Members of the Streamkeepers Society from left to right: Jane Kivett, Janne Perrin, and Mary Baxter meet every week at the Miami River to Walk and Weed to help prevent the spread of noxious weeds in the area. image credit: Erin Knutson
The Miami River Streamkeepers Society and the Village of Harrison Hot Springs hosted a Healthy Environment Day on Monday, August 1st, 2016 from 11 AM to 3 PM in the Harrison Lake Plaza.
Harrison Hot Springs boasts more than its share of beautiful natural areas with lake, forest and river environments. Through the work of the Village, local businesses and volunteer environmental groups Harrison Hot Springs has groomed trails, maintained riparian strips and interpretive signs. No less than 3000 trees and shrubs have been installed along the river since 2006.
Keeping this environment healthy is challenging. Invasive species, high public use, domestic pets, garbage and green waste dumping all take their toll.
People were intrigued by the live turtles at the Western Painted Turtle Recovery Project booth.There was also much interest in the WildSafeBC bear hide, Miami River Streamkeepers Society’s invasive plant bouquet, the South Coast Conservation’s species at risk puzzles and Birch Grove’s native plant display. The photos show the turtle booth and Tiffany Knight with plants grown at her local Birch Grove Nursery on Striker’s Crescent, Agassiz.
Tiffany Knight of Birch Grove Nursery showed the public the beautiful choices native riparian plants offer. After the event, Birch Grove gifted the plants to the other exhibitors and, by free draw, to six members of the public.
Mike Pearson, a member of the MRSS, lead two public nature walks of the Greenway that were enjoyed by a dozen participants.
Both the Village and the Streamkeepers say “thank you” to all the exhibitors
PACIFIC SALMON FOUNDATION – COMMUNITY SALMON PROGRAM
Grant Value: $6532.00
Project Value: $29,857.00
Start Date: July 2014
End Date: Spring 2015
Objectives Achieved:
The project was undertaken by the Grade 2 and 3 students at the end of January 2015. Miami River Streamkeepers received grant money from the Pacific Salmon Foundation to help finance the project. Raising salmon in the classroom is an opportunity to teach students to understand, respect and protect freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems, and to recognize how all humans are lined to these complex environments.
Salmon fry released into Miami River May 19th 2015. Read all about it:
·
PLANTINGS
o Skoda Property planting October 7, 2013 – 4 MRSS members, 3 FVWC crew, & Martin Skoda / very rainy / 52 native shrubs installed
o October 11, 2013 – 10- “volunteer native plants”(potted & tended from Summer 2012 at Perrin’s) planted in 300 block by Janne
o April 15, 2014 – Karl Perrin donated and planted eight native shrubs in 200 & 300-block (one shrub subsequently removed & relocated by homeowner)
o June 23, 2014 – Rachel Drennan, FVWC coordinator, and Janne Perrin prepare plant list for PSF/CSP Grant Fall planting
o September 29, 2014 – plant 100 aquatic plants / MRSS members with the assistance of Karl Perrin’s Gardeners at Large Crew / purchased with PSF/CSP 2014 Grant funds
· HABITAT ENCROACHMENT
o December 9, 2013 Letter to James Weger, EFV Community Advisor re habitat destruction
o August 2014 – Letter to VHHS Bylaw Officer regarding concerns. Advised VHHS Riparian Bylaw only covers new development and to contact the Province. Conservation Officer followed up on concerns with home-owners
· DFO ADVISOR
o May 22 2014 – DFO appoints Bob Schaefer as CA for South Fraser Area & Eastern Fraser Valley, replacing James Weger
· PUBLIC EDUCATION:
o Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up September 29, 2013 – 16 people / VHHS loaned row boat for river use from Maple St. Canoe Launch to Ruth Altendorf Bridge / Laura Chappell with WildSafeBC & MRSS at plaza but too windy for display boards / 34 kg (75 lbs) trash collected / VHHS supplies bags, pickers, tables & tent / pre & post articles submitted by Janne Perrin published in Agassiz Observer September 27 & October 4th
o November 16th & 17th Booth at Fraser Valley Eagle Festival
o March 27, 2014 – large map of Miami River and large “living by water” posters laminated by Staples
o March 29, 2014 – participated in Harrison Health & Wellness Fair at Memorial Hall
o April 22, 2014 – participated in United Church Earth Day celebration
o June 2, 2014 – 7-minute PowerPoint presentation to VHHS Council / well received
o July 16, 2014 – Janne led Communities in Bloom judges in tour along the 300-block of the Greenway trail. Door hanger packages were given to judges
o September 27 2014 – Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup / MRSS hosts public cleanup of Harrison foreshore, lagoon and Miami River / article & photo published in A-H Observer prior to event/ 20 people registered / one boat and 2 kayaks worked in river / member of Harrison Yacht Club interested in participating in 2015/ 82 people visited WildSafeBC booth / 26 kg trash collected / VHHS delivered tables etc / Gardeners At Large returned materials & trash to VHHS works yard
·PACIFIC SALMON FOUNDATION / COMMUNITY SALMON PROGRAM GRANT
o January 13 to February 6, 2014 worked on an application to PSF/CSP Grant for Miami River Greenway project 2
o February 6, 2014 Submit Application
TOTAL BUDGET REQUESTED FROM PSF $8,056.50
TOTAL OTHER $/IN-KIND (Leveraging) $20,025.00
TOTAL PROJECT COST (PSF & Leveraging)$28,081.50
o OBJECTIVES (Results) for grant:
§ Restore & Enhance 1000 square metres of Greenway stream bank
§ Install a minimum of 2 interpretive signs
§ Conduct a fish survey, monitor water quality & release salmon fry from Salmonids in the Classroom Program
o Project Partners – Fraser Valley Watershed Coalition, Fraser Valley Invasive Plant Council, Village of Harrison Hot Springs, Communities In Bloom, Harrison Elementary School, Miama Place, Sts’ailes Aboriginal Rights and Title Branch, Harrison Hot Springs Preschool & Child Care, Riverwynd Strata & Friends of the Harrison Forest
o April 9, 2014 -CSP 14S 084 PSF grant $6534 awarded to MRSS / fish survey not funded, FVWC restoration crew not funded (FVWC notified us in June they’ll donate all crew services & willow whips as inkind), office supplies not funded / 3 interpretive signs funded by PSF (one to be donated by Miama Place) / Total Value of Project now estimated at $26 984
o July 7, 2014 – Stormdrain marking and Educational Door hangers along Miami River Drive with help of Harrison Hot Springs Child Care children / photos & article published in Agassiz-Harrison Observer
o July 14, 2014 – PSF/CSP grant cheque for $6 534 received
o July 16, 3014– Fall Public Planting date Monday, November 3, 2014 agreed upon by FVWC, VHHS and MRSS
o August 11, 2014 – Chiller unit for Salmon in the Classroom Project with Ms Emsley’s Class / $1 141.91 total cost including shipping / Funded by 2014 PSF/CSP grant
o August 12 Chiller Unit arrived at Chilliwack Greyhound Depot and picked up by Janne for storage at her home until fall
o August 22, 2014- 200 copies of Salmon Steward magazine arrive by post — to be given to the Harrison Elementary School for distribution
o August 29, 2014 – dialogue with VHHS, Miama Place (Martin Skoda), biologist Jill Miners, Allan Jackson & Jane Kivett of CIB on design of 4 Interpretive Signs for Greenway
o Late August / Early September – Japanese Knotweed Treatment completed by Drinkwater Environmental Services under contract to Fraser Valley Invasive Plant Council / two queries from public in response to signage
o September 26, 2014 – Janne visits Ms Emsley at HES with instructions for Salmonids in the Classroom / current classroom theme of spawning salmon / Salmon Steward magazine and Chiller Unit to be delivered soon
· NEW WEIR INSTALED VHHS
o March 28, 2014 – weir to protect sewer pipe crossing at Hot Springs Road Bridge supported by MRSS member & Biologist Ted Burns
· GRANTS TO GROUPS FROM VHHS
o November 2013 –Apply for $840.00 from Grants to Groups
o May 26, 2014 – letter from VHHS re: approved for $600 grants to groups grant / Thank you letter sent to VHHS
· WALK & WEED –
o 114 volunteer hours of Restoration area (Greenway & Cedar Ave) weeding
o September 7, 2013 to September 30, 2014 / total of 36 sessions
· WATER QUALITY TESTING (WQT), Water Quality Equipment Maintenance & Data Entry (Excel & MRSS Website)
o 26 volunteer hours
o Water Quality Testing – Nov. 24-25, 2013, May 19, 2014 & Aug.18, 2014
o Water Quality Index- Acceptable in November & May / Marginal in August
· WEBSITE
o www.miamiriverstreamkeepers.9k.com / A free site
o Webmaster Janne Perrin / 10 volunteer hours
· BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETINGS
o 9 meeting held from December 2013 to August 2014 / 49 volunteer hours
o August 8, 2014 – AGM set for October 4, 2014 at 10 AM at Riverwynd
o August 2014 – Account opened Agassiz Prospera Credit Union / Signers any 2 of Janne Perrin, Barb Dramer or Mary Baxter / no service charges, subject to annual review
o September 2014 – Bank of Montreal Account Closed as service fees instated
· HARRISON SALMON STRONGHOLD /Sts’ailes Fishers Collaboration
o March 2014 – MRSkS invited to become a member of this group / Janne attends March 7, May 7 and June 18 meeting on our behalf
o Jane Kivett, MRSS & CIB member attends September 10, 2014 “Special Introductory Session for BC MLA’s” meeting / slides of MRSS activities submitted for PowerPoint Show to delegates
· TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS RECORDED – Sept. 7 2013 to Sept. 28 2014 / 765 hours
o Value $ 12,122,00 includes work of MRSS members, partners, and public volunteers
Planting at Cedar Avenue
GREENWAY PLANTINGS |
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| Key: FVIPC-Fraser Valley Invasive Plant Council FVWC-Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition MOT-Ministry of Transport VHHS– Village of Harrison Hot Springs PSF-Pacific Salmon Foundation MRSkS-Miami River Streamkeepers Society MRD-Miami river Drive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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