Society News for the Knowing Community

January – February 2011 1

Happy New Year from Peninsula Streams Society! We hope you had a restful and enjoyable holiday season. We have many exciting projects on the go this year and that translates to many exciting opportunities to volunteer. Whether you’re interested in collecting data for our water quality sampling programs, helping us fundraise, or imparting your knowledge to keen youngsters through our environmental education programs, we would be happy to work with you to find a suitable position. Read on for project updates and for chances to volunteer. We hope to see you out there! – Francesca, Stewardship Coordinator

Tod Creek Watershed – (submitted by Mary Haig Brown) Friends of Tod Creek Watershed (FoTCW) have a number of projects on the go. In the headwaters, we are proposing to repair an old earthen dam. In return, the water license holder will donate 20 acre­feet of water for conservation purposes. On January 8 th , PSS, volunteers and contractors (pictured right) went up to the reservoir to plan, survey and measure for the dam repair. The Tod Creek Flats project is ready for detailed design drawings, funding dependent. http://todcreek.rd123.ca/

Downstream, by Prospect Lake, FoTCW have been working with Saanich Parks along Tod Creek to restore the riparian area. Saanich Parks removed the invasive yellow willow and replanting is planned for the spring.

Last November, a very successful ivy pull was held at the end of Eastlake Road. Under the auspices of the Invasive Plant Council of BC, 22 volunteers gathered to remove ivy. More removal is planned, as well as planting of native species to restore this lake access area to its natural state.

Hagan/KENNES Creek – We will continue our restoration of this creek by constructing fencing to formally designate the riparian area as a protected zone.

Tetayut (Sandhill) Creek – This year, we will be continuing our work at Adam Kerr Park (on Central Saanich Road and Keating X Road) with the construction of two new stormwater detention ponds/wetlands and with restoration of parts of the creek.

Tseycum Creek – In mid­December, PSS and volunteers performed water quality testing at 14 sites on Tseycum Creek. In addition, four water samples were collected and submitted for fecal coliform analysis. We hope to be contracted by the District of North Saanich to continue this water quality analysis, similar to our contract for water quality on Hagan/Graham Creeks with the District of Central Saanich.

Peninsula Streams Society Newsletter January – February 2011

Did you know: "Tseycum" is the anglicised version of WSIKEM, the local First Nation name for the area, meaning "place of clay".

Society News for the Knowing Community

January – February 2011 2

2 nd Annual Seahorses Dinner/Silent Auction Fundraiser – Seahorses Café owner Sandi Harte has again generously offered the café as venue for a Peninsula Streams fundraiser. The dinner and silent auction will be held on Thursday February 24 th , with social hour from 5:30­6:30, and dinner starting at 6:30pm. Bids for the silent auction items will be accepted in the week leading up to the dinner (more information re: silent auction items will be sent out in an email to our membership).

Chalet (Tatlow) Creek – Low summer­time flow is one of the major problems facing Chalet Creek and a healthy salmon population. To solve this problem, Peninsula Streams, in partnership with the District of North Saanich, is planning to utilize existing/newly dug water wells to pump water into the creek so that the salmon are able to survive and travel to and from the ocean. Some funding has been secured from Vancity for this initiative.

Creatures of Habitat –We are gearing up for our 3 rd annual Gr. 6 Creatures program! We are securing funding, setting the event dates, meeting with our planning committee, and getting excited about the fun and educational days to come in April! If you’d like to be a part of the planning committee, or are interested in volunteering at the schools in April, please contact Francesca at 363­6480.

Peninsula Streams is powered by its great volunteer base. We would not be able to do many of our activities without their time, dedication, skills, enthusiasm and plain hard work. So, thank you to our volunteers for their – Your! – time and effort, we could not do it without you!

This month we’d like to shine the spotlight on our wonderful Board of Directors. They donate their time to help with the important PSS behind­the­scenes work: decision­making, fundraising, etc. This year’s Board is made up of: Denis Coupland, Bob Drury, Marjorie Garside, Mary Haig­Brown, Bruce Hardy, Newton Hockey, Sheila Irving, David Lawrie, Dave Stephen, Jack Thornburgh and Ryan Windsor. Thank you Everyone for your commitment to PSS!

Yes – I support Peninsula Streams Society! I’d like to contribute: $50 $100 $250 $500 Other __________ Name: _________________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________ City:_________________ Province: _______________

Postal Code: ______________ Phone: ________________ Email: ___________________________

Please make cheque payable to: Peninsula Streams Society, 9860 West Saanich Road, North Saanich BC, V8L 4B2

I prefer my donation to remain anonymous. Please send me a tax receipt. Thank you for your generous support!

Contact us: h2o@peninsulastreams.org (250) 363 6480 www.PeninsulaStreams.org

Society News for the Knowing Community

January – February 2011 3

• Become a Member. An annual membership is only $5, and entitles you to vote at our AGM. Proceeds go toward offsetting our volunteer insurance costs.

• Volunteer on our Public Display Committee This group attends public events, markets etc. to raise the profile of PSS, hand out informational pamphlets, sign up new members, etc.

• Shop at Thrifty Foods and use our pre­ programmed Smile Card. Thrifty Foods donates 5% of your bill to our education programs and it doesn’t affect the new “club Thrifty” program. Please remember us at the till; it doesn’t cost you a penny to support us! If you would like a smile card or one to give to your friends, please contact Francesca at 250.363.6480.

• Donate on our website through

Canada Helps, a secure online donation system. You can use the “Donate Now” button on the website to securely and electronically donate to the society. You will then receive a charitable receipt for income tax purposes.

• Volunteer on our Fundraising Committee Fundraising to support our programs is an ongoing project for us and we are always interested in your ideas and assistance. Introductions to businesses are particularly appreciated.

We would like to shine the spotlight on our sponsor Russell Nursery to thank them for their support through the donation of plants and

planting materials for the last couple years. We are thankful for your support!

Chalet Creek

Tseycum Creek

TenTen Creek

Reay Creek

Tetayut Creek

Hagan Creek

Noble Creek

Tod Creek

Graham Creek

Blue Heron Creek

Chalet Creek

Tseycum Creek

TenTen Creek

Reay Creek

Tetayut Creek

Hagan Creek

Noble Creek

Tod Creek

Graham Creek

Blue Heron Creek

Society News for the Knowing Community

January – February 2011 4

We would like to thank Peninsula Streams Society’s sponsors and donors: Bodine Family Mr. J. Thornburgh Peninsula Co­op Bowker Family Mr. P. Chandler Peninsula Rock Products Canoe Cove Marina Mr. P. Noel Port Sidney Marina Clace Holdings (Market on Yates) Mrs. A. Finall Rhys Davis Ltd. Coast Capital Savings Mrs. G. Bruce RIT Mineral Corp Custom Yacht Mrs. M. Earnshaw Russell Nursery Dr. A. Marsh Mrs. M. Garside Several Skills Production Dr. J. Clearihue Mrs. M. Haig­Brown Sherwood Marine Centre Drillwell Enterprises Ltd. Mrs. S. Guy Slegg Construction Materials Ltd. Hardy Family Mrs. S. Irving Thrifty Foods Judith Cullington & Associates Ms. A. Ip Trendsitions Strategy Management LGL Ltd. Ms. A. Johnson Tru­Value Foods – Brentwood Bay Mark Hobson Ms. A. Scoones Vancity Credit Union Michell Excavating Ltd. Ms. Anissa Ip Victoria Airport Authority Mr. B. Drury Ms. Anne Waterhouse Village Gallery Ltd. Mr. C. Mearnes Ms. D. Chown Westport Marina Mr. G.B. Davidson NSERC Note: Due to space limitations, only current sponsors and donors listed.

Foundations, Associations, & Governments: BC Ministry of Advanced Education Haig­Brown Fly Fishing Association Canada Helps Pacific Salmon Foundation Capital Regional District Royal Bank – Blue Water Fund

CRD Environment ­ Stormwaters, Harbours and Watersheds Program Sidney Anglers Association Dee M. Bailin Family Fund Sidney Lions Club District of Central Saanich TD Friends of the Environment District of North Saanich Town of Sidney District of Saanich Tsawout First Nation Environment Canada United Way

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Victoria Foundation – Environment, Woodsome, Oolichan, Alistair S. Thomson, Col. R.O. Bull and Peninsula Foundation Society Funds

Contact us at: Peninsula Streams Society Institute of Ocean Sciences 9860 W. Saanich Road North Saanich, B.C. V8L 4B2

Ian D. Bruce, Executive Coordinator 250.363.6596 Ian.Bruce@dfo­mpo.gc.ca Francesca Loro, Stewardship Coordinator 250.363.6480 Francesca.Loro@dfo­mpo.gc.ca

Check out our websites for updates at www.PeninsulaStreams.org and www.CreaturesofHabitat.ca/

Follow us on Facebook…search for ‘Peninsula Streams Society’ or ‘Creatures of Habitat’ to find us.

The Peninsula Streams Society newsletter is published up to six times per 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. Please contact Francesca.