Hello CBWN members! Do you have any New Year’s resolutions? We do! At CBWN we're committed to strengthening our network relationships and diving deep into all things related to water monitoring. An opportunity arose for the CBWN to re-position and align itself with the Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Collaborative to help address the monitoring priorities of both organizations. The Collaborative is developing an open source platform to allow monitoring groups to store their data in a publicly available database. The Collaborative is part of a coordinated effort to make data more accessible, of higher quality, and readily available to decision makers and communities. There are many groups throughout the Columbia Basin collecting data on water quality and quantity and it is imperative that these data are not lost. It is also critical that data is made available to those in a position to use it for water resource management, and to inform policy and determine sensitive areas in the face of climate change.
Don’t worry though, the CBWN will still be looking for tools and opportunities for you to initiate, continue, or complete projects involving mapping, restoration, and outreach and education. And though we’ve shared your successes in the past, we want to up our game in 2020 and leverage the work you’re all doing by feeding it into a broader system where it is more likely to be seen and used.
We’re excited to welcome Claire Pollock-Hall is the new coordinator for the CBWN. Don’t forget to let her know about any water or watershed-related events, workshops, webinars or gatherings you're hosting or have heard about. We'd love to help spread the word through social media and in the newsletter. We'd be happy to share your photos as well. Water sampling? Restoration work? Wildlife? Presentations? Let’s make 2020 the year we get to know each other better!
In partnership with the Selkirk Geospatial Research Centre, we are now accepting applications for the 2020 Summer Mapping program! This is an opportunity for your watershed group to work with a GIS student to create valuable maps that engage your community. Communicate complex watershed information in beautiful and easy to understand maps. For more information on the program, please see our website here.
For examples of past mapping work, please visit the SGRC site here.
Network Member Spotlight
Photo credit: Ryan Durand
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Slocan Lake Stewardship Society Rebuilding Bonanza
Congratulations to Slocan Lake Stewardship Society (SLSS) who have received three years of funding from Columbia Basin Trust’s Ecosystem Enhancement Project. The funding will be used to restore three important wetland areas along Bonanza Creek between Summit and Slocan Lakes. Additional funding obtained through the Kootenay Conservation Program will be used to conserve the Bonanza Creek Corridor's high biodiversity value, hydrological buffer zones, and wildlife corridor for travel between Valhalla Provincial Park and Goat Range Park.
For more information, head to the Slocan Lake Stewardship Society's site here.
Invasive Asian clam shells found on Shuswap Lake beach may indicate a new infestation, highlights importance of Clean-Drain-Dry.
Clam shells found on a beach in the Shuswap last fall have been identified as invasive Asian clam. At this time only dead shells have been found. “The Provincial staff have told CSISS they have not confirmed any live individuals, and indicated that monitoring will continue for the coming season” says Sue Davies, Aquatic Coordinator for the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society. However, populations of the invasive clam aren’t far off: they do exist in several lakes in the lower mainland and are widely distributed in Washington State. This is the first indication that they may have spread to Shuswap Lake.
Members of the public are asked to please report any suspected invasive species via the Provincial “Report Invasives BC” smartphone application (available for download from www.gov.bc.ca/invasive-species) and any suspected invasive zebra or quagga mussels to the Report All Poachers and Polluters hotline 1-877-952-7277.
Water monitoring program for Friends of the Lardeau River
Friends of the Lardeau River (FLR) Project Manager, Sage Raymond, has been working in the Lardeau River area for several years and has taken on the task of reviving the local watershed group, which has been extremely challenged by budget and equipment limitations, and is completely run by volunteers.
Sage has developed a 2-year water monitoring program. Participating in the STREAM eDNA project on September 16, 2019 was a great addition to FLR’s new sampling program, and provided them with invaluable assistance.
FLR sampled three water bodies in the Meadow Creek area (Mobbs Creek, Hope Creek, and Lardeau River) on September 16, 2019 together with assistance from Living Lakes Canada.
FLR has since held a community sampling day with students from a local school in Kaslo to educate and connect students to their local waterbodies.
Well done Sage for developing this exciting program, we wish you all the best and are excited to hear about the results of this monitoring program as they become available.
For more information on FLR's water monitoring program head to their page here.
Lake windermere Ambassadors - 2019 Annual Report 'The Lake Windermere Ambassadors have undergone many projects over the past eight years, and this year was no different. As Lake Windermere faces new threats, challenges, and opportunities they adapted their programming to match. In 2019 the Ambassadors engaged the community through outreach and education, monitored water quality and quantity, and built and maintained partnerships with a variety of water stewardship organizations to improve both our programming and assist in theirs' - Shannon McGinty - Program Coordinator.
For more information and to download the report click here.
Aquatic Invasive Plant Inventory 2019
The Lake Windermere Aquatic Invasive Plant Species Inventory project has been operational since 2013. The project conducts shoreline and offshore inventories to determine the presence or absence of aquatic invasive plant species. Aquatic invasive plants can be transported through a variety of ways, but one of the main vectors of introduction is through recreational pursuits using a variety of equipment, e.g. kayaks, paddle boards, motorized boats. Since Lake Windermere unquestionably receives the highest amount of boating traffic within the entire Upper Columbia or contiguous Columbia Wetlands ecosystem, ongoing diligence in monitoring the lake for the introduction of aquatic invasive plants is imperative.
For more information and to read the full report head to the Lake Windermere Ambassador's website here.
Living Lakes Canada supports Slocan River Streamkeepers project
The Slocan River Keepers Society (SRSS) have a water monitoring project for Slocan Integral Forest Cooperative (SIFCO) . The project will collect data on parameters such as specific conductivity, turbidity, temperature and stream flow in the Slocan River.
Living Lakes Canada is providing some monitoring design advice via the Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Collaborative, whose aim is to increase capacity by supporting water monitoring groups in the basin.
For more information on this collaborative project please contact Rory Gallaugher at LLC via email at rory@livinglakescanada.ca.
Living Lakes Canada Annual Report
Living Lakes Canada has released their 2018-2019 Annual Report. Click the link to meet the Living Lakes Canada team, funders and partners, gain insight into all their active programs, find links to reports, articles and more. The report covers Living Lakes Canada activity in their 2018-2019 fiscal year, from October 1, 2018 through to September 30, 2019.
Planting trees reduces long term water availability
A study on the long term effects of planting trees and water availability has found unexpected results indicating that water availability does not increase as forests age. Read more...
Jumbo Wild, forever!
After nearly 30 years of fighting for grizzly bears, of fighting for Ktunaxa rights, and of fighting for wild places, Jumbo Glacier Resort is finally dead. Today is the day we can finally say: Jumbo will stay wild. Read more...
RDKB cautions early snowpack reports
There are concerns that early season water flow projections may be inaccurate. Read more...
AI technology being used to prevent flooding in Calgary and Toronto
Researchers from York University are predicting water levels in Calgary's Bow River and Toronto's Don River using Artificial Intelligence technology to prevent flooding. Read more...
Image: bowriversolutions.com
Upcoming Events & Funding Opportunities
EVENTS
January 31, 2020 - BC The Fernie Art's Station from 6-8.30pm
Fish Initiative Workshop and Film
Brink McLean Grassland Conservation Fund: The objective of the Brink/McLean Grassland Conservation Fund is to promote research, habitat restoration and other stewardship activities that will assist in the management of the land, plants and animals of BC’s native grasslands. Deadline: All applications must be received on or before February 14, 2020 at 4:30pm.
CBT CIP/APP Funding Applications: The Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Programs (CIP/AAP) are intended to be flexible and incorporate community-based funding decisions. The programs support local projects that provide additional value to Basin communities, and that benefit the broad community and public good. Deadline: January 6 to February 28, 2020. Read more...
Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) Environment Small Grant: up to $5,000 for projects in the Basin that will strengthen environmental well-being and address: ecosystems, climate, water or environmental education. Deadline: January 30. Read more...
CBT Career Internship Program: wage funding for non-profits, businesses, local and First Nation Governments to hire college and university graduates. Deadline: Rolling intake. Read more...
CBT Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program: If you have an idea that will maintain or enhance grassland resources while meeting conservation, environment and recreation objectives, this program could help support it. This program is delivered by the Kootenay Livestock Association. Read more...
EcoAction Community Funding: new projects that engage Canadians and demonstrate measurable freshwater results. Deadline: March 3, 2020.Read more...
RBC Tech For Nature: RBC Tech for Nature is our commitment to innovation, data and technologies for our shared future. We work with partners to leverage technology and innovation capabilities to solve pressing environmental challenges. Deadline: February 3, 2020. Read more...
Vancouver Foundation - Systems Change Grants:
Systems Change Grants support projects that take action to address the root causes of pressing social, environmental or cultural issues by influencing the behaviours of populations, organizations, and institutions. Deadline: January 27, 2020. Read more...
