Please read on to find out about our recent and future activities and how you can get involved The Best

of the Season from Peninsula Streams Society~

Kelset (Reay) Creek As a result of the July 17th public meeting about the possible restoration of Reay Creek pond retired DFO

scientist Dr Robie MacDonald led Peninsula Streamsrsquo Executive Coordinator Ian Bruce and volunteers Reg

Kirkham and John MacConnachie on a pond sampling expedition on September 19th Two sediment cores were

collected and samples were submitted for laboratory analysis Initial results indicate that the main sediment core

appears to be a good representation of sediment deposition over time Further aging of the core is underway now

and analysis for metals and contaminants will follow We are continuing to fundraise and so far have raised

$29750 from the Pacific Salmon Foundation Vancity Credit Union Victoria Foundation Thrifty Foods and the

Province of BC We also made a presentation to the Town of Sidney Mayor and Council on Oct 7th See article

on Reay Creek pond sediment sampling at httpwwwvicnewscomneighbourhoodssidney225087412html

In the meantime the Town of Sidney initiated a review of the dam that creates the pond and found that the dam

failed on several parameters There is not an imminent risk of failure but if and how the dam is repaired

replaced or removed will have a major impact on this project and the creek See article on dam at

httpwwwvicnewscomneighbourhoodssidney232742761html

Although two Coho were spotted in late October upstream of the dam very few Coho have been seen in Reay

Creek so far this fall ndash this is not consistent with large returns of Coho in Colquitz and Shawnigan watersheds

wwwPeninsulaStreamsca

Conserving the watersheds of the

Saanich Peninsula since 2002

In other Reay Creek news planting on

airport lands along the new diversion

channel took place on November 9th

16 volunteers (see photo) attended to

help us plant over 260 native trees and

shrubs including red alder big leaf

maple native crab-apple thimble-

berry salmon-berry sword ferns and

more As well a few volunteers

assisted Ian with rebuilding a riffle by

hand-placing rock and cobble Thank

you to everyone who attended and to

the rain and wind for holding off~

On September 5th there was a chemical spill into Graham Creek (see Times

Colonist article httpwwwtimescolonistcomnewsprovince-probing-source-

of-oily-substance-found-in-central-saanich-s-graham-creek-1615624) The

material was asphalt lsquotack coatingrsquo which is used to lsquogluersquo layers of asphalt

together or as an initial preparatory lsquogluersquo for new asphalt The source was

OK Asphalt in the Keating Industrial area In the relatively cool waters of the

creek the emulsified product of liquid asphalt water and other chemicals

separated into a film of asphalt (that was skimmed off as tar in the creek by

sticks) and a milky-coloured liquid in the water column itself Fortunately no

fish or other organisms were found dead though sub-lethal effects are not

known SNC-Lavalin Consulting company was hired to develop a

remediation plan and Tervita Corp was hired to clean up the spill Ian was

hired by OK Industries to help guide and validate response and cleanup

efforts By the end of October there appeared to be little tar or other evidence

of the spill in the stream

Graham Creek

Thank you to the

Pacific Salmon

Foundation for your

continuing support~

Gr 3 WatershedSalmon Education Program This year marked the most successful year for tree returns in quite a few years~ We were very pleased at the

number of trees that were returned by the students and at the turn-out for our planting events Successful

planting events were held at Reay Creek Park (Sidney) Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Adam Kerr

Park (Central Saanich) Whitehead Park (Saanich) and Gowlland Tod Provincial Park (SNIDCEL [pronounced

sneed-kwith]) over three Saturdays in October The photo below shows students replanting an area that had been

cleared of Himalayan Blackberry and other invasive species in April by Gr 6 students from Bayside Middle

School through our lsquoCreatures of Habitatrsquo program SNAP Magazine was on site to capture some photos of the

students and their families planting trees at the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary check them out here

httpwwwsnapvictoriacomindexphpoption=com_sngeventsampid[]=603956

Peninsula Streams Society Newsletter ndash December 2013

Yes ndash I support Peninsula Streams Society

Irsquod like to contribute $50 $100 $250 $500 Other __________

Name _____________________________ Email ___________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________ Phone ___________________________

Please make cheque payable to Peninsula Streams Society Box 6000 9860 West Saanich Rd North Saanich BC V8L 4B2

I prefer my donation to remain anonymous Please send me a tax receipt

ḰENNESHagan Creek A volunteer work party to perform maintenance on the restored

stretch of Hagan Creek (on the Waterhouse property) was held over

Thanksgiving weekend on October 12th 12 volunteers attended and

helped us plant dozens of new trees and shrubs in the riparian zone of

the stream and pond We also continued to cut back the Himalayan

blackberry brambles that had sprung up over the year We were so

thankful for the beautiful weather and for our volunteers who

attended in spite of busy holiday weekend plans Thanks also to

Habitat Acquisition Trust and Todd Carnahan for procuring tree

and shrub donations from Russell Nursery

Plans to restore lower Hagan Creek (downstream of Waterhouse) next

summer are underway Alice removing invasive Himalayan

blackberry beside Hagan Creek

Blue Heron Creek The McDonald Park Estates development continues to move forward through the rezoning and approvals process

in North Saanich We look forward to working with the Memorial Parks Society and Parkland High School on

restoration and maintenance of Blue Heron Creek in the coming years Stay tuned for more informationhellip

On September 10th PSS supported a successful rebuilding of the Gardnerrsquos Pond inlet stream with 20 volunteers

from Stantec Consultants on the Hamilton property Thank you Tobi and Stantec for mobilizing volunteers for

this work party~

A public meeting was held at Deep Cove school on October 9th to discuss Chalet Creek watershed Eighteen

community members attended to discuss concerns and future visions for the creek and Gardners Pond Plans to

formalize the Friends of Chalet Creek group in 2014 will help guide future restoration of the creek

Chalet (Tatlow) Creek

p 3

Peninsula Streams Society Newsletter ndash December 2013

Creatures of Habitat ndash Gr 6 Env Education Program A planning meeting was held in October This year we look forward to bringing our program to Colquitz Middle

School for the first time Stay tuned for more information about this program in the coming months There will

be many opportunities to volunteer at the events in April so we hope you will consider participating Contact

Francesca at 250-363-6480 if you have any questions

Tod Creek

environmentally conscious and other helpful tips were available for visitors including a display of native and

non-native plants found in the area Overall it was a glorious day for this event and we would like to thank the

visitors who attended and provided us with positive feedback Thank you also to our donors for the support and

for the volunteers whose knowledge enthusiasm and experience made this a successful event For more

information about the event and the Friends of Tod Creek Watershed visit our website (above link)

Peninsula Streams and the FoTCW held a fun and well-attended planting event on October 26th at Whitehead

Park with students from Prospect Lake school Students planted trees that they had grown over the summer as

part of the Gr 3 education program

Marjorie Garside has been a

volunteer with Peninsula

Streams Society since our

early days She is active in her

home watershed of Chalet

Creek but we can also always

depend on her wonderful

attitude and hard work in many

other watersheds and projects

including our recent

restoration project on Hagan

Creek work parties on Reay

Creek and our Gr 6 education

program lsquoCreatures of

Habitatrsquo Thank you

Marjorie~

Peninsula Streams Society Newsletter ndash December 2013

In the Newshellip

Excerpt from website httptodcreekrd123caactivities

The Friends of Tod Creek Watershed (FoTCW) held their BC Rivers Day

event on Saturday October 6th Originally planned for the previous weekend

the storms had us postpone the event Luckily we had an even better day

weather-wise Peninsula Streams joined the event to demonstrate the

characteristics of a watershed and the importance of being environmentally-

friendly using a 3D watershed model There was a raffle for various prizes

including a book (by local author Roderick Haig-Brown) and gift certificates

Information about the local area how to make changes to be more

Tod Creek

environmentally conscious and other helpful tips were available for visitors including a display of native and

non-native plants found in the area Overall it was a glorious day for this event and we would like to thank the

visitors who attended and provided us with positive feedback Thank you also to our donors for the support and

for the volunteers whose knowledge enthusiasm and experience made this a successful event For more

information about the event and the Friends of Tod Creek Watershed visit our website (above link)

Peninsula Streams and the FoTCW held a fun and well-attended planting event on October 26th at Whitehead

Park with students from Prospect Lake school Students planted trees that they had grown over the summer as

part of the Gr 3 education program

Marjorie Garside has been a

volunteer with Peninsula

Streams Society since our

early days She is active in her

home watershed of Chalet

Creek but we can also always

depend on her wonderful

attitude and hard work in many

other watersheds and projects

including our recent

restoration project on Hagan

Creek work parties on Reay

Creek and our Gr 6 education

program lsquoCreatures of

Habitatrsquo Thank you

Marjorie~

Peninsula Streams Society Newsletter ndash December 2013

In the Newshellip

Excerpt from website httptodcreekrd123caactivities

The Friends of Tod Creek Watershed (FoTCW) held their BC Rivers Day

event on Saturday October 6th Originally planned for the previous weekend

the storms had us postpone the event Luckily we had an even better day

weather-wise Peninsula Streams joined the event to demonstrate the

characteristics of a watershed and the importance of being environmentally-

friendly using a 3D watershed model There was a raffle for various prizes

including a book (by local author Roderick Haig-Brown) and gift certificates

Information about the local area how to make changes to be more

bull Become a Member An annual individual membership is only $5 and entitles you to vote

at our AGM in February Proceeds help offset our volunteer insurance costs

bull Volunteer Many opportunities are available Sign up on our website at

httppeninsulastreamscaabout-usvolunteers or call Francesca at 250-363-6480

bull Donate by cheque or on our website through Canada Helps a secure online donation

system You can use the ldquoDonate Nowrdquo button on the website to securely and electronically

make your donation We issue tax receipts~

bull Donate a product or service for our annual Silent Auction Fundraiser held in the spring

at the Seahorses Cafeacute in Brentwood

An evening information session and two Saturday community events were held in

November (see photos below) Activities at the streamside community events

included learning about invasive plant species and their removal learning how to

measure water quality and how it affects fish finding out about fish habitat and learning

about benthic invertebrates (aka ldquocreepy crawliesrdquo that live in the stream and which can

be important food sources and indicators of stream health) lsquoLikersquo and connect with the

Friends of Swan Creek Watershed on Facebook

httpswwwfacebookcomFriendsOfSwanCreekWatershed

Swan Creek p 5

The Friends of Shoal Harbour Society hosted a symposium on October 19th with many speakers and

informational displays Events to welcome back the Bufflehead were also held with speeches by politicians and

dignitaries Not to disappoint the bufflehead appeared that morning right on time Learn more about the Society

at httpwwwshoalharbour-stewardshiporg

Shoal Harbour Sanctuary

TenTen Creek The overflow channel from the wetland pond to the VAA (Victoria Airport Authority) reservoir was completed

this fall diverting contaminated storm water flowing from Pendrayrsquos fields into the reservoir for partial

treatment Once the reservoir is full the treated water flows into the creek In October 6 juvenile cutthroat trout

were spotted in the Willingdon ditch tributary upstream of the landfill areas It is believed that these are the first

sea-run salmonids reported in the creek since the 1950rsquos VAA is pursuing plans with Transport Canada for

assessment and remediation of the historic landfill areas on airport property

Peninsula Streams Society Newsletter ndash December 2013

Governments

Districts of North and Central Saanich

Town of Sidney

District of Saanich

Province of BC

Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Foundations amp Organizations

Dee M Bailin Family Fund

Deep Cove Elementary PAC

Pacific Salmon Foundation

Sidney Anglers Association

Royal Oak Lions

Victoria Foundation ndash Alistair S Thomson Colonel

RO Bull Oolichan Woodsome Family Saanich

Peninsula Foundation Funds

Businesses

BC Hydro

Canoe Cove Marina

Custom Yacht Sales Ltd

Drillwell Enterprises Ltd

LGL Ltd

Lush Handmade Cosmetics

Market on Yates and Millstream

Michell Excavating

Peninsula Co-op

Peninsula Rock Products Ltd

RBC Blue Water Fund

Red Barn Market

Rhys Davis Ltd

Sherwood Marine Centre

Slegg Construction Materials Ltd

Thrifty Foods

Vancity Savings Credit Union

Victoria Airport Authority

Watershed Eco-Logical Services Ltd

Westport Marina

Individuals

C amp T Armour F amp PBoyce IBruce PChandler

DChown JClearihue DCoupland BCox

GBDavidson BDrury AFinall MGarside

M+RGlickman S+GGordon SGuy MHaig-Brown

BHardy NHockey S Irving AJohnson SJohnson

GKachmar PKerfoot JKirchner AMarsh

CMcBride CMearns ANelson BPeart J

Thornburgh AScoones AWaterhouse R Wickson

RWindsor

Which

watershed

do you

live in

Visit us online

wwwPeninsulaStreamsca The Peninsula Streams Society newsletter is published four

times a year Do you have something to add to the newsletter

Submissions are accepted on a continual basis inclusion is

subject to space availability and content appropriateness

p 6 Peninsula Streams Society Newsletter ndash December 2013

Ian Exec Coordinator 250-363-6596 bull 250-888-2191 (cell) | Francesca Stewardship Coordinator 250-363-6480

PeninsulaStreamsgmailcom

Map courtesy of CRD website