing streams and rivers including the Seymour River, Lynn Creek, Mosquito Creek, Mackay Creek, Capilano River, Lawson Creek and MacDonald Creek.
A letter of support was requested from NSSK for this project. Letters were received from, DWV, CNV, DNV, Park Royal, WVSK and Friends of Cypress Provincial Park.
Graham Knell is supporting a Habitat Restoration Event at Highland Elementary School as in previous years (the park behind the school features a tributary of Mosquito Creek).
Morten Creek (Doug Hayman)
We had a rough few days with the cold snap. At least twice we were lucky enough to get to the hatchery, just in time, to save the eggs. Things back to normal now with chum moving around under the bio rings. The first ones should be emerging soon.
As for the coho, they are shocked and counted now and figures for them are as follows;
The eggs from the first 2 cohofemales were enumerated on Feb 13 with a total of 3086 green eggs. The survival rate for them 91.5% (from spawning to eyed); the last two batches of eggs were done March 10, the 1st one had 2366 green eggs with 92.7% survival and the last one had 2224 green eggs with 87.3% survival (not as good as the other females, but still pretty good). Total Green Egg count was 7676.
New Business:
Streamside Planting with Neighbours Who Border theStream (Zo Ann Morten)
Zo Ann would like to introduce this new project.NSSK would supplythe native to BC plants, using grant money from HSBC (via PSF). NSSK members who live streamside would contact their neighbourhoodsto let them know when we will come by. Our target planting sites would be in yards that are directly on the stream corridor but if a neighbour is interested in native plants for their yard they wouldn’t be turned away. Our focus though would be to have planting occur within the 30 m riparian setback.
We will provide information on native plants and, their benefits, and help in planting. We can use the sign-up sheet to identifyneighbourhoods and streams.Sign up list was passed around. Zo Ann will coordinate this. Graham may be able to supplement NSSK planting equipment for the day.
Barbara suggested an NSSK Tag attached to each plant and tree. This tag could have the name of plant, the conditions it needs to thrive, whether they are a food source for wildlife, a reminder to water it and the NSSK website address.
Survey Feedback for Events: (Karen Munro)
Names added to sheets and next thing is to get some dates in place for the events for the next meeting. Please send dates for events and surveys to Karen – we will make a calendar for the website.
AGM and Board Selection: (Karen Munro)
Our next meeting is our Annual General Meeting and there will be voting for Board selection at that time. You may be getting a call sometime in the next while with regards to standing for the board as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and member at large.
A reminder also, that dues for 2014-2015 year are due if you have not already paid.
NEXT MEETING– ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – Wednesday, May 21, 2014 – 7:30 to 9:30 pm, District Hall, 355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver
- DFO VIOLATION REPORTING: OBSERVE, RECORD, RECORD (ORR) 604-607-4186
A SPILL OF ANY TYPE Environment Canada – use PEP number below
PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAM – 1-800-663-3456 .
CITY OF NV-Operations Division 604-987-7155(8 am – 4:30 pm Monday to Friday) or After-Hours Emergency Line 604-988-2212 (after 4:30pm, weekends & Holidays).
v President: Karen Munro 604-988-4072, karen-munro@shaw.ca
v Secretary: Jan Lander, #109 – 1155 Ross Road, 604-904-8708, in_the_canyon2010@hotmail.com or jan.lander@shaw.ca
v Pacific Streamkeepers Federation: ZoAnn Morten 604-986-5059, www.pskf.ca
v North Shore Streamkeepers Web Site: www.nssk.ca
v Message board http://disc.yourwebapps.com/Indices/232171.html
v District Web Site: www.dnv.org/Services/Environment/District Information
v City of North Van:: Angela Negenman604.982.3932anegenman@cnv.org, www.cnv.org
v Community Advisor: SandieHollick-Kenyon- 604-666-0743,
v Email: Sandra-Hollick-Keynon@dfo-mpo.gc-ca
v Hastings Creek: Doug Hayman 604-987-0434, pastoys@yahoo.ca
v Lower Mackay Creek and North Shore Fish and Game Club incubation facility: Terry Bragg 604-985-7272 terrybragg@shaw.ca
v Upper Mackay Creek: Ron den Daas, ecosystem@shaw.ca
v Morten Creek: ZoAnn Morten 604-986-5059, zmorten@shaw.ca
v Seymour River: Kurt Frei, 604-288-0511; volunteering@seymoursalmon.com or www.seymoursalmon.com
