NORTH SHORE STREAMKEEPERS SOCIETY – 2016 MAR 16 MINUTES

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2016 MAR 16 MINUTES

Present (27) Karen Munro, Chair, Jan Lander, Bob Gelling, Lorne Poersch, Angela Negenman, Richard Boase, Graham Knell, Glen Parker, Dolores Parker, Lyle Vallie, Doug Hayman, Sandie Hollick-Kenyon, Tasha Hyde, Willie Davidson, Janet Dysart, Zo Ann Morten, Barry Cordocedo, Marc Guimond, Deanna MacTavish, Tara Matthews, Jason Long, Susie Long, Fiona Wright, Paul Berlinguette, Greg Jovic, Brian Comey, Wayne Poole

Regrets: Barbara Frisken, Ron den Daas

Attached Files:
G3 Terminal Conference Call
NSSK consolidated notes from NSSK participants
Impact of Climate Change on North Shore Fish -1
Letter to Minister Tootoo
Letter from Minister Tootoo

ACTION ITEMS

• Presentation to Council about construction practices (Karen) (?)
• Recruit new board members (Sandie, Zo Ann)
• Attend Meet the Mayor event re Trail and Habitat Coordinator (Barbara)
• Feedback on Mountain Hwy/Hwy 1 overpass plans (?)
• NSSK email account (Barbara)
• Brochures (Barbara)
• Speaker for May AGM (Barbara)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Saturday, Mar 19, 2016, 10:00 am – noon at Hastings Creek, Hunter Park, Friends of Hunter Park & Lynn Valley Community Association Weed Pull & Plant
• Tuesday, Mar 22, 2016, 6 p.m. Chum Fry Release, Lynn Creek, 5^th St & Brooksbank
• Thursday, Mar 24, 2016, 6 p.m. Chum Fry Release, Mackay Creek
• Saturday, April 2, Hastings Creek at Hunter Park Smolt Trapping
• Sunday, April 24, noon – 4 pm, Invasive Plant Pull & Native Plant Planting, Earth Day at Wagg Creek (Mahon Ave & 21^st St) with CNV, Evergreen & other community groups
• Saturday, May 7, 2016 – CNV & DWV Rain Barrel Sale at Ambleside Park, West Van
• Wednesday, May 18, 2016, North Shore Streamkeeper Meeting, 7:30 p.m. District Hall
• Saturday, June 18, 2016– Lynn Valley Days
• Saturday, June 18, 2016 – Ugly Bug Ball, more information to follow

Barry Cordecedo spoke about a proposal for $33,000 in his position with Squamish Nation

Next meeting in May is the Annual General Meeting and election of the Board. Jan has indicated she is standing down as secretary this year. The other board members had indicated they will stand for next year. Membership is advised they may be getting a call from Sandie or Zo Ann enquiring if they would be interested in a position on the board. If you are interested, please contact them directly.

Ron den Daas’s book – Ron’s book ‘The MacKay Creek Series’ is available now. Some were available for purchase at the meeting and contact Karen Munro if you would like one.  Ron has given about 20 books to NSSK to sell for $30.00, all of which is to go to education fund.

Municipal Reports – District of North Vancouver (Richard Boase)

Environment and engineering will be finalizing the details of our 2016 in-stream work program.  The list of sites is not fixed and is always subject to budgeting and priority readjustment.  Here is a list of the projects that we have been working on;

Culvert Repair/Replacement

• Mission Creek – Silverdale Place.  Replace existing with new or lined culvert
• Maplewood Creek – Riverside Drive. Replace existing with new culvert
• Indian River Drive – Repair and/or replace various culverts, exact locations and details to be confirmed
• Mosquito Creek Bridge – Montroyal Bridge Replacement will commence shortly.  Tree removal work recently completed

Major DNV Projects

• Lynn Creek – Keith Road Bridge replacement.  Project is ongoing and on track for scheduled completion.  Details on the trail re-alignment and parking lot in Bridgeman Park are currently being refined.
• Lynn Creek – Hunter St. New pedestrian bridge, new multi-family development.  The DNV continues to work on the details of the Lynn Creek area at the west end of Hunter Street.  There is a new multi-family development project planned for the entire block of Hunter Street. The DNV is working on details of how the proposed new pedestrian bridge from Bridgeman Park will interface with the new development, trail beside the river.  In addition, this same area is one of the sites where access to the river is required for gravel management and extraction.
• Maplewood Area Village Centre Environmental Assessment Study – Prior to the public engagement project for the Maplewood Village Centre planning the DNV has awarded a contract for environmental and hydro-geological assessment of the planning area.  The study area generally extends from McCartney Creek in the east to Riverside Drive in the west and from the Berkley escarpment south to Old Dollarton Road.  One of the main components of the study is to assess and then attempt to quantify the relationship between surface and groundwater in the upland area and the Maplewood Conservation Area and mudflat in the south.  There will be stakeholder sessions associated with this project.
• Integrated Stormwater Management Planning – Mosquito & Mackay Creek Jointly with the CNV, the DNV has been working with our consultant team on the ISMP for Mosquito Ck. and Mackay Ck.  The CNV and DNV are currently working on priority project definitions for stakeholder engagement.  The DNV has commissioned our own extensive Water Quality monitoring project which is well under way.  Results for wet winter sampling events will be combined with dry weather sampling events.  The work will be used to inform and potentially suggest new projects for inclusion into the ISMP.

Significant Projects By Others

• Lynn Creek estuary enhancement project.  BCIT and partners will be conducting a restoration project in the current estuary of Lynn Ck. in Harbourview Park.  The project will generally consist of some reshaping of the gravel bar and then log and boulder placements.  There will also potentially be some inter-tidal eel and sea grass transplant work.  Timing is set for approximately March – April 2016
• Keith Ck. – Mountain Hwy/Highway #1 Overpass project. The DNV has provided comments to the Provincial Govt. on the %50 design drawings.  Keith Ck. will likely be impacted by the proposed works and DNV staff will continue to work with the Province on refining the details. Those members of the NSSK who have shown an interest in the health of Keith Creek are encouraged to contact the Provincial Govt. representative for the project. Jay Porter tel. 604 527 3105 or via email Porter@gov.bc.ca   the link to the consultation section on their website is: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-infrastructure/projects/highway-1-lower-lynn-improvements/public-consultation-design

Karen asked NSSK membership to contact Barbara or herself with specific questions they would like to ask about these projects to DNV. Glen has offered to take the lead for the NSSK on the Maplewood Village Centre environmental assessment project.

Municipal Reports – City of North Vancouver (Angela Negenman)

Earth Day at Wagg Creek Park – Invitation to Celebrate Earth Day with the City of North Vancouver, Evergreen and other community groups!

What: Invasive plant pull & native planting event

Where: Wagg Creek Park (near Mahon Ave. and West 21st Street)

When: Sunday, April 24, 2016 from 12 pm – 4 pm

High School Students will be given a signed letter confirming volunteer hours.

Tools, plants and light refreshments will be provided.

Integrated Stormwater Management Plan – Thank you for your input and support of the ISMP process to date. As we move forward in creating the plan, we are focusing the next workshop on prioritizing projects. There will be a joint City and District staff work workshop and the next stakeholder workshop will be scheduled for April.

Rain Barrel Sale – The City and the District of West Vancouver will be hosting a rain barrel sale at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver on May 7. This is building on the City’s successful rain barrel sale at Loutet Park last year.

Spirit Trail from Sunrise Park to Lynnmouth Park – This is the easternmost section of the City’s portion of the Spirit Trail to be completed. From Heywood Street, the trail will link to Kennard Avenue alongside the sports field on E4th Street, cross Brooksbank and then connect with the District of North Vancouver in Lynnmouth Park. Within Lynnmouth Park, there will be a paved trail on the west side as much outside of the 15m riparian zone as possible, and the current 6m wide gravel trail will be reduced to 2.5 m wide. The reduced gravel trail will remain gravel and it will be maintained it as a pedestrian focused trail. The remaining 3.5m of gravel trail will be rehabilitated with habitat planting with some habitat fencing. For more information, please see Open House #1 boards and feedback on the City’s website at www.cnv.org. A second open house is anticipated for May.

DFO Community Advisor (Sandie Hollick-Kenyon)

–       All North Vancouver Salmonid in the Classroom chum eggs delivered Jan 19/16 to the schools

–       We are getting good reports of herring spawn in False Creek this year. Port Metro Vancouver is deploying net panels around Burrard Inlet to test the range of spawning

–       Working with Ron with his education program linking art and the environment, 9 of 10 North Van school groups completed this spring, using Mackay Creek estuary, creek and hatchery for learning opportunities with the kids.

–       NSSK Climate Change Workshop was well attended and a huge success.

–       SEHAB Friday Night Forum in North Vancouver was another great learning opportunity. I would encourage people to connect with our Rep – Brian Smith if they have fisheries concerns they would like to move forward. www.SEHAB.org

–    Work is advancing with the Seymour slide, we are working towards beginning rock breaking this spring and having a fish fence in place this summer. For more Seymour info check out their website: www.seymoursalmon.com

Today, Minister Tootoo announced the opening of the fifth application period under DFO’s Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program (RFCPP) http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/rfcpp-ppcpr/application-soumission-eng.html. The RFCPP is a contribution funding program that provides financial support to Conservation Organizations, Angling Groups and – as of Round 5 – Indigenous Groups.  The program’s objective is to restore, rebuild and rehabilitate recreational fisheries habitat through partnership agreements in support of on-the-ground fish habitat projects.  For Round 5, the application window will be open from March 11, 2016 to April 22, 2016.  A national total of $10 million is available under Round 5 for projects commencing in fiscal year 2016-2017.  Projects may be one to three years in duration.  Priority is given to funding requests in the $20,000 to $100,000 range, but there is a maximum contribution amount of $250,000 per project per year. An Information Brief on the RFCPP is attached. For additional information, please contact RFCPP Pacific Region at rfcpp-ppcpr.pacific@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Please feel free to share this information broadly.

Pacific Streamkeepers Federation (Zo Ann Morten)

Insurance runs June 1 to June 1.  Meetings with Westland went well and it looks like prices will remain the same.

Working on the Ugly Bug Ball set for June 18, 2016 date.

Sep Community Workshop –  in final stages of nailing down our host city. Remember to add this to your calendar for May 2017.

The PSF CSP applications are all in—about 130. Good to see some from the North Shore.

Many NGO’s are asking our new government to reverse the changes to the Fisheries Act that were made quickly and then work on the additional changes needed to get things working to protect fish and fish habitat.  If you hear of things happening without consultations, there will be. When the changes to the Fisheries Act occurred, there was more information comments and concerns given during consultation than at any time in recent history. We are considering this to have been enough consultation to put things back.

Seymour River (Marc Guimond)

The main topic over the last year is the rock slide which occurred a year + 3 months ago. Engineers looking at it, some monies collected and it is expected to be anything between a two to five year project. The plan is to lay a fuse of mild explosives drilled into rocks, blast, and then wait for the river levels to increase and flows to push rocks downstream, gradually levelling the creekbed. First blasting to hopefully happen by May.  A lot must be done before people can go in and work safely.

In the meantime, salmon can’t wait that long. Last summer to December as many fish as possible were moved by volunteers. The water was warm and low throughout the summer and fall making survival difficult for adults. Despite the great efforts we barely collected enough adults, but, spawned double our normal coho production and were unable to release surplus adults in the river above the slide.  Wanted to bring in excess but were not able.

Interim – Along with Squamish Band by Superstore, putting in a fish fence. Hiring band members to build fence using mainly aluminum poles and cable. The fence will be installed in the river across from North Vancouver Heritage Park.  No office, just the fish fence being assembled (at the Squamish Band office) targeted to be installed in the lower river by May.

A maximum amount of effort was made in August 2015 to try to intercept the fish before they made their way up the river. We are hoping in May, rock breaking, and getting enough flows to push the rocks. Will not be done in the summer, but will start again in the fall when flows should be good for moving the rock. Striving to get the river to 5 degrees (5-7degree slope is a manageable slope for adults to climb).

Website at www.seymoursalmon.com is excellent for answering a lot of questions.

Friends of Hunter Park (Janet Dysart)

Thirty volunteers turned out for Friends of Hunter Park weed pull and planting on Saturday March 19th. We celebrated Graham’s retirement by planting about 40 tree saplings and bushes, and pulling 4 bags full of ivy. We were joined by Lynn Valley Community Association, Lynn Valley Seniors, North Shore Wetland (Paul), several children and Kevin Bell. At the end short speeches given in recognition of the huge amount of dedication Graham has had to our parks and streams, he was given a few gifts and cake which read, ”Happy Trails Graham”.

MacKay Creek (Brian Comey)

MacKay Creek Hatchery has been a very active place over the past few weeks with fish releases, hatchery tours, fish transfers from rearing trays to rearing and feeding tank, and old hatchery clean up and shutdown, including a large tree falling across the roof of the old hatchery. Fortunately, the tree didn’t do much damage because it’s root system lowered it slowly to rest on the roof.

On February 24^th we did a pink salmon release which was open to the public. We had very little notice but my daughter posted it on the North Shore Mothers Group and the response was amazing. With all the little guys going back and forth with their buckets of fish we had all 37,000 pinks in the creek within an hour.

On March 24^th we will be releasing 26,000 chum salmon into MacKay Creek. This event will be open to the public and be a family friendly event. The release will start at 6 p.m.

Hastings Creek (Doug Hayman)

We will be doing a smolt trapping—on Friday April 1^st at 6 p.m. we will meet at Chaucer and Fromme to set the traps and on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. we meet again to retrieve them. Everyone welcome to come and have some fun.

Morten Creek (Doug Hayman)

Our new ground water is working well. We are blending it a little with our old surface water to cool it down. The ground water will be good to have all summer if the weather is dry. We will be releasing our chum fry on March 22^nd at 5^th Street and Brooksbank at 6 p.m. We will meet Sandie at the hatchery at 5 p.m. One interesting this is that we have one albino chum—1^st one I have ever seen.

Our coho started to come out of the gravel on March 13. It is always exciting to see them start coming up. A few things to do this summer—dredge out the pond and put some hiding spots in for next year’s coho (refuge from otter fishing). This year’s fry are going to go into Lynn Creek so we can work on the pond. One other job is to get the storage shed cleaned out as we have lots of stuff that has accumulated and no longer useful.

We had three groups of kids drop by the hatchery for a chance to see the site and have some ‘hands on’. One group was FreshAir Learning School, which Graham had mentioned they would like to visit. They came for the numeration of the coho, one group in the morning and another in the afternoon. They were all dressed up in their rain gear. The weather was pretty wet, but no complaints from any of the kids. NatureKids from the Ecology Centre came with their parents and participated in the chum enumeration (15,000) eggs helping with removing dead eggs, counting them and counting out three, 30 gr samples. Both groups were well behaved and a nice bunch of kids and parents.

note: Rumours about Mackay and Morten getting chummy—Michael Gosnell was seen releasing chum at Mackay Creek on Thursday!

McCartney Creek (Glen Parker)

Plan on doing a smolt survey on McCartney Creek this spring and will be investigating creek impacts from the proposed Maplewood Village project.

DISCUSSION OF OTHER CREEKS AND CONCERNS

Brochures – I have an updated brochure prepared by Barbara which was just about the North Shore Streamkeepers and what they do.  Also, Barbara is in the process of completing “Living in the Riparian Zone” outlining issues impacting salmon, pervious surfaces etc. Will have further discussion in future on these.

Business Cards distributed around at this meeting. There is no email address for North Shore Streamkeepers on the card, but room to add on the back when we have one available.

Correspondence – On December 19, Barbara wrote a letter to the newly appointed federal Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Hunter Tootoo congratulating him on his appointment and introducing the North Shore Streamkeepers group. February 8, we received a thank you from Honourable Hunter Tootoo thanking us and acknowledging his commitment to serve Canadians, work in partnership, and our long standing work in the community. Copy of both letters attached to these minutes.

Climate Change Forum (Glen Parker) The North Shore Streamkeepers (NSSK) had a workshop on Climate Change and its Impact on the North Shore Fish & Habitat. Janet Dysart took the lead in organizing this forum. Dr. Ken Ashley, Director of the Rivers Institute at BCIT, and Dr. Stewart Cohen, Senior Researcher with the Climate Data Analysis Section of Environment and Climate Change Canada were speakers and a question and answer discussion followed. Opening remarks were made by Mayor Richard Walton and MLA Jane Thornwaite. About one hundred people attending. Summary of two key areas:

Advocacy – Support Integrated stormwater management programs to Improve Stream Characteristics; engage with Port Metro Vancouver to preserve and expand estuaries & stream complexity; plan and build conservation areas in parks, especially along Riparian Areas; address trail building and ensure Trail Standards that protect Riparian Areas; Support Cohen commission recommendations: #46 in particular

Action – Projects to add Complexity to existing Estuaries and streams; Projects to Cool and clean the Streams; projects for Ecological Restoration; Whistle Blowers against stream channelization and encroachment on setbacks; Educate, Educate, Educate: Especially the young.

For a detailed description of the Forum/Workshop, please see the power point of “Impact of Climate Change on the North Shore attached to these minutes.

G3 Terminals (Glen Parker) – G3 Terminals is a new Grain Terminal that will face Lynn Creek along with Vancouver Pile Driving. We engaged in a conference call, between G3 Terminals – Tiffany Kobertstein, G3, Andrew Allen (Kiewit, contractors) and Mark Adams (Envirowest Consultants Limited), and from NSSK myself, Zo Ann, Jan, Dr. Ken Ashley (Director BC Rivers Institute), and Dave Harper (Project Manager BC Rivers Institute).  NSSK input and G3 Terminals reply are attached to these minutes – NSSK March 3, 2016 Input and G3 Terminal Reply.

List of Permit Approvals – (Bob Gelling) All building permits, nine out in February, some in January bringing 55 plus permits taken out as well as ten more in March.  I check these all out on the DNV GeoWeb. This was discussed by members as being a helpful tool to know what will be going on in different neighbourhoods in the District. Bob was asked to do a report for our meetings, listing the areas.

Visit with the DNV Mayor (Karen Munro) – Karen met with Mayor Walton during his March 15 monthly “meet the Mayor” time at Lynn Valley Library to discuss her concerns about poor sediment and erosion control practices members observe associated with house construction, renovation, landscaping, drillers for hydro pole installation, and removal of oil tanks (to mention just a few). Mayor Walton suggested that we make a presentation to Council about the issue. As follow-up, Karen sent an email to the mayor about the builder/owner or DNV sending a letter to neighbours in area they will be working in introducing themselves, stating their position of obeying rules and regs and should anyone find a problem to call the owner or DNV.

NEW BUSINESS:

Monthly Group Projects – Discussion as to whether we want to do monthly projects coming up with some ideas for low organizing. i.e. Organize a stream walk or storm drain marking, advertise and see what happens; or, organize a day each month when something happens.

Twitter & Instagram – Susie Long offered to assist us in this area. Could facilitate the advertising of projects and goings on. Jan and Barbara to look into this with Susie.

Speaker for May AGM (Glen Parker) – Nat Cicuto, Project Manager for redevelopment of the McKenzie Shipyard (west of Cates Park) has offered a presentation on Salmon Enhancement associated with the redevelopment. NSSK Executive to determine if this would be an appropriate topic for AGM or future meeting. Executive to propose date if topic accepted.

BUSINIESS:  Finance (Karen Munro) by email – Bank balance as of March 1 is $5671.17 (increase reflects membership fees, donation from LVCA for climate workshop, expenses for business cards)

NEXT MEETING –  WEDNESDAY, May 18 – 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 EMBC number below

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT B.C. – 1-800-663-3456   www.embc.gov.bc.ca/index.htm

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).

• President: Barbara Frisken, 604-985-9497, frisken@gmail.com
• Secretary: Jan Lander, #109 – 1155 Ross Road, 778-838-1103, lander@shaw.ca
• Pacific Streamkeepers Federation: Zo Ann Morten 604-986-5059, pskf.ca
• North Shore Streamkeepers Web Site: nssk.ca
• Message board http://disc.yourwebapps.com/Indices/232171.html
• District Web Site: dnv.org/Services/Environment/District Information
• City of North Van:: Angela Negenman 982.3932 anegenman@cnv.org, www.cnv.org
• Community Advisor: Sandie Hollick-Kenyon- 604-666-0743,
• Email: Sandra-Hollick-Keynon@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• Hastings Creek: Doug Hayman 604-987-0434, pastoys@yahoo.com
• Lower Mackay Creek and North Shore Fish and Game Club incubation facility: Brian Comey, bmcomey@hotmail.com
• Upper Mackay Creek: Ron den Daas, ecosystem@shaw.ca
• Morten Creek: ZoAnn Morten 604-986-5059, zmorten@shaw.ca
• Seymour River: Sharee Dubowits, 604-288-0511; volunteering@seymoursalmon.com or seymoursalmon.com