Category Archives: Meeting Notes

September 2010

7 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Present: Frances Hunter, Woody Thomson, Bernie Bowker, Art Dimock, Winona Pugh,
Audrey Barnes, Rick and Donna Todd, Mary Haig-Brown
Regrets: Sherron MacPherson, Dave Renfroe, Lori James-Derry

1.    Adoption of Agenda

2.    Adoption of Meeting Notes from 19 June, 2010

3.    Announcements and Updates:
a)    Tod Creek Flats – Winona reported that the Request for Proposals for
design drawings was posted on Saanich web site.  A small committee has
gone over the proposals and have sent them to Saanich Engineering for
comment.  The decision of which to choose is difficult.  In the meantime
Mary has been writing grant proposals and submitting them.
b)    Killarney Creek Fan – Winona has submitted a grant proposal to build a
walkway and viewing platform at Killarney Creek Fan (otherwise known
as the place Killarney Creek enters the Prospect Lake).  This project will
require volunteer labour and will demonstrate a thoughtful way to live on
the lake without destroying the foreshore.
c)    Butchart’s Fish Ladder – Mary said there has been some e-mail between
Butchart Gardens and DFO about starting to work on this long awaited
fish ladder over Butchart’s dam.  We hope to see this get started.
d)    Meadowbrook Reservoir – Mary needs a plan and estimate of the cost of
repairing the dam so she can write more grant proposals.
e)    World River’s Day – 26 September.  We decided not to organize anything
as we are all busy.

f)    Mill Hill Broom Sweep – For information only.  Saturday Sept 18th and/or
25th
g) Heritage Society.  They are starting to collect information and will be doing
interviews starting in the fall.  Winona will talk to Dave about adding
information on the web site.

4.    Ongoing:
a)    Whitehead Park – work parties and invasives removal.  Site meeting with
Becky and Marian of Saanich Parks set for Friday at 9:30am, September
10, to discuss removal of invasive yellow willow.  (Note: this work is now
well underway.  The willow mats in the creek are to be removed as well.
We will assist Saanich Parks in planting and tending new riparian
vegetation.  The work was paid for by Saanich and a Recreation
Infrastructure Canada grant.)

b)Conservation Connection – Friday, Sept 17th ($30 includes lunch and coffee break as well as interesting speakers and networking).  Audrey and Bernie will represent FTCW.
c)    Hartland Happenings – Sunday, Sept 19th. Contact Melissa Robins
mrobins@crd.bc.ca or 250 727-3331.  Winona, Audrey Mary and Art and
probably Sherron will staff the display.

5.    New Business:
a) Community Weed Pull – Invasive Plant Council (funded by MAL and AEWF) 2010 Pulling Together.  Offer a $250 honourarium if we arrange for 10 people to put in 4 hours and arrange for disposal of invasives. Late note from Marian: “a local resident would like to remove ivy from the trees on East Lake Rd right-of-way and lake access but she can’t manage it herself. I suggested connecting her with Friends of Tod Creek and that perhaps this could be a future work party. Maybe this could partly fulfill your IPCBC
requirement?”  We agreed we are interested. (Note: Frances Hunter and Mary looked at the site and think it is a good place to work.  Frances will talk to immediate neighbours and Mary will arrange for an event in November.  Info on date and times will follow.  )

b) Saanich Parks Volunteer Training and Recognition Event – Saturday, Oct
16th 9:00-3:30. For regular volunteers.  Winona, Sherron, Lori, Audrey and
Mary will attend.

c)    Urban Deer – response to Saanich by Wednesday, Sept 15th. Art will draft
a letter based on the discussion we had via e-mail.  (Note: This has been
done, circulated and submitted to Saanich.)

d)    Feral Rabbits – Comments to Saanich re: BC SPCA recommendations by
October 15th.

e)    Limiting Daily use of power boats on Prospect Lake – Rick and Donna
Todd are concerned, as are others, about the fact that power boats on the
lake mean that small boats such as canoes, kayaks and sailing dingeys are
not safe.  After a discussion it was agreed that Rick would draft a
questionnaire to bring to the next meeting.  The object is to see how
people around the lake on both sides of the road would feel about limiting
powerboats to alternate days.  People who do not boat might be interested
in the quiet time.  Mary to check if Saanich has any regulations around this.
f)    A question was asked about a machine that crushes Styrofoam.  (Mary
checked with CRD.  The machine is mobile and CRD is looking into
getting it down here.  It can reduce the volume of the styrofoam by a
factor of 30 to 1. )

6.     Walks: Report on walk to Estuary with Mrs. Pugh.  Winona will arrange the next walk for the 3rd Sunday in October which is the 17th. Suggested place is from Gordana’s on Echo Drive.
7.    Next meeting: Wednesday, November 3rd at Bowker/Haig-Brown house, 237  Meadowbrook Road.

May 2010

FRIENDS OF TOD CREEK WATERSHED
MEETING NOTES
5 MAY, 2010

Present: Winona Pugh, Pat Carfra, Sherron MacPherson, Audrey Barnes, Steve Scotton,
Bernie Bowker, Art Dimock, Mary Dimock, Mary Haig-Brown, Guest: Nina Barton

1. Agenda accepted as printed

2. Meeting notes for 3 March accepted as posted.

3. Whitehead Park
a. Concept Plan for the developed area is going to Council 10th May.
b. Removal of invasives on 24th April went very well.  Marion McCoy,
Natural Areas Technician for Saanich Parks worked with us and agreed
that we could continue on our own.  She suggested we concentrate on the
large patch of blackberries developing on the west side of the creek.  We
also walked about discussing restoration opportunities.  FTCW would like
to schedule one day a month to work at this.  Pat Carfra will contact
Marion to arrange this.
c. Nina Barton, a fisheries biologist, had a brief look at the area before our
meeting.  Based on that and our discussion she sketched out a restoration
plan for the area.  Mary to pull this together and submit to Marion.
Thank you very much, Nina.  We hope we see you again.

4. Updates –
a. Prospect Lake School Garden – a group of us have been working on
Monday mornings to weed the rain garden at Prospect Lake School.  We
are almost finished and will transfer our energies to Whitehead Park.  This
is in addition to the monthly blackberry removal.  Note: Mary will call
Marion about this as she also wants to talk about a proposed group
from Royal Oak School doing some work in conjunction with
Peninsula Streams Society.
b. Tod Creek Flats Project – we need to pull together a small steering
committee to shepherd the proposal through the next stages.  Pat Carfra
and Winona Pugh volunteered.  Mary will talk to one of the
landowners about serving on this committee.
c. Meadowbrook Reservoir – Steve reported that his former boss Chris
Ryzuk is interested in helping on this.  Steve will call the landowner to
arrange a visit.  Mary has talked to Angus Stewart about the project.
Angus has worked with Focus Engineering on several projects and thinks
they may be interested in some pro bono work.  Mary to arrange a visit
for Angus.  Mary also to send a note to Lorne Frisson of DFO
outlining the visit she, Ian Bruce and Lorne had earlier this spring.

5.   Derelict Boat Petition – Winona circulated a petition from Saanich Inlet
Protection Society (SIPS) asking Central Saanich to remove derelict boats
blocking the entrance to Tod Inlet and causing pollution from oil and batteries.  In
discussion we support this move.

6.    Sacred Salmon Migration – members will try to attend some of the events
outlined on Agenda for later this week.

7.    Funding applications –
a. Public Conservation Assistance Fund – this fund might be appropriate for
work on the boardwalk at Winona’s place.  Winona to explore this a
little further; FTCW will supply the matching volunteer labour
required.
b. Agriculture Environment and Wildlife Fund – this fund would be
appropriate for the Tod Flats design drawings.  Tod Flats Steering
Committee to proceed with this.

8.    CRD Regional Parks Strategic Plan – We decided not to make a presentation to
the panel, but Audrey, Sherron and Winona will prepare and submit a
response form from FTCW.

9.    Art Dimock – Put in a plug for the 55+ On the Go Again programme at the hall.
They have had a variety of interesting speakers.  About 10 people attend
regularly.  Art also wanted to make sure we share ideas about Whitehead Park
with PLPS.  We have met with Shawn Steele and it seems we share a vision of the
restoration of the natural area including the start of Tod Creek.  Art also said the
issue of the Large subdivision may come up again.

10.    Next walk – Sherron will talk with Lori about a birding trip to Kerryview.
Sherron will let us know if and when this is arranged.

11.    Next Meeting: In order to avoid summer meetings, but to meet sooner than
September we decided on Wednesday, 23rd June. Location to be announced.

12.    Meeting adjourned.

March 2010

FRIENDS OF TOD CREEK WATERSHED
MEETING NOTES
3 MARCH, 2010
Present: Lori James Derry, Michael Derry, Bernie Bowker, Art Dimock, Steve
Scotton, Wil Shulba, Audrey Barnes, Woody Thomson, Sarah Verstegen, Jennifer
Elliot, Mary Haig-Brown

Regrets: Sherron MacPherson, Winona Pugh, Pat Carfra

1. Presentation – Jennifer Elliot and Sarah Verstegen – Community Mapping and Saanich
Inlet and Peninsula Shorelines (SIPAS) Presentation.  Jennifer explained that Community
mapping is about maps made by the people who live in the area of the map.  The map is
on line and continually being added to.  Check it out at: mapping.uvic.ca.  Click on The
Maps and choose Coastal Mapping to see this great map.  Sarah gave a presentation on
the work of SIPAS.  Mapping of eel grass beds and shoreline modifications for Saanich
Inlet and around the peninsula were used to rate the health or otherwise of the beaches
and the life that depends on them.

2. Agenda accepted as printed.

3. Meeting Notes for 6 January, 2010 accepted as posted on web site

4. Announcements –
a) Streamkeepers courses; Several of us did this work a few years ago and
enjoyed it very much.  A few current members expressed an interest in taking
the courses and building on the work that was done earlier.

__Streamkeeper Training Weekend March 26th and 27th – Still looking for participants
for this event. $50 tuition waived to the first 25 applicants. Classroom work at Spectrum
School, fieldwork on Colquitz River. Secondary and university students and adults
welcome. Contact Don Lowen at 388-4756 or h2oship@shaw.ca for more information.

Streamkeeper Training Opportunity
If you are interested in Streamkeepers training for protecting and restoring local aquatic
habitat, contact Susan at susanlow@shaw.ca or 250-703-2175.

b) Shorekeepers course Training May 1-2.  Beach Days in May and June.  Contact
Denis Coupland deniscoupland@telus.net  for more information.

c) Additions to library – Lori James Derry donated a copy of Saanich Heritage
Buildings for our growing library.  It is a fascinating look at the heritage houses of Saanich
and tells a little about their early owners.

5. Business arising –
a) Whitehead Park invasive removal – Pat Carfra has been talking with Marian
McCoy, Natural Areas Technician with Saanich Parks about removing
invasives from the natural area of Whitehead Park as an Earth Day exercise.
She will check out the area and let us know if this is possible.  Mary to follow
up on this as Pat is away.

b) Prospect Lake School garden – Several of us have been weeding the native
plant garden at Prospect Lake School.  We will work on it next on Monday, 8
March at 10:00.  Everyone is welcome to join us.

c) Meadowbrook Reservoir – Steve Scotton has spoken with the owner about
repairs to the dam.  The owner is interested.  We will continue to work at it.

d) Mouth of Killarney Creek – A second estimate on the boardwalk has been
received.  It is hoped that funding can be found to help with this project
demonstrating low impact living on the lakeshore.

e) Butchart’s dam – The dam needs a fish ladder, which Butcharts have said they
will build.  Nothing is happening.  Mary has written asking about this, but has
received no reply.

6. Heritage Book Project – Lori and others are gathering information and stories and will
be working out their plan of approach.

7. Web site – Wil is working on the website.  He can add more pages. He will make a
page on which we can post nature notes of interest.

8. State of the Watershed – Wil would like to start a project for Tod Creek Watershed
similar to one for the North Saskatchewan.  This project can be arranged to suit the
participants’ interests.  Wil is hoping to have a workshop in April to explore this idea
with interested people.

9. Tod Creek Flats Project – Mary is arranging a meeting of landowners, government
personnel and other experts to work out the Terms of Reference for the engineered
drawings of the project.  This meeting is to take place in the fourth week of March.

10. Walk up Little Saanich Mountain- Sunday, March 28th at 1:00.  Meet at the
parking lot at the bottom of the Observatory road.  We hope the wild flowers will be at
their best.  Everyone welcome.

Next Meeting – Wednesday, May  5th
Location: Art Dimock’s house, 170 Estelline Road.