British western region ( columbia )
volume 29, number 1, 2008
Restored Cranberry Marsh proves valuable for waterfowl
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South of Valemount, B.C., sits Cranberry Marsh, a 345-hectare wetland that is a remnant of a flat-bottom lake located in the Rocky Mountain Trench. Over the years, the lake gradually filled in, resulting in a wetland complex overgrown with bulrush and sedge, with only a few small open water pockets. As the area was settled, the wetland suffered ongoing and progressive drainage activities that degraded the habitat until nearly 40 years ago, when a large portion of the marsh was transferred to the provincial government and the Robert W. Starratt Wildlife Area was established. In the 1980s Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) began steps to reverse the effects of past drainage by installing two dikes and
water control structures and constructing several nesting islands for waterfowl. The resulting stable water levels have created a highly productive wildlife sanctuary that provides important staging habitat for trumpeter swans, Canada geese and many other waterfowl common to the Intermountain region. As one of the larger wetlands in this mountainous region of the province, Cranberry Marsh is an important rest area for migratory waterfowl and one of the few breeding habitats in the area. A good-sized breeding population of Canada geese exists, and mallard, northern shoveler, wigeon, all three species of teal, wood ducks, hooded mergansers, bufflehead, goldeneye, scaup and ring-necked ducks are all known to nest in the area. In total, more than 90 bird species have been observed on or around Cranberry Marsh. Other wetland-dependent wildlife such as amphibians, reptiles, moose, otter and beaver rely on the marsh and surrounding habitat, and black bear, deer, coyote and fox are common. With two viewing platforms, a seven-kilometre loop trail and interpretive signage, Cranberry Marsh is a favourite among birding enthusiasts and local school groups. Given the wetland’s community and wildlife significance, this September DUC ensured the marsh will continue to provide valuable habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife by replacing a failing water control structure with one that has an expected lifespan of 100 years. Ducks Unlimited Canada led the restoration and enhancement project and received partnership funding from the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and the Columbia Basin Trust (Columbia-Kootenay Fisheries Renewal Partnership). Funding from the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund will assist with future maintenance of the marsh. î “ Cranberry Marsh is a remnant of a flat-bottom lake in B.C.'s most mountainous region. DUC and partners have recently restored and enhanced the 345 acre wetland.
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With so many conservation partners working to conserve wetlands, what happens when one is lost? Across the country, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has an opportunity to play a leadership role in guiding the development of mitigation processes where DUC’s involvement is focused on conserving habitat function of wetlands at the landscape level. Under the Water Act, an applicant who will undertake an activity that may impact a wetland is expected to avoid damage to a wetland, minimize the impact of wetland interference and finally compensate for the unavoidable damage or destruction to a wetland. In Alberta, DUC has collaborated with fellow NAWMP (North American Waterfowl Management Plan) partners and Alberta Environment to release a provincial wetland restoration and compensation guide. Written for government regulators, land developers, the public, restoration agencies and government departments, the guide explains how applications under the Water Act will be reviewed when wetland loss occurs. Developers throughout the province are now required to explore how they can reduce impacts to wetlands and when that is not possible, a process for compensation now exists. Prior to an individual or developer receiving a Water Act approval, they must submit a report that describes the wetland site and proposed development, as well as a statement outlining why the impact on the wetland is unavoidable. From that, Alberta Environment reviews the recommendations of the impact assessment and establishes compensation payments that must be made to the appointed wetland restoration agency before the Water Act approval is issued. Following Alberta’s successful model, DUC staff in B.C. are now undertaking a similar strategy to assist in the creation of a provincial guide for wetland loss and compensation in British Columbia. With a consistent, science-based approach, mitigation for wetland loss can further support DUC’s mandate of wetland retention and restoration. DUC has a tremendous opportunity in B.C. to provide a leadership role in guiding the development of mitigation policies and to deliver mitigation projects on behalf of the regulators as funded by the developer or individual impacting the function of a wetland at the landscape level.
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It is a ritual as well founded as a migrating bird’s flight path. Every fall, as classrooms fill and learning begins again, Lloyd Good and his fellow “Nest Box Crew” members from Revelstoke assemble in Good’s garage and start cutting lots and lots of wood. Project Webfoot is highly successful and popular amongst students and their teachers in Revelstoke. Delivered by Marcia Woods and other DUC volunteers since 1999, Project Webfoot gives children an opportunity to learn about wetlands and experience local wildlife habitats. The students participate in two field trips between April and June. In April, the field trip concentrates on the wetlands and identification of water birds along the Columbia River south of Revelstoke. The second field trip takes the students to the marsh where they learn about wetland ecology, sustainability and the importance of wetlands. One of the program highlights is when each student is given a songbird nest box kit to assemble in their classroom. This hands-on conservation project not only helps them learn about wetland conservation but allows each child to place their nest box in the natural environment and directly enhance local wildlife habitat. However, this wouldn’t be possible without Good’s hardworking and loyal "Nest Box Crew". Fellow members and long-serving DUC volunteers include Good’s grandson Ed McCartney, Gordon Frocklage, Mas Matsushita and John and Marcia Woods. For this school year alone, they have prepared over 125 nest box kits. That is a lot of cutting, drilling and stacking! From the "Nest Box Crew", to the other companies and volunteers who make Project Webfoot in Revelstoke possible, students are learning and gaining a greater appreciation of the importance of conserving wetlands for their future.
Lloyd Good of Revelstoke, B.C. uses his own garage for the "Nest Box Crew" to assemble nest boxes.
© John G. Woods
Wetland mitigation seeks compensation for wetland loss
Project Webfoot’s "Nest Box Crew"
western region (british columbia)
More than 440 coastal estuaries identified, mapped and ranked
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Sandwiched between Alaska and Washington state, the distance as the crow flies is less than 1,000 km. However, by the time the B.C. coastline meanders around steep cliffs, forests and 5,000 islands, the distance measured is 27,000 km. During the meandering trail, over 440 estuaries are nestled into some of the most productive habitat where the rivers meet the sea. It’s a huge landscape, and making conservation decisions on where to target resources is critical. The development of the B.C. Estuary Ranking Project initiated by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada (CWS) provides the framework for making those decisions. “It started out as a simple concept,” remarks Dan Buffett, regional planning and research biologist from the B.C. coast. “We knew estuaries are critical to waterfowl, so it was merely a matter of identifying them and ranking them.” However, several challenges besieged the eager-minded biologist such as limited data, resources and method of how to rank the estuaries. However, the strength of conservation partnerships overcame these limitations and resulted in a project that exceeded expectations. The project was a three-step process: identify the locations of estuaries, map the boundary of the estuaries and rank the estuaries. “Our partnerships were key to be able to access data with agencies such as the Province of B.C. and Fisheries and Oceans Canada,” says Buffett, “and then with some shared staff between CWS and DUC, we developed expertise in Geographical Information Systems and also in estuary conservation planning.” By the time the project was completed, over 440 estuaries were mapped and ranked. The 25 top-ranked ones included well recognized estuaries such as the Fraser River Delta, Cowichan, and Courtenay estuary. But several other estuaries were also in the top list such as the Chemainus (Vancouver Island), Homathko (Central Coast), Kitsalut (North Coast) and Naden River (Queen Charlotte Islands – Haida Gwaii). The results demonstrate the importance of protecting estuaries throughout the entire B.C. coast. The project also inspired two master’s theses at Simon Fraser University. Two students (Rebecca Harold and Christina Kereki)
B.C. Estuary Ranking Project identifies productive habitat where the rivers meet the sea. each completed a separate project that evaluated how waterfowl would migrate between estuaries in the spring and fall based on information such as estuary size, wind conditions and elevation. This information provided additional information to DUC on the importance of estuaries and how they are connected, something that hasn’t been investigated before along the B.C. coast. A recent CWS technical report was prepared to share the results of the project with other agencies and the results were presented at several conferences throughout Canada and the U.S. Even in early drafts of the report, the information was being used by Province of B.C. as well as non-government agencies such as DUC, The Nature Trust of B.C. and the Nature Conservancy of Canada in their coastal planning. It just demonstrates the power of partnership not only to complete a project, but the diverse benefits that flow back to the partners who have participated in the project. Estuaries, such as the Asseek Estuary near Bella Coola, B.C., will be identified as part of the B.C. Estuary Ranking Project.
Partnership provides further funding for farmers
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The British Columbia Agriculture Council (BCAC) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) recently renewed their partnership agreement supporting the environmental stewardship practices of B.C. farmers and ranchers. BCAC delivers the Environmental Farm Plan Program in B.C., and DUC has hundreds of on-farm habitat projects in the province that benefit waterfowl, wildlife and agriculture. This year the BCAC-DUC partnership will assist producers with $200,000 in funding towards the implementation of Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) that have a demonstrated benefit to waterfowl. “Many of these projects also have secondary benefits for the producer such as reducing stress, increasing the efficiency of farm operations, cost savings, and even personal satisfaction for enhancing the natural environment for the benefit of our communities,” says Kingsley Campbell, an agrologist with DUC. “We are very pleased to continue our partnership with Ducks Unlimited through their support of Beneficial Management Practices in the Environmental Farm Plan Program,” says Steve Thomson, executive director of the B.C. Agriculture Council. “This is a very good example of where working together we can meet mutual objectives of improved farm viability, enhanced waterfowl habitat and positive benefits for agriculture and the environment.” Since last year the BCAC-DUC partnership has assisted with projects having a value of more than $3 million and most importantly has assisted with the long-term sustainability of more than 170 B.C. family farms, which is important to the B.C. environment and our economy. Campbell says, “The farm and ranch community are proud of their habitat projects and we encourage the public to ‘Buy B.C.’ in support of environmentally friendly B.C. producers.” The Canada-British Columbia Environmental Farm Plan Program provides farmers and ranchers the opportunity to undertake a whole farm review and where applicable, develop a list of action items to reduce environmental risks. Two complementary federal programs, the National Farm Stewardship program and Greencover Canada, provide farmers and ranchers in B.C. with cost-share funding to implement on-farm Beneficial Management Practices: farming practices that enhance agricultural sustainability and contribute to a healthier environment. These programs are delivered by the BCAC and funded by the federal and provincial governments under the Agricultural Policy Framework Agreement. Canadians are very aware of the need to protect our natural environment, and producers receive financial assistance with projects that involve such things as maintaining air or water quality, soil conservation, or even enhancing biodiversity.
British western region ( columbia )
The Flyway newsletter is published by Ducks Unlimited Canada Oak Hammock Marsh Conservation Centre P.O. Box 1160, Stonewall, Manitoba R0C 2Z0 tel (204)467-3000 fax (204)467-9028 toll-free 1(800)665-DUCK Please direct your inquiries to the following: Eastern Region Atlantic: Kelly MacDonald Quebec: Bernard Filion Ontario: Lynette Mader Marci Dube Western Region
Flyway production staff Director of Communications and Marketing: Madeleine Arbez Editor: Duncan Morrison Assistant: June Finnson Art Director: Tye Gregg Graphic Designers: Lindsay Pikta-Marie, Aquila Samson, Jeope Wolfe © Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2008 Printed in Canada on 100% recycled paper including 100% post-consumer fibres
Area Contacts Director of Regional Operations Ian Barnett, Edmonton (780) 602-3221 Manager of Provincial Operations Les Bogdan, Surrey (604) 592-5000 Manager of Conservation Programs Brad Arner, Kamloops (250) 374-8307 Fundraising Rory Brown, Victoria
(250) 652-5090
Major Gifts and Feather Society Gordon Stewart, Surrey (604) 592-5008
The Canada-British Columbia Environmental Farm Plan Program provides farmers and ranchers the opportunity to undertake a whole farm review and where applicable, develop a list of action items to reduce environmental risks.
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