New Nature Trust Acquisition in the Works The Nature Trust needs help to preserve the Little Qualicum River Salmon Forest

from Pacific Yachting - April 2023

OH THE JOY (STICK)

cant properties since 1971. These acquisitions, purchased without debts or mortgages, total 730 square kilometres.

The Nature Trust of BC’s mission is: “To conserve BC’s biological diversity by securing and managing critical habitat across the province.” Based on their long history, it appears that’s exactly what they have been doing.

The Nature Trust is a non-profit land conservation organization that has acquired over 500 ecologically signifi-

TThe concept of a Nature Trust began many decades ago during a breakfast meeting in Kamloops. Attendees included Jack Davis, minister of the newly created Federal Ministry of the Environment, Len Marchant the Member of Parliament for Kamloops, scientist Alastair McLean and local teacher Ralph Shaw. Shaw later chaired the Sport Fishing Advisory Board that advises the Federal Minister of Fisheries on BC tidal water recreational fishery issues. Their timely discussion led to a federal government infusion of $4.5 million to get the Nature Trust of BC up and running.

The trust focuses on acquiring properties in regions with high biodiversity values but are vulnerable because they are privately owned. Potential acquisitions also include properties that maintain ecosystem connectivity. The trust notes that 43 percent of the province’s wild species have low or dwindling population values. So, these purchases are important buffers that sustain natural assets for future generations of British Columbians.

To achieve their goals, the Nature Trust partners with corporate entities, all levels of government and many private conservation-oriented organizations. These include angling groups like the Steelhead Society of BC, the BC Federation of Fly Fishers and at least five other regional fishing organizations.

The trust offers two post-secondary scholarships that encourage students to consider careers in habitat protection. One goes to the University of Victoria in the name of conservationist and ecologist Ian McTaggart-Cowan and his wife Joyce. The other goes to UBC in recognition of Bert Hoffmeister, retired forestry executive, conservationist and the trust’s first chairman of the board.

WHY IS THE LITTLE QUALICUM RIVER IMPORTANT?

The Little Qualicum River is a medium-sized Vancouver Island stream. It flows west to east from the Cameron Lake watershed to its estuary located between Qualicum Beach and the Big Qualicum River. The watershed encompasses over 247 square kilometres. It includes mountain wilderness with elevations exceeding 1,500 metres and lowland plains containing significant agricultural, commercial and residential developments.

Map #1 shows the approximate location of the proposed land acquisition. Studies done in the last decade indicate the river has good water quality with the exception of late summer temperature spikes. Maintaining water quality is important because the BC Ministry of Environment has assessed its fish values as high.

The Little Qualicum watershed includes rare animals like the Vancouver Island marmot along with larger mammals like black bear, cougar and deer. More than 220 bird species are known to utilize habitats within its watershed boundaries.

The Little Qualicum River lies within the Regional District of Nanaimo and includes the Little Qualicum River Regional Park. This park connects to the downstream boundary of Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park. They total about 150 hectares and provide considerable riparian zone protection to both sides of the river. There is also a third much smaller park bordering the provincial park which is not physically connected to the river.

These are public-use parks and both receive considerable visitor traffic. However, visitor impacts on the river are tiny compared to potential problems that develop on private lands. The history of damage done to poorly protected watersheds has been aptly demonstrated across BC, and remains a source of problems for salmon, trout and other flora and fauna that depend on healthy river-bottom habitats.

There is also a protected area in the estuary called the Marshall-Stevenson Unit. It is part of the Qualicum National Wildlife Area which covers three estuaries in the region. The others are located at Rosewall Creek and Nanoose Bay. The Little Qualicum Unit is open to public use. However, permitted activities are more restrictive compared to normal parks, primarily because it is high value habitat for resident and migrating waterfowl. Even with these protected areas there is a large section between the existing parks that remains at risk.

The Little Qualicum’s fish values are significant. It is home to resident and sea-run cutthroat, steelhead, coho, chum and chinook salmon. Fly fishing is permitted in the lower river (check fresh and tidal water regulations) and its salmon runs are culturally important to sustain First Nations food, societal and ceremonial fisheries. Little Qualicum salmon also contribute to local and regional ocean fisheries. These fisheries usually occur in late summer and early fall when adults migrate through the Strait of Georgia back to the river to spawn.

In 1963, a federal fish hatchery was built on the Big Qualicum River and a chum spawning channel was constructed on the Little Qualicum. That was followed by construction of a hatchery in the late 1970s. This side channel alone can hold up to 50,000 spawning chum. Chinook are also reared in the hatchery with at least

2,000 adults captured annually for brood-stock. In recent years, chum returns have been low as a consequence of poor ocean survival rates.

The Nature Trust Needs Your Help

The Nature Trust has the opportunity to purchase 15 hectares of undeveloped land along the Little Qualicum River. This represents their first purchase in this watershed. It is part of the coastal Douglas fir bio-climatic zone, which the trust describes as, “one of the most at risk in the province” with only 11 percent protected. In order to secure the purchase they need to raise another $415,000 by April 30.

Aside from the Little Qualicum’s overall values, this parcel contains a mix of young and old growth forests. However, there is concern, because of the land’s residential zoning, that its natural values could disappear if the opportunity to purchase is lost.

Tom Reid, the Nature Trust’s Vancouver Island conservation land manager, provided more details on the acquisition. “The Nature Trust has already acquired 275 hectares of critical habitat in the Parksville-Qualicum area,” including an investment in several kilometres on the nearby Englishman River. This purchase builds on the Englishman River project and previous Vancouver Island acquisitions within important watersheds like the Cowichan, Nanaimo and Salmon rivers.

Reid goes on to say the site is, “locally known as the Little Qualicum River Salmon Forest” because it “provides spawning and rearing habitat for chinook, chum and coho salmon as well as steelhead and cutthroat trout.”

Reid adds, “by protecting this parcel we will be contributing to the overall ecological health not only within the Little Qualicum River but of the estuary and the greater near-shore environment of the Parksville-Qualicum Beach area. This region is rich in biodiversity and renowned as an important herring spawning area”.

If you wish to donate to this project go to naturetrust.bc.ca and click on the ‘donate’ button.

TOM'S TIP

April’s Fishing Tip

The arrival of Pacific Yachting’s April edition may coincide with the release of two important 2023 regulation packages affecting public fishing.

Recreational fishing advisors, working with Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), have developed a plan for anglers to keep adipose clipped chinook in fishing areas containing a high percentage of these hatchery fish. Proposals have been reviewed by DFO stock assessment staff but require other stakeholders’ input before approval.

New measures to protect South- ern Resident Killer Whales may be released soon, now that consultation with stakeholders and input from the public has ended. The recreational fishery has provided advice to DFO which includes: Shifting to adaptive management measures rather than relying on geographically large long-term fishing closures, and reducing regulation complexity to avoid confusion for anglers and recreational boaters.

So, watch for these announcements and adjust your fishing and boating activities accordingly.

Aspen C100

34’8” LOA x 10’ Fits in Standard Slips

Fully Appointed Galley • King Size Master Bed

2 Cabins, 1 Head • Smooth Ride • Easy to Maneuver

Cruises 18-20, Top Speed 24MPH

Single Diesel Inboard • E cient Performance

Xo Dfndr 9

Sweet lines, versatility and sporty all-weather performance highlight this Finnish speedster

BY PETER A. ROBSON

IIt was late February, and darn cold—well below freezing—when I stepped aboard the latest addition to XO Boats’ fleet, the DFNDR 9, at the West Vancouver Marina. My fingers were numb as I scribbled notes while SV Business Group (which also operates the marina) co-founder David Siradze walked me around the boat, showing me its many striking characteristics.

The XO line of Finnish deep-V aluminum sport yachts was founded in 2008 and is relatively new to Western Canada. XO Boats are versatile and designed for speed, performance and yearround operation, mostly as day boats or for short overnight cruises.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

The XO line offers eight models from 26 feet (8.03 metres) to 30 feet (9.4 metres) that can reach speeds up to 45 knots. The DFNDR 9 (28 feet, 10 inches/8.8 metres) reviewed here is a walkaround, with two Mercury 225-horsepower V6 outboards. Its sweet lines are characterized by an aft swept windshield and plumb bow with an attractive and tactical-looking vinyl hull wrap.

The hull is heavy gauge aluminum, while the deck and interior mold are fibreglass, with foam in between for buoyancy and added strength. It is notable that the decks and soles are so well built that there is absolutely no flex—which is rare. They are coated in PlasDeck, which is a thick, flexible PVC material which provides excellent traction plus soft cushioning underfoot. The hardtop’s thick tubular support cage, interior handholds and bonded window frames are aluminum and very robust.

ON DECK The cockpit is compact, but versatile, with a forward-facing bench seat. When folded, it provides good walkaround access on the swim platform. Fronting the bench is a folding GRP table that is raised to serve as an outdoor dining table. The aft end of the helm/saloon area is enclosed by canvas, which can be moved out of the way to allow the forward-facing bench seat backrest to flip forward so it faces the cockpit. When the table is raised and folded open, it creates a nice spot for six to enjoy drinks or food (on warmer days of course). In its lowered position, cushions can be added to convert the cockpit to a large sunpad. Deep, top-access lockers built into the bulwarks provide plenty of storage for fenders and lines. The machinery access (filters, four AGM batteries, general storage and such) is accessed under the cockpit sole, though the latches were iced up during the sea trials so I couldn’t evaluate that space.

1. Most of the space below is taken up by the surprisingly roomy V-berth.

2. The helm/saloon area offers 6' 3" (190 centimetres) of headroom.

3. Fronting the cockpit bench is a folding table that is raised to serve as an outdoor dining table.

Perhaps the most innovative feature of the DEFNDR 9 are its substantial sliding glass doors on either side. They open the helm/saloon area completely to the elements and allow passenger access to the rear bench seat.

The 16-inch-wide side decks and the 34-inch-high bulwarks topped with thick, rock-solid aluminum handrails between the bow and stern areas make for safe passage regardless of conditions. The windlass and anchor gear are tucked below a triangular bow hatch. Boats with plumb bows always raise concerns about the anchor damaging or scraping the paint off the hull. XO has come up with a clever hinged bow roller (and anchor) that tucks away into the windlass compartment when not in use and flips up over the bow when needed.

While there is no dedicated seating at the bow, sitting on the rubber sole and leaning on the bulwarks should be comfortable, however, bow cushions can be optioned. A step-through hatch provides easy secondary access to the Vberth from the bow. The hatch is large enough to load gear such as bikes, kayaks and paddleboards into the V-berth area, though there is also ample room for gear and toys on the foredeck or the hardtop. Both the bow and cockpit areas have recessed bases for support poles and tie downs for optional sunshades.

INTERIOR The helm/saloon area offers 6' 3" (190 centimetres) of headroom and consists of two hydraulic suspension seats in front of the previously mentioned and well-padded bench seat.

This area is compact—the helmsperson must walk outside and around the wheelhouse to change positions with the co-pilot and the glass doors must be slid back to access the aft bench—but once everyone is in position, it’s a cosy space with room for everyone to travel in comfort. Under the bench seat on the test boat was a small drawer fridge. An off-the-shelf portable stove can be used for cooking. The helm arrangement is excellent with everything right at your fingertips. There’s room for two touch screens (the test boat only had one) and the steering wheel is adjustable, as are the suspension seats that can swing 180 degrees to face the bench seat, thus creating a larger inside social area. Most of the switches are flush, with push button controls. A powerful defrost system should keep the windshield from fogging up. The test boat was ordered with an Optimus 360 joystick, bow thruster and Lenco automatic trim tabs. Overhead an electric sunroof provides both light and ventilation on those warm summer days. Once tucked inside, the Webasto forced air heater kept us toasty, despite the freezing weather outside.

Main access to the sleeping area is to starboard via a locking hatch that lifts out of the way and a lower sliding plexiglass door. Headroom is limited, but the cabin does not feel claustrophobic. Most of the space below is taken up by the surprisingly roomy V-berth. The aft end has a recessed pop-up step that lifts up at the push of a button to serve as a sturdy step to the bow area but also doubles as a small table. Good storage is provided by a shelf and side lockers across from the head. Air vents on either side of the cabin provide ventilation or can be closed off as required. The head compartment is again, quite compact, but it does the trick with an electric toilet, sink, faucet and shower wand. Everything inside and out is very well engineered with no rough edges—the finishing is flawless.

UNDERWAY David Siradze guided us out of the marina, past Eagle Island and its luxury homes, and into Howe Sound. Despite the cold, it was a fine, sunny day with a two-foot chop and outflow winds of about 15 knots—enough to give us a good idea of performance. XO Boats are designed to operate in the waters of Finland, Sweden and the Baltic Sea, which offer similar conditions to the West Coast, and are built accordingly to handle rough weather. As the company

On Board Power

literature says, “…head out when others stay in port.” Sounds like fun!

The twin 225-horsepower outboards offered plenty of power and fast acceleration, with us climbing onto the plane in a mere 3.5 seconds with almost no bow rise (whether using the auto trims or not). Visibility was excellent all around. We were soon zipping along at 24 knots (3,500 rpm) and bouncing over the chop with none of that irritating slamming or pounding, thanks to the fine entry and deep-V hull. At this speed, the noise level in the helm area was whisper quiet at 65 dB. Our fuel burn was only 14 gallons per hour (53 litres per hour). When we advanced the throttles to their stops, the acceleration was enough to force us back into our seats. At full throttle, we were zipping along at an almost scary 43 knots (5,000 rpm) and the ride got bumpy, but thanks in part to the suspension seats, we weren’t getting thrown around and felt quite secure—whether standing with the bolster or fully seated (the aluminum footrests are very well placed). The centreline throttles are protected by an adjacent arch that can be used to brace the driver’s hand when using the throttles while also preventing someone from accidentally stumbling and hitting the throttles. Back at 24 knots, with the wheel at various positions, including hard over, the XO clung to the water, heeling steeply with no skipping or ventilation of the props. The turning radius was as tight as I’ve seen and the steering was nicely responsive. There was absolutely no squeaking from anywhere inside—again something rare—thanks once again to engineering and build quality.

Specs

LOA (not including engines) 8.8 m / 28' 10"

Beam 2.6 m / 8' 6"

Draft to props 0.99 m / 3' 3"

Weight (not including engines) 2,710 kg / 5,975 lbs

Fuel 450 L / 119 USG

Water 98 L / 26 USG

Holding 45 L / 12 USG

Std Power: 2 x 225 hp Mercury

CONCLUDING REMARKS I tried to find fault with the XO, but I’m happy to say I couldn’t find anything to criticize— and that is very unusual for this reviewer. The DFNDR 9 is one tough aluminum boat and solid as a rock (but it floats a heck of a lot better). Versatility is another bonus, with several cockpit and cabin seating arrangements to choose from. For those hot summer days, with the doors, skylight and aft canvas removed, it becomes an open boat. The XO is also a speedy sports boat. At top speed, one could easily get from West Vancouver to the Gulf Islands (36 miles) in an hour. At 24 knots, it would take a little better than an hour and a half (while burning only about 21 gallons/80 litres total). I’m confident that the XO DFNDR 9 can also take any weather that can be thrown at it.

Although not designed for long cruises, the accommodation would work well for a couple or a couple and a child. The roof rack and bow and cabin storage means there’s room for all the toys and/or adventure equipment. Price, as tested was $350,000 at press time. The XO DFNDR 9 is earning an expanding niche in the sport class on the West Coast perhaps best of all, it’s a ton of