Projects

Throughout the contract we participate in a number of different projects. Below are some of the projects to date.

Storm Drain Marking Program

This program was developed to educate children about the hazardous effects of storm drain pollution, and to get them involved and interested in preventing pollution and preserving nature. On October 21, 1998, the Esquimalt Dye Test Team went to do the Storm Drain Marking Program with students from a grades 3 and 4 class at Braefoot Elementary, and also to Margret Jenkins Elementary on November 3rd, 1998, with students in a grade 6 class. During the presentation we talked about non-point source pollution, what kinds of liquids cannot be put down storm drains, where storm drains drain to and where to take harmful substances to be recycled. After our presentation each team member went with a group of children and together painted yellow fish beside storm drains near the schools. The team enjoyed this project very much. While interacting with the children we found them to be very curious about the subject and eager to help and get involved.

Stream Keepers

On October 26 -28 all three VOLWS teams took a course called Stream Keepers. The course taught us how to assess and, if necessary, restore a stream. It was taught by Kathy Reimer, a biologist from Salt Spring Island, who took us to a section of Craigflower Creek where we learned how to survey a portion of a stream, determine the water quality and survey the different organisms in the stream. All of these help assess the health of the stream. We also learned about different restoration tecniques including streamside planting and livestock fencing, bank restoration and stream channel improvement. At the end of the course there is a Stream Keepers field project (which our team has yet to do) that has to be completed before receiving a Stream Keepers certificate.

Goldstream Hatchery

On November 2nd and 3rd our team traveled to the Goldstream Hatchery. There we aided in the sorting, transferring, clipping and tagging of fish. Some of us clipped the fish by cutting off a small fin for identification reasons. This process lets the hatchery keep count of how many hatchery fish are caught annually. The other form of identification was the insertion of a metal pin in the snout/nose of the fish, to further aid in the identification. We really enjoyed helping out at the hatchery, and learning more about fish and their lifecycle.

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Email: volws@salishsea.ca