Category Archives: Meeting Notes

Friends of Tod Creek Watershed
Meeting Agenda
September 7, 2011
Mission: to protect and enhance the integrity and biodiversity of the Tod Creek Watershed
1. Conservation Connections – Friday September 30, Royal Roads University, Mews Conference Center  The Habitat Conservation Trust is organizing Conservation Connections and members of nonprofit groups are able to sign up for $30 (includes refreshments and lunch) on the Royal Roads University website. Session topics include Collaboration between local Governments and Non Profits, Volunteer management, Nature Walk with Andy McKinnon, Non Profit Funding Strategies, Grant application Workshop and the closing keynote with Bob McDonald of Quirks and Quarks.  The full program and link to registration may be found at www.hat.bc.ca  Audrey and Winona plan to attend and we will also set up a display. Contact Winona if you would like to carpool.

2. Website -Thank you to Dave for many hours of work in restoring our website

3. World Rivers Day –Sunday September 25, we will meet at Whitehead Park at 9:00am for a paddle around the lake. Please contact Winona if you can offer a canoe, kayak, rowboat or any other kind of paddle boat or if you need a boat or ride. Please bring a lifejacket.

4. BC Lake Stewardship Society- Secchi Dip in, Lake Stewardship Course – Winona and Sherron completed the secchi disc measurement on July 11 and results have been submitted to the BC Lake Stewardship Society. Woody and Winona will be attending the Lake Keepers Course in Nanaimo on September 26 and 27.  The BC Lake Stewardship Society was able to offer this course free of charge with provincial government funding

5. Prospect Lake Access Survey – September 11 is the closing date for the Lake Access Survey. The limited scope and leading questions are a concern for the validity of the results.

6. Invasive Species Removal –Eastlake and Whitehead Park update. A layer of mulch has been spread over the upper slope at Eastlake and Sandy Munns has been working with Cory Manton to develop a planting plan to stabilize the bank. Planting is planned for the fall when there is more moisture. A load of mulch has also been delivered to the east side of Whitehead Park. Blackberry shoots must be removed before the mulch is spread. An article has been submitted to the Prospector on the restoration activities and one will be prepared for the Saanich Pulling Together newsletter.

7. Prospect Lake Heritage Society – IDEA Grant, interviews, INTO Conference –The Heritage Society has received a $1,000 grant to develop a book featuring photographs and stories from Prospect Lake history. We are conducting interviews with long time residents and researching other sources.  Sherron and Winona interviewed George Lohr and Lori has completed a second interview with Pat Durrance. The Heritage Society has submitted an article to the Prospector featuring a photo and story from George. Winona is working with Heritage Canada and The Land Conservancy to organize an International Heritage Conference to be held in Victoria October 12 -15.  Please let Winona know if you would like to volunteer to help with Heritage field trips on Friday October 14

8. Development Application 4908 Prospect Ave – Plans have been submitted to Saanich for a house to be built on the vacant lot on Prospect Ave. The proposed site plan was circulated with the August PLDCA bulletin

9.  Sustainable Saanich –  Presentations at Saanich Municipal Hall, September 10, 10:00am -12:30          Session 1: Heritage Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction in Saanich  -Balancing heritage value with energy efficient targets
Session 2 The Past is Present: the story of a community told through its buildings

10.  Pulling Together Program – Workshop Saturday October 15 – All Pulling Together volunteers are invited to attend the annual volunteer recognition event at the Cedar Hill Golf Course Clubhouse. Botanist Matt Fairbarns will speak about invasive grasses and restoration work around the golf course will be featured

11. Evergreen Grant Application – A grant application for $2,000 has been submitted for the Fido –Evergreen Quick Start program. The proposal is for funding to support the development of a replanting plan for the east side of Whitehead Park and to purchase native plants for the restoration project. Cory Manton has provided a wonderful letter of support for the request.

12. Canada Goose Survey, Bluebird Nesting Project – Monthly monitoring of Canada Geese continues at the Tod Flats, the Prospect Lake Golf Course and four other locations around Prospect Lake.  Thanks to Audrey, Sherron, Pat and Sheilah for working on this project. Audrey and Mary met with Dawn Fizzard to assess possible locations for Western Blue Bird nesting boxes. The Tod Flats provides a suitable habitat

13.  Next Meeting: Wednesday November 9, 7:30.

22 JUNE, 2011

Present: Art Dimock, Woody Thomson, Winona Pugh, Bernie Bowker, Mary Haig-
Brown

Regrets: Frances Hunter, Sherron MacPherson, Graham Walker, Pat Carfra, Tasha Dilay,

1. Adoption of Agenda m/s Bernie/Woody
2. Adoption of meeting notes from 4 May, 2011 m/s Winona/Woody

3.    Announcements:
a) Peninsula Streams Society memberships – time for renewal.  We are
closely connected with Peninsula Streams who are a registered charity and
apply for grants on our behalf as needed, provide administrative back up
and have a Registered Professional Biologist who advises us.  They
appreciate memberships whose numbers swell their ranks.  See Mary for a
$5.00 membership.
b) Canada Goose Survey – Winona, Audrey, Sherron and Mary are taking
part in the year long survey of habits, locations and numbers of Canada
geese throughout the CRD.  The information will be used to develop a
management strategy for these introduced, non-migratory geese.  We
welcome anyone interested in joining us on Prospect Lake or Tod Creek
Flats for the monthly survey.
c) Blue Bird Project – A search is on for suitable places to put and monitor
nesting boxes for Western Blue Birds who may be returning to this area
which was once home to many. Mary is meeting with Dawn Fizzard to
assess the suitability of the Flats as a site for nesting boxes.  We may be
asking for volunteers to monitor the boxes.  Let Mary know if you are
interested.
d) Development Permit response submitted for Monday, 20 June.  Thank you
for all your comments.
e) World River’s Day – September 25th.  We may plan for a flotilla to travel
around the lake and as far down the stream as possible.
f) Web site was hacked, rebuilding in progress.  Dave Renfroe coming over
June 23 at 10:00 to gather more data.

4.    Updates:
a) Tod Creek Flats – A successful Public Meeting was held in May
sponsored by MLA Lana Popham, and hosted by the Unitarian Church.
About 40 people attended to learn about plans for the site.  A thank you to
all who arranged and attended this gathering.  We are continuing the
search for funding for a hydrological study of the area.
b) Meadowbrook Reservoir – Water licence, change of purpose for part of
the licence from agriculture to conservation.  When this is completed we
will reapply to PSF for funding to repair the dam.
a) Whitehead/Eastlake – invasives removal continues on Monday mornings
at 9:30.  Currently we are spreading mulch brought by Saanich to
Eastlake.  They will bring much more to Whitehead Park soon to amend
the soil on the Goward Road side.  We would like to be ready for fall
planting so would appreciate any help available on Monday mornings.
b) Heather Planting at Prospect Lake School rain garden was completed with
help from Mrs. Lael’s enthusiastic class. Thank you all including the
Horticlutural College who gave us a great price on the plants.

5.    Logo – a design by Desmond Bowker was approved.  He will now do a fine copy
which will be digitized and made suitable for signs, web site, business cards etc.

6.    Lake Health:  Lake Stewardship Society – Winona has joined the BCLSS and has
had a session with Art.  She will be monitoring water quality following BCLSS
protocol.  Woody does this for Maltby Lake.
a) Echo Boat Launch sign is up and well received.  We hope boaters will
follow its instructions.
b) Articles by Mark Hume and Jack Knox concerning lakeshore health were
discussed.  Since this is obviously a much bigger problem than just
Prospect Lake we decided to talk with Klaus Kuhn of CVRD cited by the
reporters.  Mary and Winona to arrange this.

7.    Heritage Report – They have applied to CRD Arts Grants for $1 000 to be used to
publish a coffee table book of photos and stories of early Prospect Lake.  They
propose to use an on-line publishing programme.

8.    Walk:  Walks will begin again in the fall.

9.    Next meeting:   Date: Wednesday, 7 September.  Location: to be announced,
possibly Maltby Lake.  Mary will be away for August and September.  Winona
will arrange meeting.  Several grant deadlines will be approaching at that time.

4 MAY, 2011

Present: Winona Pugh, Lori James Derry, Sherron MacPherson, Pat Carfra, Bernie
Bowker, Mary Haig-Brown, Matt Dilay, Frances Hunter, Audrey Barnes, Woody
Thomson
1. Adoption of Agenda m/s Woody/Sherron

2. Adoption of meeting notes from 3rd March, 2011 – approved

3. Announcements:
a) Cory Manton from Saanich Parks will attend a meeting to discuss our
work in the park and also the Parks Natural Areas Management
Guidelines.  The members are interested. Mary to arrange for this in
the fall.
b) Sustainable Saanich Lecture series – see poster and their web site.
There was particular interest in the rain garden workshop.

4. Updates:
a) Tod Creek Flats: Mary and Winona have had meetings with all Saanich
Councillors; Mayor; Glenn Harris, Senior manager, Environmental
Protection, CRD.  All expressed interest in the concept and we received
ideas about how to proceed.  The Mayor will send letters to our MLA
and MP asking for ideas for funding sources.
b) May Public Meeting – displays, posters – help needed. Frances,
Winona, Pat, Sherron, Audrey offered to help.  Mary to book a time at
Lana’s office to meet and prepare materials for displays and let
others know asap.
c) Prospect Lake School – heather plants from the Hort College for rain
garden are now waiting to be planted.  Mary to arrange with Mrs.
Lael a suitable time to help her students plant these.
d) Meadowbrook Reservoir – no grant from PSF, but we are working on
water licence sharing arrangement with Saanich.  Then we will reapply
in the fall as PSF implied that was their only reservation.

5. Projects:
a) Survey re Use of Prospect Lake: There was much discussion around this
issue.  In the end we decided to shelve the survey until or unless we
have a clear purpose for it.  A portable toilet has been installed at the
boat launch ramp, which should ease some of the concerns for Echo
Drive residents.  There may be a need to limit the number of users of
the ramp to the space available for parking.  We will watch
developments.

b) Whitehead Park – The Earth Day Celebration was a great deal of fun.
Congratulations and thanks to Winona for arranging this.  Paul Gerrard
and Becky Goodall went on the heritage walk and were impressed.
It is time to start the Monday morning work parties.  We will be
there from 9:30 and welcome anyone who would like to join us.  We
will be picking up yellow willow bits, which are starting to root now,
and cutting yellow flag iris.
Saanich Parks (Cory Manton) will bring truck loads of mulch from their
nursery.  We will spread this with shovels and wheelbarrows in
preparation for planting in the fall.
c) Eastlake – We had a great 2nd work party with residents and a hard
working Sandy Munns and cleared the rest of the ivy and the bamboo.
Sandy Munns is working with Cory Manton preparing a planting plan.
Saanich will dump a load of mulch there as well and we will spread
that in preparation for fall planting.

6. Heritage Report – They had their AGM in March and started on their second year
memberships.  They are applying for a $1000 grant from Arts in the CRD.  They
will feature story telling as an art and create a coffee table book of stories and
photos.  The will list the Heritage walk script in the Prospector.

7. Walk: We decided to make this a paddle.  Sunday, 5 June at 9:00 we will meet
at Whitehead Park with canoes etc.  We will paddle clockwise around the
lake gathering people as we go.  Don’t forget your life jackets

8. Next Meeting: Sunday, June 12 at noon on Woody’s dock we will have a very
short meeting and a POTLUCK  lunch.

9. Adjourn 9:35 pm

A Letter from Jenny Eastman:

Hello everyone,
We’ve made some great progress over the last few weeks removing invasive
garlic mustard from the beautiful Garry oak ecosystem at Layritz Park. An info
sheet about garlic mustard is attached.

We’ll be there for some more dates and would be happy to have your help –
there’s lots to do! Please dress for the weather, bring gloves and dandelion fork
or small trowel if you can. Drop in for as much or as little time as you can spare.
Please no pets. Feel free to pass the message on to others. Meet in the gravel
parking lot at the end of Layritz Rd. Look for folks in orange safety vests.
_ Saturday, May 7, 10AM – noon.
_ Wednesday, May 11, 12:30 – 3PM.
_ Saturday, May 14, 10AM – noon.
_ Saturday, May 21, 10AM – noon.
More dates to come as needed.

With thanks,
Jenny Eastman
Coordinator of Volunteers
Saanich Parks
250.744.1710