CLRSS will be emailing member newsletters every six weeks.  Prepared by members: Judy Brayden (editor), Genevieve Singleton, Rodger Hunter, Rick Bryan, Maureen Quested, Jim Deck, Leroy Van Wieren, Jean Atkinson, Diana Gunderson and Ken Traynor.  Any questions, comments or feedback please see Home | Cowichan Lake & River Stewardship Society British Columbia (cowichan-lake-stewards.ca) 

What's in this Edition?

President’s Message of Thanks!

Reflections on a Signature Day

Weir Stalled so Weir Writing Letters!

Native Plant – Western Redcedar, the Xpey’ Project & how we can help

Invasive Species – Eurasian Watermilfoil

Monitoring our Heritage River’s very low flows!....news on Cowichan River fish

die off!

Testing for 6-PPD Quinone

Witnessing the Water – a coffee table book fundraiser

A word from President, Jim Deck

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate every member of this society and thank them for their contributions over the last three months. Most of you have worked on at least one project and some on all projects. It has been a busy few month here in the Cowichan Valley. Total CLRSS volunteer hours (April 1 – September 1) a staggering 3030.75 hours! Even at minimum wage that equals $50,765 donated labour to the stewardship of our watershed,

It started with “Witnessing the Water – an authentic relationship”. This 56-page coffee table book was the idea of Judy Brayden. Judy was the lead of a team which was made up of Beverly Nimmo, Don Prescott, Maureen Quested and Jim Deck. This team took the book from concept to printing, marketing the book and selling 230+ books by the end of August. Judy and her team raised funds to accomplish the production of this book. The society has raised more than $6,000 so far. These funds will go a long way to help with the projects we have on the go. Keep your eyes open for sales of the book to occur at various markets throughout the fall and remember the holiday season is not far off. More on the market availability below.

In July the Board of Directors held a one-day retreat at the home of Maureen Quested. We reviewed how we were going to conduct ourselves for the upcoming year. After the meeting we were treated to a great meal by Maureen and her family. A big thank you to the Questeds for their hospitality that day.

We held our first signature event, on August 26 called “Connecting Through Water Festival’. This Festival was well received by everyone who attended and participated. Dave DePape led the team which consisted of Maureen Quested, Jean Atkinson, Mike and Carol Patrick and Jim Deck. This team co-ordinated the volunteers and participants and put together a very informative day. This event would not have been the success it was if we did not have the participation of various other groups. Thank you to all the event participants and volunteers who painted faces and blew bubbles.

Let’s not forget there is a lot of work being done to maintain the Gerald Thom Memorial Native Plant Garden going on especially around events like our Festival. There is a group of volunteers getting ready to test streams in the area for a tire compound 6-PPDQ. Another group is testing the lake for temperature and oxygen content. As you can see there is a lot going on. Great Job Everyone!

“I thought the weir tour was really, really, good. Both the gentleman were knowledgeable and gave a balanced perspective...I really enjoyed the day; the booths were good; it was interesting, well organized and well laid out.” - Diane Flood

“The weir tour was simply amazing – a real eye opener!” – Bryan Wilson

“How did I think differently after the festival? I had more knowledge in respect to water monitoring; It was interesting and lots and lots of fun” – Diane Flood!

Weir Update by Leroy Van Wieren

CVRD Weir Replacement Project Manager, Leroy Van Wieren

www.cowichanlakeweir.ca has most of the information. Under one of the main TABS you’ll find one that says ‘Leroy’s Corner’ where you can find my summarized thoughts and information

Weir Writing Letters – by VP Judy Brayden

Hmm you say… what can we do to get this process going? Okay. Here’s what we are doing: CLRSS is launching a letter writing campaign. We want 100 people to send the BC government (any Ministry that you choose) personal letters asking our elected officials for two things:

• Please advance the very urgent process of building a new weir and

• Please provide the remainder of the funds needed to complete the project.

There are many, many reasons that our watershed requires a new and upgraded weir at the head of the Cowichan River Quw’utsun Sta’lo’. Using at least two of these points plus any others that you believe are pertinent, compose a short, clear, polite letter stating that you would like to see your government lead by advancing the very urgent process of building a new weir and by providing the remainder of the funds needed to complete the project.

Why do we need a new weir?

•t he obvious need for fresh drinking water

• the inevitable climate changes that we will face in the future

• the survival of wild fish

• the continuation of Indigenous culture and food security and

• the economic future of recreation and tourism in the region.

Write directly to any of the following Ministers and email to others saying you have done so.

Hon. Nathan Cullen, Minster of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship - WLRS.minister@gov.bc.ca

PO Box 9012 STN PROV GOVT, Victoria, BC, V8W 9L6

Hon. Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergence Management and Climate Readiness - bowinn.ma.MLA@leg.bc.ca

PO Box 9010 STN PROV GOVT, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2

Hon. George Heyman, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Strategy - george.heyman.MLA@leg.bc.ca

PO Box 9047 STN PROV GOVT, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2

Hon. Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation - murray.rankin.MLA@leg.bc.ca

2957 Jutland Rd., Victoria, BC, V8T 5J9

Hon. Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport - lana.popham.MLA@leg.bc.ca

800 Johnson St, Victoria, BC, V8W 1N3

Hon. Bruce Ralston, Minister if Forests -

bruce.ralston.MLA@leg.bc.ca

3815 Trans Canada Hwy, Cobble Hill, BC, V0R 1X7

Hon. Katrine Conroy, Minister of Finance -

katrine.conroy.MLA@leg.bc.ca

1802 Douglas St, Victoria, BC, V8T 4K6

Let us know when you mail your letter! Send an email to clrss.information@gmail.com

The Xpey’ Project

The Xpey’ Project, led by Quw’utsun’ Cultural Connections Society (QCCS), is an Elder’s legacy work to prevent the loss of xpey' (western redcedar) from our local landscape.

Xpey’ is a cultural keystone species inseparable from the life of many First Nations communities. Following more than a century of logging and other land changes, xpey’ is now particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

It is the vision of Tousilum, a Quw’utsun’ Elder, to plant a xpey’ seedling for every child who did not return home from residential school. To date, over 650 xpey’ seedlings have been planted with Quw’utsun’ and settler community members working side by side, with several more planting days planned over the coming months.

Other project work includes engaging youth and Elders to document and share cultural knowledge, teachings, and practices about stewardship and use of xpey’. QCCS is also working toward establishing an Indigenous Land Trust to protect xpey’ and other cultural values on private lands.

The Elders believe that if we work together, we can protect existing xpey’ stands and restore the ecological conditions for xpey’ to survive so that 500 years from now, generations will continue to know and love this “Tree of Life”.

whitish pink. Unlike native Northern watermilfoil which has leaves that have 11 or fewer leaf segments, Eurasian watermilfoil has 12 or moreper stem. Eurasian watermilfoil can be found in most provinces across Canada. In British Columbia it is designated as a Management Species and is on the BC Priority Invasive Species List where it has a "Contain Species" designation. This means that the objective would be to contain existing infestations and prevent spread to un-infested areas.

It grows in shallow waters and can take root in up to 10 meters of water. It forms a mass of tangled stems underwater and mats of vegetation on the surface of water. The weed blocks light from penetrating the water, resulting in stagnant water which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Other negative impacts include preventing fish from swimming, reducing the oxygen levels as it decays, and direct competition with native plants, thereby reducing biodiversity. One of the major problems from the dense mats which form at the surface, is the reduction in benthic invertebrates on the lake bottom under these mats. These invertebrates are a major food source for young fish, and as a result, the plant has a direct impact on these populations of native fish.

Boat propellers break off fragments and spread the species. Therefore, it is critically important for recreational users of the lake to follow the "Clean, Drain, Dry" principle promoted by the Invasive Species Council of B.C. More information on that program can be found at CleanDrainDry.ca

by CLRSS Board members, Beverley Nimmo and Dave DePape

Update from Parker Jefferson regarding the “dead zone” on the Cowichan River this summer.

“The DFO report indicates that environmental conditions caused the fish kill. It states that warm temperatures and nutrients introduced into the river encouraged algae growth. When the algae die it absorbs oxygen from the water. The fish all had lesions which indicates they were under stress, probably caused by the warm temperatures, that left them vulnerable to deteriorating environmental conditions. It is likely that nitrates and phosphates introduced by the Town of Lake Cowichan sewage outfall promoted the excessive algae growth and the low flows exacerbated the situation by concentrating the nutrients.

This situation certainly would have been mitigated by higher flows in the river that would have been delivered this year if we had had the new weir in place.

Here is the DFO report:

"Following reports of dead fish in the Cowichan River, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) sampled dying fish from below Skutz Falls and submitted them to the DFO Fish Pathology Laboratory. Diagnostic testing of ten fish from the sample area, collected on July 13, has now been completed.

Investigations of fish kills do not typically identify a single independent cause. Each of the eight fish examined by histopathology had at least one microscopic lesion that is associated with stressful conditions. The temperature was ideal for the bacterium Flavobacterium columnare and was the suspected cause of death for 2 of 8 fish. However, the density of fish in the wild is sufficiently low that an epizootic outbreak would not be expected.

Based on the variety of stress-associated lesions between fish, and only 2 of 8 where there are lesions consistent with columnare disease, DFO Fish Health staff have concluded that mortality in this sample is more likely to have been a result of stressful environmental conditions than a specific cause.

In this case, stressful conditions are related to low dissolved oxygen and a high ph. This can potentially be caused by the decay of algal growth which appears to be more prevalent than usual this year. Excess algal growth is often related to a combination of low flows, hot dry weather and availability of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The combination of stressful environmental factors can also make the fish more susceptible to infectious disease.

This sampling was a snapshot within one period of high mortality rate and in one section of the river. Collection of continuous water quality data is ongoing and will help provide a better understanding of the extent of these stressful conditions."

Check this out!

Witnessing the Water YouTube video thanks to Parker Jefferson

https://youtu.be/MsQ5wPjIEjI?si=CyNo_n-17lwpVWuM

CLRSS meets on the first Monday of each month, unless it falls on a statutory holiday,then the next Monday.

Next meeting: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 3rd 2023 at the Country Grocer Meeting room, Lake Cowichan. All members and interested folk welcome.

Contact mquested@shaw.ca to confirm.