Meeting Notes
Friends of Tod Creek Watershed meet the first Wednesday of every second month.
You are welcome to join us.
Mission: To protect and enhance the integrity and biodiversity of the Tod Creek Watershed.
To view notes from previous meetings, use the “Meeting Notes” Archive links on the right panel.
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Friends of Tod Creek Watershed
Agenda: September 4th @ 7:30pm
Mission: to protect and enhance the integrity and biodiversity of the Tod Creek Watershed
Thank you to Mary and Bernie for hosting our meeting.
Attendance: Pat Carfra, Ian Duncan, Anne Allen, Audrey Barnes, Bernie Bowker, Mary Haig-Brown, Winona Pugh, Lori James Derry
Regrets: Janet Williams, Garth van der Kamp, Sherron MacPherson, Carmel Thomson, Joanne Delage
1. Adoption of Agenda: passed
2. Adoption of Meeting Notes: passed
3. Treasurers Report: Account total for July $465.94.
4. Announcements:
a. BC Lake Stewardship AGM – This year’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 19 at 12:00 (PDT).
Similar to other years, the AGM will be held via conference call. The meeting will run for approximately 45 – 60 minutes.
* Anyone can sign in, Winona can tell you how;
b. The Land Conservancy AGM will be held Saturday September 21 from 1 -4 pm at Mary Lake Nature Sanctuary located at 1772 Millstream Road in the District of the Highlands.
http://conservancy.bc.ca/2019/06/youre-invited-to-tlcs-2019-annual-general-meeting/
c. The Rock Bay Creek Revival group is hosting a Community Watershed Celebration event on World Rivers Day, Sept 21, 2019, 1 – 4pm at Alexander Park (1333 Walnut St, Victoria).
Any questions: dorothy field <dotter@seaside.net>
Link to poster: https://www.todcreekwatershed.ca/announcements
d. Saanich Emergency Program: https://www.todcreekwatershed.ca/announcements
e. Waterhouse Property Work Party: see link directly above: Announcements Page
5. Previous Business:
a. Mary Haig Brown Recognition Award – nomination suggestions will be reviewed in January
b. We hosted 16 Quebec Exchange students for a work party at Whitehead Park on Wednesday July 24 from 7- 9. Ivy, Blackberry and Lamium were removed
c. Partnership with Invasive Species Council of BC on Clean, Drain and Dry educational project in place.
Through Saanich Parks we have placed Clean Drain Dry signs at Estelline, Whitehead Park and the Boat Launch on Prospect Lake. Promotional material including floating key chains and stickers are available. Small FTCW logo stickers have been made to add to the signs and are available for other uses
d. We have an opportunity to partner with Invasive Species Council of BC on the removal of yellow flag iris in the watershed. The partnership could provide supplies equipment and educational materials for removal projects. Considering Tod Flats.
e. Ian and Anne have offered to lead a bat house building workshop. Best time to put up a house is by April, date to be announced
h. David Gray documentaries– we would like to plan a showing during Heritage Week in February. We will try to book the conference room at Lana Popham’s office; plus, Gwen Curry will do a reading from her new book.
6. New Business:
a. Rivers Day is September 22 –
A suggested event is a walk along the Colquitz from Lindsay to see the work done this summer on the banks near Copley park and on to Panama Flats. Meet on Sunday Sept 22nd @ 10:00 am at Whitehead Park to car pool;
b. The annual Aquatic Plant survey will be Monday September 16. Dr Rick Nordin will not be attending this time; joining us will be Jill Robinson and Carolyn Richmond from Saanich.
c. Monthly water quality and flow measurements to be planned for September.
The following information is from Garth van der Kamp:
I have taken staff gauge readings of the Prospect Lake at Goward Road bridge and estimated the outflow from the Lake to Tod Creek at Lohr road. Allowing for rainfall on the lake surface, the lake loses water by evaporation at an average rate of about 3.7 mm/day, or 30 Liters/sec. This rate of water loss by evaporation is 10 to 20 times larger than the outflow to Tod Creek which is less than 1 L/sec by the end of August. In other words, the decline of the lake level during the summer is almost entirely due to evaporation from the lake. In principle the outflow to Tod Creek, past the weir, could be increased considerably during later summer without noticeable effect on the lake level.
c.1 Poster re Dam Safety Management Workshop in Duncan this Nov 13th: https://www.todcreekwatershed.ca/announcements
d. Saanich Environmental Policy Framework –Tree Protection bylaw under review.
https://www.todcreekwatershed.ca/2019-reports
e. Should we plan another bus tour of the Watershed? Considering in the spring 2020, with Peninsula Streams.
7. Projects
a. Tod Creek Flats: Mary is meeting with Adam Olsen and Lana Popham re: ‘wetlands in ALR’ and ‘how can the Flats be designated a wetland?’ re protection.
b. Whitehead Park: Audrey is tackling the thistles; Saanich wants a plant list, which Mary will write up; and the group is visiting Saanich Native Plants on Friday 13th, where we can also get advice.
c. Watershed Management Plan: Fisheries Enhancement Plan stated: ‘by 2020, they would be putting coho into Meadowbrook Stream’
d. Peninsula Streams: Fundraiser Nov 13th tables are almost sold out [91% as of last week]
e. Website: a work in progress
f. Heritage Society: we held our AGM at the Parsell Vineyard Winery & Tasting Room at 2838 Lamont Road, Saanichton. https://www.parsellvineyard.com
“Parsell Vineyards produces natural wines from estate vineyards. Farming regeneratively, without pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. No sulphite added wines available. Red, wine, & sparkling wine. Open for tastings Wed – Sun from 12 pm to 5 pm.”
g. Maltby Lake: as Carmel couldn’t attend, we didn’t get an update. https://maltbylake.com/updates-2/
7. Next Meeting: Nov 6th @ 7:30 pm at Pat Carfra’s
