April 2023 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) We meet on the first Monday of each month, unless it falls on a statutory holiday, then the next Monday. Next meeting: 6:30, Monday, May 1st, 2023 Login info - same every month. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84276438693?pwd=MDlZaW41SEhVYTNYY0cxRHRsNkJTZz09 Dial by your location
+1 778 907 2071 Canada Meeting ID: 842 7643 8693
Passcode: 215692 All members and interested folk welcome. Contact mquested@shaw.ca to confirm. |
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What We Are Up To: News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 04, 2023, from the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) is pleased to announce that Little Beach, a |
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popular tubing destination on the Cowichan River, has recently been dedicated to the CVRD as public parkland. The property was acquired through rezoning/subdivision application process as a 5% park dedication requirement under the Local Government Act and community amenity contribution. The new park is located in Electoral Area F – Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls, to the east of the Town |
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of Lake Cowichan, and has formally established a dedicated access/egress point on the Cowichan River. Little Beach is a popular summer tubing destination, but also provides year-round access for other recreational users such as fisherpersons and paddle sport enthusiasts, as well as swift water training grounds for local first responders. The CVRD plans to work with stakeholder groups to develop a short-term plan for 2023 that ensures on-site safety and park maintenance. “This property is vital to maintaining the recreational use of the Cowichan River for thousands of residents and tourists to this area each year and will become a jewel of a community park in close proximity to a municipal centre,” said Ian Morrison, Director of Area F – Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls. “We are thrilled to see Little Beach formally designated as public parkland, and grateful to the former property owners for their contribution of a property that holds significant public interest and benefit. I look forward to continuing conversations with stakeholder groups about how we can transform this park into a space that’s accessible and welcoming to all community members and user groups.” In the longer-term, CVRD will work with the Town of Lake Cowichan, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, RCMP and tubing rental companies on overall improvements to the function and safety of this popular tubing and kayaking take-out point on the river. The CVRD will begin work on preparing a conceptual plan, identifying key park amenities to add while taking on the management and maintenance of Little Beach Park through delivery of the Regional District’s community parks program in Electoral Area F. As well, riverfront ecological remediation will be important to manage the riparian area and establish a more direct route for outdoor recreationalists to move through the park to exit from the river, reducing further impact to the riparian area. “The addition of this property into our community parks portfolio is a big win for the region, allowing for the opportunity to establish an effective management approach balanced with environmental sustainability for what is an already heavily used riverbank area on the Cowichan River,” said Brian Farquhar, Division Manager of Parks & Trails for the Cowichan Valley Regional District. “The ability to now manage this popular site under our parks program allows for striking a balance between public access to recreational opportunities and public values with protecting and enhancing the environmental integrity of the Cowichan River.” |
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Mukw' stem 'l 'utunu tumuhw, 'o' hulitun tst, mukw' stem 'i 'utunu tumuhw 'o' slhiilhukw 'ul.
Everything on this Earth is what sustains us;
everything on this Earth is connected together. |
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From the Land: The Gerald Thom Memorial Native Plant Garden (GTMNPG) The late Gerald Thom was the first CLRSS president. He had a vision: a garden for the community that would demonstrate the beauty and the hardiness of native plants. Gerald, CLRSS volunteers, and Lake Cowichan School students began work on a site in Saywell Park by the museum in the spring of 2013. A year later CLRSS prepared the garden for Lake Days and began a regular maintenance program of pruning, removal of invasive species, and mulching the garden with maple and alder leaves in the fall. In 2019, the Town of Lake Cowichan officially dedicated the garden to the memory of Gerald. To realize Gerald’s original vision for the garden as a showcase and educational resource for the community CLRSS added more plants, signage, and a walking path through the garden. The plant signs give common, Hul’qumi’num’, and scientific names. We hope that both residents and visitors enjoy strolling through the “Gerald Thom Memorial Native Plant Garden” and perhaps become inspired to use native plants in their own landscaping |
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Note from the Editor: “British Columbia is one the most biologically diverse places in North America with over 50,000 species calling B.C. home. Such diversity is the result of multitudes of ecosystems and climates located in the province. Consequently, B.C. has seen intrusion of other species, who are trying to gain a foothold in the ecological real-estate market. These are invasive species; which are plants or animals NOT native to B.C.. Furthermore, alien species tend to proliferate and dominate. This is due to the lack of natural predators and other selection factors. For example, Hedera helix or English Ivy, is invasive because it is not native to B.C. and out-competes resident species. Invasive plants are not only bad ecologically, but economically too. Alien species lose Canada $7.5 billion annually. Such large impacts on our economy have emphasized the importance of controlling the problem.” By Justin Chan from www.futurescienceleaders.com |
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A new addition to our “From the Land” section will be another land-user: invasive plant species. |
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We will begin our foray into local invasives with the Himalayan blackberry (Sqw’lil’muhw) or Rubus armeniacus. It is one of several invasive blackberries in the region. Please do not confuse this invasive with the native trailing blackberry (rubus urinus) which hugs the ground, has a light-bluish or greenish hue, grows several metres along the ground and whose leaf has a prickly backside. It fruit is smaller, sweeter and earlier-ripening than the invasive varieties. |
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Because of its thorny stems, the invasive Himalayan blackberry growth makes nature trails inaccessible. It grows in a thick, bush-like habit and makes it hard for other plants to grow. It is particularly harmful if it is found in the sensitive riparian zone or SPEA (Streamside Protection and Enhancement Area) because it out-competes native plants, which have evolved to provide the best and most protection for the riverside soils. |
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Originally, bought for agricultural purposes, as many invasives, it escaped into the wild and now is the most common invasive species in B.C. The blackberry tends to grow in disturbed areas like that of abandoned land. It grows by producing seed or through vegetative reproduction by rooting along its stems that touch the ground. Its leaves are in clusters of 3-5 leaflets and its flowers are white to light pink and form in groups of 5 – 20 flowers with 5 petals each. Canes (stems) are stiff and have a 5-angled shape. Large thorns can be seen on the stem. In its native habitat, fungal rust Phragmidium violaceum lessens vegetative propagation and also defoliates the plant. Scientists have discovered this fungus in North America in Oregon in 2005. Unfortunately R. armeniacus was not susceptible to the pathogen so other approaches will be necessary. Control in our backyards: While some like to have a small patch in order to harvest the large and nutritious berries, the plants can become an invasive nuisance. Mowing is cost-effective and can be used to control large stands of blackberry but only removes above ground vegetation and leaves 5-30 cm of blackberry stems exposed. This method however allows native plants to grow it its place. Planting native, fast-growing species to create 75% shading of the forest floor, can successfully stop the regrowth of the blackberry. Because planting relies of suppressing regrowth, it is important to continue to cut the new growth back as it appears Eradication in our riparian (SPEA) zones: Using sturdy loppers, cut the canes close to the ground. Then disturb the soil and recut the stem below the ground level if possible. Cover the stub with soil. This prevents the plant from photosynthesizing and will kill the specimen. Smaller, weaker shoots may appear and may need to be cut down a again before the plant completely dies. Remove and dispose of cuttings so they do not send out shoots that will root to the spot and create a new plant. |
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Native Plant for the Issue: Indian Plum or Bird Cherry Tth’uxwun’ (Oemleria cerasiformis) and some interesting ideas to help our struggling Western Red Cedar Xpey’ (Thuja plicata) |
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Indian Plum or Bird Cherry TTh’uxwun’ (Oemleria cerasiformis) is a medium-sized, branching, deciduous shrub growing to four metres in height. It has bitter-smelling, dark brown bark. Its lanceshaped leaves are the first to emerge in the spring, known a welcome sign of the season! When crushed the leaves smell like watermelon rind. It has white, five petalled flowers that develop into clusters of small, purple, plum-like, edible drupes, each with a large stone inside. From Luschim’s Plants, “the leaves are medicinal. Because they have emetic properties and make one vomit, called sh-hwuy’utun’um, they have been primarily used as a blood cleanser-to help clean out your system” …Luschim further remarked they do not taste good and are mostly stone. Western red cedar Xpey’ (Thuja plicata) |
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Over the last few years of drought, we’ve all noticed that cedar is struggling, with many dying. Climate change disrupted water tables, and loss of deep organic soils have created growing conditions that are challenging to their survival. The decline of this species has caused ‘climate grief’ for Quw’utsun people who will have even less ability to practice their culture as xpey’ becomes even more scarce. |
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However, xpey’ is resilient and with some help from us can be part of our forests for generations to come. Here are a few ideas of how you can help: |
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Retain healthy xpey’ on your property. Take a careful look at any cedar you may have on your property. If they have thick full foliage right to the top, don’t cut them down. Keep their neighbours that help provide shade and place dead wood on the soil near their roots to keep soils moist. Plant xpey’ on your property. Plant seedlings in places where they will have some shade. Keep soils moist by placing mulch and dead wood near them. When planting, add a shovelful of organic soil from under neighbouring xpey’ trees. This soil is rich with important xpey’-friendly mycorrhizae. Plant companion plants near your xpey’. Maple, ferns, salmonberry, and salal help xpey’ survive by sharing water and food through mycorrhizal networks, the ‘internet’ of the plant world.. Participate in xpey’ planting events. Watch for cedar planting events in the community and come out and help! With thanks to Heather Pritchard, Quw’utsun Cultural Connections Society and Kennen Consulting, Cowichan, BC |
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Next newsletter Friday, May 26, 2023 |
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