Our forage fish volunteers recently added 2 more sites to their list of 11 sites for monitoring Forage Fish Spawning Habitat. Our monitoring sites include beaches from Craig Bay to Yambury Rd in French Creek. The 2 new sites are on the restored beach of the Nature Trust property on Mariner Way in the Kw’a’luxw (Englishman River) Estuary. Exciting, eh?
MVIHES Volunteer and Project Leader, Shelley Goertzen, is seen in the photo to the left.
Forage fish are small fish that travel in large schools and are a food source, or ‘forage', for larger fish and marine mammals. Forage fish, including Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance and surf smelt form the cornerstone of marine food webs. They play an important role in the diets of salmon, humpback whales, porpoises, sea lions, seals, and marine birds.
While herring lay eggs 1 to 1.4 mm in size on kelp and eel grass, surf smelt and Pacific sand lance lay tiny eggs (1mm) on pebble and sand beaches just below the high-tide line - an area called the intertidal zone. It’s the surf smelt and sand lance spawning habitat we are monitoring, although we’ve only ever found sand lance eggs. Surf smelt are found further south.
Every month since 2018, MVIHES volunteers haven been visiting beaches at low tide to map spawning sites and collect habitat data along with sand samples to see if they contain eggs. Samples are collected from plots set up in the intertidal zone of established monitoring sites. The photos below show volunteers in action.
Mark Hogg lays out a sample plot with a measuring tape Mary Campbell enters habitat data digitally into a pad (what a tech savvy group!)
Nanzy Pezel collects more habitat data Mary Campbell collects a sand sample
Samples are sieved and "vortexed" to sort out the right sized sand grains on which forage fish eggs are attached. The sorted sand from each site is checked under a microscope by MABRRI for the presence of eggs and embryos. Once eggs have been identified by MABRRI, they are sent to experts in Washington State for confirmation.
So, why are we monitoring and mapping forage fish spawning habitat? One of MABRRI's project objectives is to submit data into the Pacific Salmon Foundation Marine Data Centre, allowing data availability to inform policy change. For example, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has "timing windows" which are periods when it is safe to conduct work on shorelines without damaging fish and fish habitat. The winter timing window for fish is December 1 to February 15. Our data shows that the sand lance spawning season extends into December and January when it is assumed safe for shoreline disturbance.
Last month, MABRRI reported the following sites contained suspected sand lance eggs:
Parksville Community Park Site 2 San Pareil Site 2 San Pareil Site 3 San Pareil Site 4 French Creek Marina
No, these do not include the 2 new sites but don't be disheartened. We're sure sand lance eggs will eventually show up in our samples from the newly restored beach habitat. Below is a photo of a view of eggsthrough a microscope
Many thanks to our partners at MABRRI and our Forage Fish volunteers: Brenda Riley, Catherine Watson, Gene Gapsis, Majory McFadyen, Mark Hogg, Mary Campbell, Nancy Pezel, Pat Ashton, Shelley Goertzen and Sue Wilson.
Water quality monitoring, rain garden education, planting trees, and a marine debris survey are just a few of the activities our volunteers have been up to this fall. Read on for the full story.
From October 8 to November 5, volunteers were monitoring water quality as part of the Community Watershed Monitoring Network run by the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection department at the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN). Each year stewardship groups from all over the region participate in this monitoring program which collects water quality data every Tuesday for five weeks in late summer (low flow) and five weeks during the fall flush. One MVIHES team monitors nine sites in the Kw'a'luxw (Englishman River) watershed while a second team monitors five sites on creeks in Nanoose and Lantzville. The RDN uses the data to help make decisions in land use planning. Volunteers include Martin Yeo, Brenda Riley, Kathy Miller, Liz Campbell, Jeff Allen, Larysa Bilou, Katya Kondratyuk, Adam Walker, Barb Riordan, Chris Smith .and Sue Wilson as our backup.
Between October 13 and 19, a team of volunteers collected water samples before, during, and after high rain events for the presence of 6PPD-quinone, a byproduct of tire wear that is toxic to Coho Salmon at very low concentrations. 6PPD-quinone accumulates on roads, bridges, and parking lots from where it is washed into creeks and rivers during heavy rain. The BC Conservation Foundation is running this program across Vancouver Island to identify waterways containing the toxin.
Finding none in the Kw'a'luxw River, Shelly Creek and Craig Creek, the team moved on to sampling the water coming out of the Mills Street and Carey Creek stormwater outfalls. Lethal concentrations were measured at both outfalls during the rain events which is very concerning. The Mills Street outfall flows into the Kw'a'luxw River Estuary which provides rearing habitat for salmon fry and smolts. Vegetation filters out 6PPD-quinone which emphasizes the importance of strategically placed rain gardens for treating rainwater running off roads and parking lots. The team includes Barbara Wildman-Spencer, Dick Dobler, Kathy Miller and Denis Cote.
On October 27, our Raingarden Team Leader, Bob Williams, and Terry Bajenko (photo below) were at the Fall into Gardening Conference with their awesome display for educating and encouraging the public to build raingardens. Terry has her own rain garden and shared her valuable experience with the attendees. The theme of the conference was preparing gardens for climate change. Rain gardens are an important component to mitigating the impacts of climate change on our salmon streams. Watch our short video on the Parksville Firehall Rain Garden to learn more.
On November 13, volunteers worked with Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in planting an old gravel pit beside the Side Channel in the Englishman River Regional Park. The gravel pit was a low spot where salmon spawners became stranded during high flows. DFO filled in the pit, and volunteers along with three DFO folks planted trees and shrubs. It was tough digging through the cobble encountered under about 8 inches of ameliorated soil (sand mixed with humus and straw), but they finished in two and a half hours. Volunteers included Yana Maltais, Mark Hogg, Nancy Pezel, Chris Smith, Tom Whitfield, Leonard Neufeld, and Tim Popoff.
Throughout November, the Snaw-naw-as First Nation have been planting 2000 trees and shrubs along the section of Shelly Creek we restored in 2021 and 2022. Volunteers Heather and David Ranson, Shelley Perry, Nancy Pezel and Barb Riordan helped out. The challenge with this site is the heavy clay soil that clings to your boots and shovel, adding about 20 lbs of dead-weight (“Groan, I’m to old for this….”). But this soil provides some mighty fine growing conditions, and the trees and shrubs planted 2 years ago by the Snaw-naw-as and MVIHES are doing great. This section of creek will have a very robust riparian zone.
Check out the growth leader on this Sitka spruce (Steven Moore, consultant) Ron Fraser with salmonberry shrubs
Derrick Bob Logan Bob
Spawning Coho Salmon have been observed during the planting, along with a big Cutthroat Trout and a Chum Salmon. We’ve re-connected our antenna array in Shelly Creek which tracks fish with PIT tags. We partner with the BC Conservation Foundation on this project. So far, four Cutthroat Trout that were tagged in the watershed this spring have been detected in Shelly Creek: two juveniles originating from Shelly Creek, one juvenile that ventured all the way from Centre Creek, and the fourth trout was 22.5 cm (almost 9 inches) long when it was tagged in the Side Channel in the Englishman River Regional Park. Huh, they do like to wander. None of the Coho spawning in the creek so far had tags but it's early days. Volunteers are Denis Cote, Rick Walz, Shelley Goertzen, Chris Smith, Maggie Estok, Dick Dobler and Barb Riordan. Stay tuned for updates.
Antenna array inside PVC pipe Downloading data logger
On November 14, a Marine Debris Survey, where we look for macro and microplastics, was conducted on Rathtrevor Beach by our team: Martin Yeo, Yana Maltais, Kathy Miller, Gene Gapsis, Bob Williams, and Barb Riordan. The Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute is running this program with several stewardship groups in the region and provides training, equipment and entering of our data into a global database. This is the fourth survey we've done this year at Ratthtrevor and the first time we've found a microplastic. One measely teeny piece which is good news. Very few macroplastics were found on the beach. Debris also includes paper products, metals and styrofoam.
Microplastic in red circle Some of the marine debris
You may have already seen this article in the PQB News.
Biologist Riordan dedicated to protecting waterways and saving salmon CLIMATE HUGS: PQB resident passionate, knowledgeable about protecting natural water systems Karen Hodgson Nov 5, 2024 10:39 PM
Climate Hugs showcases locals who are involved in mitigating the effects of climate change. This month, Communities Protecting our Coast proudly celebrates Oceanside resident Barb Riordan.
Riordan is a committed biologist, and president of the Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society. After working as a biologist in Ontario and mainland B.C. for years, Riordan now inspires others to wade into our local rivers to monitor, assess and enhance waterways, river banks, salmon populations, and the chain of life that depends on water. She says we "need healthy watersheds in order to sustain salmon. When you take care of salmon and their habitat you take care of a myriad of species including us."
Riordan's work alongside her crew of about 80 MVIHES volunteers has included water sampling, counting smolts migrating into the Kw'a'luxw (Englishman River) on their way to the sea, monitoring forage fish salmon feed on, and restoration of Shelly Creek to provide spawning and rearing habitat for salmon.
She is passionate and knowledgeable about protecting our natural water systems.
"Climate change and development have contributed to an overflow of water rushing through Shelly Creek, eroding banks in the winter and leaving drought in the summer," she said, adding in some areas storm drains pour unnatural volumes of water from roofs, asphalt and concrete at an accelerated rate, directly into creeks, rivers and the ocean. "In nature 80% of rainwater is absorbed into the ground and then moves slowly through water tables that feed creeks and rivers in summer."
She is concerned that excess water runoff will worsen with climate change and if development practices aren't adjusted.
"One of our big accomplishments," Riordan said, "is that we widened the lower section of Shelly Creek, removing about 40 dump truck loads of sediment to make room for increased water volumes and fish habitat."
She is thrilled that now "there are Coho and we think Sea-run Cutthroat Trout spawning in Shelly Creek."
Riordan added, "tree canopies reduce evaporation and keep water temperature down. With rising temperatures, a two-to-three-degree water temperature change can mean the difference between life and death for salmon."
She and MVIHES volunteers, (sometimes in partnership with other streamkeepers or First Nations groups like the Snaw-naw-as), plant trees and shrubs along stream beds. Vegetation holds rain and slowly releases it, she said.
Riordan noted "like many, I wonder what kind of world we'll leave for our children and grandchildren?" She worries about microplastics in salmon and our ocean and has learned "80 per cent of that plastic comes from storm water drains."
To learn more or get involved in this important work, head to the MVIHES website at mvihes.bc.ca. In appreciation of Barb's work, Nanoose Bay Lions Club will make a donation of $50 to MVIHES on her behalf.
What Can You Do About Stormwater?
If this article has made you wonder if there is something you can do at home to help reduce the impact of stormwater drains on salmon habitat, you're in luck.
One of the simplest things to do is to have a look at the downspouts on your house. Do they go straight into the ground or out on your lawn? If they go straight into the ground it means they are connected to a pipe that sends the rain off your roof into a stormwater drain that most likely empties into a creek, river, or ocean. Consider getting an extension for a couple of your downspouts that will direct the water from your eavestroughs onto your lawn (not recommended if your house is near a cliff edge). This will allow rainwater to percolate into the ground instead of rushing into a creek, and adds to the groundwater that feeds creeks and rivers in the summer. You might also be surprised by how much better your trees do in the summer.
Another option is building a raingarden. Rain gardens are landscape features that are designed to collect rainwater runoff from impervious surfaces such as roofs and driveways. They are simply depressed garden spaces that hold runoff and allow it to infiltrate into the soils. You can read about raingardens here.
And finally, keep in mind that when we wash our car with a cleaning product in the driveway, have an oil leak, or spray pesticides on our lawn, the rain will wash that into a stormdrain in the street and straight into a creek or river.
From October 8 to November 5, volunteers were monitoring water quality as part of the 
On November 14, a Marine Debris Survey, where we look for macro and microplastics, was conducted on Rathtrevor Beach by our team: Martin Yeo, Yana Maltais, Kathy Miller, Gene Gapsis, Bob Williams, and Barb Riordan. The Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute is running this program with several stewardship groups in the region and provides training, equipment and entering of our data into a global database. This is the fourth survey we've done this year at Ratthtrevor and the first time we've found a 
