JULY2012

Stream keepers.

Over the past month we have been busy counting Wild Coho smolts exiting our streams heading out to the Salish Sea to begin their ocean journey for the next 2 to 4 years.

Down in the estuary we have been releasing the water from the DU pond to allow the wild Coho smolts to exit into the stream proper. This year we have observed more smolts in the pond than any other year going back as far as 1998.

The fish congregating in front of the stop log structure [culvert with removable boards] consisted of several schools each in the hundreds moving around the pond.

 All these fish are a good sign that the returning adults last fall and the year before were relatively better then previous years. Our Giant Hog Weed removal project seems to be succeeding with less new sprouts this year than previous years. By digging out the sprouts by the roots it stops them from maturing and dropping more seed.

 As a invasive species we do not want them to gain a foothold and turn our riparian zones along the streams into what has happened at French Creek which has the most Hogweed I have ever seen growing along its banks for at least 17 kilometres from the Ocean up past Coombs.

Over the coming months we will be salvaging fry from drying pools on all the streams from the Englishman River to Bloods Creek in Lantzville. Over the summer watch for some new fish signs going up at some of the stream

Crossings. We endeavour to place the modern name usually named for some of the first settlers and if possible the Coast Salish name when we can. At Nanoose Creek we show the stream as Nanoose and Snaw Naw As creek, this shows respect for the Coast Salish who have lived along the shores of the Salish Sea for thousands of years.

On a side note I feel I must mention two events that I personally am proud to see happen in Lantzville.

First was how the community has come together to raise funds for the memorial playgrounds, the dinner and what turned into a dance at Costin hall was one of the most memorable functions I have seen for a long time bringing the community out to socialise and donate to such a worthy cause. Following a blessing by Anne Bob of Snaw Naw As village everyone enjoyed some fantastic food [Greek or East Indian] then socialised for the rest of the evening and danced the night away to the sounds of some really good music. Then a few weeks ago we had the opening of our very own farmers market opened by our new mayor who gave an opening speech, which made me proud once again to be a Lantzvillager. So please continue to support the fund raising and do go out to the farmers market on Sunday afternoons and support our local urban gardeners and craft folk. As the summer progresses I expect to see more veggies and more folk out enjoying this great shopping and social event.