2012 YEAR IN REVIEW FRASER VALLEY WATERSHED PROGRAM. Watershed Program Overview: Watershed Program Projects:

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1 FRASER VALLEY 1 WATERSHED PROGRAM April 2013 Issue No YEAR IN REVIEW Lance Lilley Rachel Drennan Natashia Cox Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition Watershed Program Overview: Formed in 2005, the Fraser Valley Watershed Program is a joint partnership between the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) and the Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition (FVWC), with additional support from (DFO). It is a unique and effective partnership between government and a non-profit society to improve the health of watersheds in the Fraser Valley. By using mostly grants and in-kind contributions, the Watershed Program works towards this goal through habitat enhancement projects, environmental monitoring, community stewardship, watershed planning, and partnership building. Since its inception, this program has resulted in approximately $2 million dollars in projects, over 100m 2 of new or restored habitat within the Fraser Valley, and immeasurable benefits such as improved partnerships, community engagement and participation, and a greater understanding of our watershed. Watershed Program Projects: This report provides a summary of the activities and projects undertaken in 2012 as a result of the Fraser Valley Watershed Program. The Fraser Valley Watershed Program was active across the FVRD in 2011, with notable projects and activities occurring in the District of Mission, the City of Abbotsford, the City of Chilliwack, the Village of Harrison Hot Springs, the District of Kent/Agassiz as well as FVRD Electoral Areas D and E. Specific projects and activities are described in more detail in the summary table (Table 1) and in subsequent sections of this report. Specific achievements for 2012 include: Co-hosting a Wetlandkeepers of the Fraser Valley Course with BC Wildlife Federation Hosted 2 Bioengineering workshops offering professional development credits and hands on experience; Completed monthly environmental monitoring along Hope and Camp Slough in Chilliwack, in Silverdale Wetland, the S.E. Tributary to Silver Creek in the recently restored habitat; and in Chilqua Slough. Completed 3,000m 2 in-stream and 1,386 m 2 riparian habitat plantings in Chilliwack Completed 5,080 m 2 in-stream and 3,832 m 2 riparian habitat plantings at Silverdale; Restored approximately 30,000 m 2 of critical spawning habitat in Upper Pitt River system; 1

2 Mapped approximately 17 hectares of overwintering wetland habitat in Upper Pitt River; Stream mapped select areas in Deroche, Columbia Valley and Laidlaw to incorporate into a regional mapping database; Restored approximately 440 m of historical coho spawning channels along Chilqua Slough Initiated a bio-inventory assessment for Lower Stave River in anticipation for 2013 restoration work. Watershed Program activities are classified into one of five categories that help us improve the health of the watersheds in the Fraser Valley: 1. Habitat Enhancement Projects; Including off-channel habitat construction, invasive species management, and riparian plantings. 2. Environmental Monitoring; Ongoing water quality and/or fish sampling to observe status and trends 3. Community Engagement and Stewardship; Presentations, tours, or stewardship training provided to community members or groups. 4. Watershed Planning/Conservation Initiatives; Participation on ongoing initiatives or multistakeholder discussions regarding watershed planning or conservation; 5. Project Planning and Partnership Building: Establishing relationships or funding for future activities, identifying potential sites or projects, etc. Table 1. Summary of 2011 Watershed Program Activities, Outcomes and Partners. Activity Classification Habitat Enhancement Projects Project or Initiative Project Objectives Partner Organizations Silverdale Wetland riparian and in-stream restoration Chilqua Slough riparian and in-stream restoration Upper Pitt/Corbold Creek Habitat Restoration and wetland mapping Riparian habitat restoration (Throughout Chilliwack) Increase overwintering habitat for coho salmon and increase habitat complexity of stream system. Increase flows by removing reed canary grass in traditional coho spawning channels. Replace a failing intake to Alvin-Patteson Spawning channels and improve flows to an adjacent over wintering 17 ha wetland. Restore and replant native trees and shrubs (part of the Evans Road Overpass Compensation Project with Chilliwack). Over 7,000 plants went into the ground. Ministry of Transportation District of Mission Stave Valley Enhancement Society City of Abbotsford Dewdney Ditch and Drainage Private landowner City of Chilliwack Several Private landowners Yarrow ECO Village Environmental Monitoring & Mapping Riparian habitat and instream restoration Water Quality/ fish sampling at Silverdale wetlands & S.E. Trib / Chilqua Slough (Mission) Within the District of Kent/Agassiz, along Agassiz slough. Bi-monthly fish sampling and water quality monitoring for year (status & trend info) District of Kent Agassiz Balance Ecological Pearson Ecological Private Landowners Ministry of Transportation 2

3 Water Quality/ fish sampling at Hope/Camp Sloughs (Chilliwack) FVRD Habitat Atlas Bi-monthly fish sampling and water quality monitoring for year (status & trend info) Update the community mapping networks FVRD habitat atlas. Specific mapping and ground trothing occurred in Deroche, Laidlaw and Columbia Valley. City of Chilliwack School District 33 FVRD Community Mapping Network Taara Environmental Community Engagement & Stewardship Bio-Engineering workshop Wetlandkeepers of the Fraser Valley FVWC General Public Meetings, and attendance at community hosted events Hosted a for professional development workshop teaching people how to restore stream banks using natural elements. 2 workshops 1 in Mission, 1 in Chilliwack. Co-Hosted a Wetlandkeepers course meant to increase appreciation and understanding of wetlands using Silverdale as sample site. Hosted 6 public meetings with numerous keynote speakers to engage the public and membership. Events included Pikeminnow Derby, Bald Eagle Festival, Island 22, Pow Wow Dr. David Polster Yarrow Ecovillage District of Mission University of the Fraser Valley BC Wildlife Federation District of Mission Yarrow Ecovillage University of the Fraser Valley University of the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival FVRD CLASS Watershed Planning or Conservation Initiatives Project Planning and Partnership Building Norrish Creek Watershed Lower Stave River Off channel habitat restoration Help address water quality, fish passage and flows in Chilqua, Worth and Railroad Creeks. Project planning includes partnering with First Nation groups and conducting an archaeology assessment prior to restoration. City of Abbotsford Dewdney Ditch and Drainage Private landowners Kwantlen First Nations BC Hydro FVRD 1. Habitat Enhancement Projects: a) Silverdale Wetland (Mission) In 2012 numerous restoration projects occurred at the Silverdale wetland. In the spring, a bio-engineering workshop offered technical experience building a wattle fence to stabilize a section of Silverdale Creek bank. During the in-stream works window, a new spawning side channel was created, and works in the main section Participants building the wattle fence along Silverdale Creek (Spring to help address invasive 2012); Hatzic enviro club celebrating a successful planting (Fall 2012). species population was completed. A wing type inlet was installed in the north-western most pond, to help address water quality issues. During the fall, in partnership with School district # 34 and Stave Valley Enhancement 3

4 Society these restored areas were planted with native vegetation and a fence was built to keep visitors on the trail. In total, 5,080 m 2 of in-stream and 3,832 m 2 of riparian habitat plantings were completed, and should complete restoration works at Silverdale. b) Chilqua Slough (FVRD) In Spring 2012 FVWC staff started landowner contact with residents of Dewdney area to discuss watershed issues of the area. During the in-stream works window a section of Chilqua Slough was restored. Efforts included removing reed canary grass that was blocking downstream flow (and fish passage) and causing upstream flooding. Re-alignment of the slough, to its historic channel, meant to increase the riparian cover and increase the shade on the water surface. In early fall with the help from community members and university students, the stream bank was replanted with native vegetation. The total approximately 440 m of stream length was restored. More restoration is anticipated for 2013 at this site. Before During During c) Upper Pitt/Corbold Creek Restoration and Mapping (FVRD) In partnership with Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, replacement of a failing water intake and restoration of Corbold Creek was completed in May Works included bank stabilization and installation of a Adjoining 17 hectare wetland that was mapped; intake structure at Corbold Creek separating flows into the spawning channel and wetland. new wing type inlet and sediment trap to direct flows into the Alvin-Patteson spawning channels and into an adjacent 17 hectare wetland where coho salmon overwinter and rear. As part of the project, a preliminary mapping of the wetland was completed. In total approximately 30, 000m 2 of habitat was enhanced. 4

5 d) Riparian Habitat Restoration (Chilliwack) As part of the Evans Road Compensation project we completed numerous plantings projects totalling approximately 1,334 m 2 of riparian planting. Ongoing maintenance on all old planting sites was also completed with our maintenance crew. Volunteers help plant and lay coconut fibre matting to suppress blackberry along the Little Chilliwack River in Chilliwack; Chair Detmar Schwichtenberg introduces student volunteers about the benefits of planting e) Riparian Habitat Restoration ( Kent) As part of the compensation works required by the District of Kent/Agassiz, riparian planting was completed along the Agassiz Slough. This included maintenance and removal of invasive species like blackberry and lamiastrum. Planted stock was guarded against voles and beavers. In total 3,581 m 2 of restoration and maintenance was completed and approximately 2090 individual native species were planted into the ground! Before and after example of maintenance work along Agassiz Slough (2012). Blackberry was climbing up the planted stock and smaller species were not visible. 5

6 2. Environmental Monitoring: Environmental monitoring allows us to assess the current status of the environment and to evaluate trends over time. From this information we can observe specific issues that are of concern and identify actions needed for to best manage the watershed. We are currently monitoring water quality and fish presence throughout the region: along Hope and Camp Sloughs and Elk Creek in Chilliwack; along Silver Creek and the Silverdale Wetlands in Mission; along Chilqua Slough in Mission; throughout the Matsqui flats as part of the FVRD habitat atlas project The sampling, which is conducted by the Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition Outreach Coordinator (Rachel Drennan), also provides an excellent stewardship training opportunity. 3. Community Engagement and Stewardship: In addition to the community engagement and hands-on training offered to participants at our planting events or our environmental monitoring opportunities, our Watershed Program participated on numerous additional stewardship activities in These included: Hosting a series of public lectures and information sessions to discuss issues and projects amongst local stewards, identify opportunities for collaboration, and have guest speakers share research results or projects; Hosting a Bioengineering workshop Co-Hosting the BC Wildlife Federations Wetland Education Wetlandkeepers course Providing regular project updates, announcements, and volunteer opportunities to the community via distribution list (~250 people), quarterly newsletters ( Watershed Connections ) and the FVWC website ( and Facebook page; Continuing to provide guidance and capacity-building to local residents, organizations, and school groups interested in our watersheds. Connecting with the biology department of UFV to offer students partial credit for participating in hands-on restoration activities. 4. Watershed Planning or Conservation Initiatives: As part of the compensation works associated with the City of Abbotsford water intake system in the Upper Norrish Watershed, watershed planning including identification of needs and issues are being discussed. This is anticipated to lead to further restoration work in the area. 5. Project Planning and Partnership Building: Support from BC Hydro s Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and partner DFO for conducting restoration within the Lower Stave River to increase off channel habitat for coho salmon is currently being planned. A portion of this project will involve close partnership with Kwantlen First Nations and will require an Archaeology Impact assessment. Works are expected to occur in

7 2013 and Beyond: 2013 is shaping up to be another busy and productive year for the Watershed Program. Not only will we be continuing with many of our current projects, we are always in pursuit of additional opportunities that will help improve the health of Fraser Valley watersheds. Expected projects and tasks for 2012 include: Continuing restoration and monitoring efforts in both Chilliwack and Mission as part of the Evans Road Compensation Project and Hwy 7 Compensation Project, respectively; Continuing participation on watershed planning and conservation initiatives in the region; Assisting City of Abbotsford on fish habitat compensation requirements; Continuing to engage, train, and educate the community about our watersheds; Continuing assistance on FVRD activities and operations; Pursuing other projects and partnerships as opportunities arise. 7