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Contents - 2011

Newsletter, March 2011

The AGM business will include:

• The Directors’ Report, Treasurer’s Report, Committee Reports
• Election of Directors

LandKeepers Program

In many ways the start of the Denman Conservancy Landskeeper Program started over two decades ago. A meeting was called to talk about saving a tract of land and this meeting lead to other meetings which then channelled into a assortment of activities; letters were written; research was done; phone calls were made; volunteers were lined up; cakes were baked; funds were collected; networking began; legal issues took root; regular meetings were set up; meetings at the hall ensued; fundraising committees were struck; issues splashed over into the press; letters were written; flurries of phone calls made to government; quick meeting convened; options were identified; strategies articulated; meetings in Victoria booked where “maybes” were promised; time started to pile up; strategy meetings were called; fundraising auctions organized – “Yes!, Bateman is coming”; more research undertaken; AGM’s came and went; fundraising continued; a garden tour was produced; Things were looking up when problems cropped up; setbacks occurred; a flurry of meeting ensued; more committees were formed; letter were written; phone calls were made; a meeting with the assistant to the assistant to the Deputy Minister was held; progress was made; The minister was replaced and it was back to square one; emergency meetings held; information tables set up; letter writing campaigns sustained; many more pressing projects cropped up; new volunteers recruited; more fund raising; more grant applications; more AGM’s came and went; garden tour anniversaries were celebrated. The new minister was sympathetic; regular meetings got longer; more volunteers recruited; e-mailing arrived; attachments were sent; more meetings; new legal tools arose; new legal problems addressed; grant writing; websites took hold; really big legal problems elbowed in; writs were issued; more fundraising; more meetings. Before you knew it the eighties slipped into the nineties and a decade of the new millennium had transpired but like Sisyphus, pushing that rock up the hill only to have it roll down again, the DCA and all it’s volunteers persevered.

What a wild and strange journey it was and look how much there is to show for it – Inner Island Nature Reserve, Winter Wren Wood, Lindsay Dickson Nature Reserve, Morrison March, and The Settlement Lands set aside for conservation; Conservation Covenants on Lindsay Dickson, Komas Bluffs, Railway Grade Marsh; Morrison Marsh and Danes Creek North. All of these lands, each distinct and unique are wonderfully special and are significant not only to Denman Island’s ecology but also play a part in the well-being of the surrounding West Coast ecologies.

All that work has given rise to the Denman Conservancy Landskeepers Program. With the successes of the past come new responsibilities and once again we must rely on ourselves to meet those responsibilities. In most ways the lands take care of themselves but a certain amount of human involvement is necessary to manage the lands and fulfill the obligations the DCA has taken on. Assistance is needed for the monitoring and maintenance tasks required to keep these island properties’ flora and fauna healthy. Inspired by the very successful "Streamkeepers" program that trains people to help conservation organizations manage streams and rivers around the province, the "Landkeepers" program is designed to train volunteers of all ages to help DCA manage the properties under its care, namely Winter Wren Wood, Central Park, the Settlement Lands and the three Nature Reserves that DCA manages under contract for the Islands Trust Fund.

As spring approaches and the natural world begins to wake up from its winter slumber, the Landskeepers Program will begin hands-on training of the Landskeeper volunteers. To prepare for this, on Sunday March 20th, at 9:30 am an orientation assembly will be held at the Old School. Volunteers will be able to meet each other as well as some of the folks that will be providing the training. We will review overall goals and objectives of the project, and intend to provide as much information as possible about how we hope achieve them. The series of workshops and field exercises designed to train interested individuals to become Landkeepers or Land Stewards will be introduced. Time lines and job descriptions will be explained. Implementation and continuity of the Landkeepers project will be broached at this assembly in order to be worked on in the coming months.

The first of the series of workshops will take place on Sunday March 27th and will focus on the use of GPS instruments.

The Landkeepers Project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada, provided through the Department of the Environment.

Central Park Report

The recent snowfalls on Denman provided evidence of lots of use of the trails in Central Park by hikers and at least one snowshoe-er. Each time we visit the park we are encouraged to see signs that mother nature is working hard at healing the landscape. The trees are really taking off in some areas. We continue to need to do some limbing and thinning along the trail sides as the trees keep on growing.

It took groups of volunteers about three work bees to develop the newest path in the park. “Long Log Path” links Beaufort View Path with Pickles Road Trail – and was so named because of the long old Douglas Fir log that forms part of the path. There are still a few small alder stumps here and there but this new path is now very usable and enjoyable for walkers.

In the fall we improved the emergency vehicle access route first by cutting back some of the young alders that were leaning into Alder Trail and then by having some Denman gravel spread on this trail near the entrance off North Central Road. While we hope never to need to have a fire truck enter the park we thought it wise to improve the deeply rutted part of this trail. Having this work done also made this route safer for use by equestrians, walkers, and bicyclists.

In the spring of 2010 we had a couple of work bees to clean up existing trails – cutting back saplings and branches growing into the pathways. We focused on Pickles Road Trail, Alder Trail, and Graveyard Marsh Path. A bit later a volunteer tackled the bracken on Trumpeter Trail. This spring we will organize some work parties to do some limbing and trail repairs in particular on Swale Trail and Beaufort View Path, as well as a few other spots. A tree took out part of the railing on the boardwalk and this is something that will be repaired properly soon.

In late summer we installed a closed-in map case and a bulletin board at the main entry kiosk. We will be able to change maps occasionally as things change, and also have an area for posting Central Park and other DCA notices.

We encourage everyone to visit Central Park. Please remember that the work of developing and maintaining the trails is done by volunteers. If you are interested in helping out at future work bees give Annie (2762) or Denise (1608) a call.

Thanks very much to all the volunteers whose tremendous efforts have helped to make Central Park a great place to get out for a walk. And thanks to all the people who visit Central park and make our work worthwhile.

Fundraising Report

Many of you received our letter asking for donations back in November, and once again the generosity of Denmanites showed in the response. To date, about $17,000 has been donated. And some donations have come off island, from visitors who became members while they were here. While not a record-setting amount, this is a remarkable result in a year when most of us see our daily costs on the rise.

Sometimes the cost of fundraising becomes an issue. In the case of DCA, our costs are about 5% of the donations to date, mostly for postal costs. That percentage will reduce as other donations come in, as usual, over the next several months, since our costs are already paid.. You may be familiar with more prominent organizations that expend 30% or more in fundraising costs.

Bequests to DCA are another way to support your interest in conservation issues. Financial advisors would be best qualified to consider how a bequest might benefit an estate as well as conservation on Denman. DCA Board members are available to discuss these issues at your request.

Denman Conservancy Association

Annual General Meeting

Monday March 28th, 7.30 pm DCA Room, Old School

Newsletter, October 2011

Railway Grade Marsh - Covenant Area

TThis marsh is a two kilometre long wetland at the northern end of Denman Island. It drains out under Northwest Road just south of Danes Road, the new road to The Point and the stream flows out to Henry Bay. Denman Conservancy holds a conservation covenant on the Marsh. There is a long history behind this that can be read in our archives at A Case History
Denman Conservancy Association v 4064 Investments Ltd. www.denmanconservancy.org

The covenant area is all within the new Provincial Park and the northern boundary of the covenant area has become the north boundary of the Park. The railway grade itself defines the south edge of the covenant area. There is a public walking trail that follows the railway grade from Northwest Road until it connects with the old logging road network in the new Park area. This is a pleasant sunny walk at any time of year.

The Taylor's checkerspot butterfly, an endangered species with its only known Canadian breeding sites on Denman Island, may be seen along the trail in May and early June. Beavers have built a dam at the north end of the Railway Marsh and from 2007 to the present have maintained this structure which is essential for maintaining open water in the marsh year round. In 2006 and 2007, when the beavers were apparently absent, the marsh almost dried out in summer. This beaver pond supports a rich ecosystem and in winter attracts a handful of Trumpeter swans which hang around for several weeks. The trail is an excellent place to observe these majestic birds. The swans and a diversity of ducks attract Bald eagles (see photo). As many as 50 eagles have been observed adjacent to Railway Marsh at one time.

This year, DCA’s Land Manager, Andrew Fyson, has updated the baseline survey of the covenant area, recording the changes that have occurred as the vegetation recovers from logging.

In addition to counting trees, Andrew found a total of more than 160 species of plant (flowering plants, ferns and conifers) including 15 species of sedge. He also observed mink, beaver, a Black bear and a diversity of birds including Tree swallows and House wrens which both nest in the snags at the north end of the marsh.

South of Railway Marsh, after a pleasant walk through a narrow valley is another extensive wetland, Eagle marsh. This is a sedge marsh with no open water. Towards the south end of this marsh, extensive patches of the beautiful and fragrant Labrador tea (actually a relative of rhododendrons) may be seen from the trail.

Under the terms of the covenant DCA is entitled to manage the covenant area. A draft Management Plan will be prepared by DCA this winter and offered for public discussion. The Management Plan must then be approved by BC Parks.

Denman and Hornby Nature Vol. 1
Mike Yip’s Beautiful New Book

Nature photographer and newspaper columnist Mike Yip has just released his latest book and this time we’re in it!

Denman and Hornby Nature volume 1 is a feast of fabulous full colour photographs and engaging text about our two favourite islands. Mike begins the book with a look at our human communities and our efforts to protect the natural beauty of the islands. It hasn’t been easy. Mike writes that in 2001 the Canadian Wildlife Service found that Denman had lost 49.3% of its existing sensitive ecosystems in the previous decade, largely the result of industrial logging in the late ‘90s.

This book, however, does not dwell on the damage: it celebrates what we have. And what we have is magnificent! This book overflows with Mike’s lush photographs of forests, seascapes, birds and wildflowers. It is augmented with portraits of undersea creatures by Hornby’s Amanda Zielinski and a butterfly supplement by our own Jenny Balke.

The most amazing thing of all is that Mike is generously letting our local Conservancies sell the books as a fundraiser. Here on Denman $5 from each $25 book goes to the DCA. Thank you, Mike! Abraxas Books has very generously offered to sell the books for the DCA in their store for a limited time. The price is the same, $25, cash or cheque made out to the Denman Conservancy Association. This book makes a great gift!

You can also get your book at the Kaffee Klatch Bistro on Monday October 24 at 10 am and meet Mike, too. Need more information? Call me—Susan-Marie Yoshihara at 250 335-0253.

Annual Fundraising Letter

Soon the Fundraising committee will be mailing out our annual letter. We ask you to help us continue to do our work by donating to the Denman Conservancy Association. We are a registered charity and issue tax receipts and memberships for donations of $10 and over. Donations help us cover our on-going expenses including monitoring and managing Central Park, Winter Wren Wood, three Nature Reserves, the Settlement Lands and numerous Conservation Covenants. DCA also contributes funds to activities such as Landkeepers.

Once Upon a Time at Railway Grade Marsh

This is the only photo we know of that shows a railway locomotive logging on Denman Island. If anyone has more such pictures in their collection or family album we would love to hear from them.

LANDKEEPERS, MONITORING AND BEYOND

A quick reminder of what the Landkeepers Program is. Over the years the DCA has had great success in acquiring lands for conservation The Landkeepers Program has the aim of integrating more members of the Denman community into the ongoing work of monitoring and maintaining the lands under the DCA’s stewardship.

When asked what it is about the Landkeepers Program that appealed to them one of the volunteer Landkeepers replied, “I just like being out in nature. This program gets me out there.” There was a murmur of agreement from many of the other volunteers present at that Assembly. While this is certainly one of the perks of being a Landkeeper it is not the only one. Through the summer months the aim of the program was to familiarize the volunteers with the diverse assortment of properties owned or managed by the DCA in preparation for monitoring.

Guided excursions by working professionals into the lands have not only taken us out into nature but also provided background on the flora, fauna and landscape considerations found there. For example, did you know that the River Otters found on Denman Island’s foreshore have numerous dens and can’t survive unless they find fresh water to wash off the salt left by seawater on their pelts? So they have dens in the Lindsay Dickson Nature Reserve but only in those fall and winter months when the rains create the ephemeral creeks and ponds found in the Reserve and, as these dry out, they move to other dens near sources of fresh water.

In the coming weeks excursions into the Morrison Marsh Nature Reserve will take place. The format for these excursions will mimic monitoring functions with the aim not only of familiarizing Landkeepers with the Reserve but also providing training in monitoring practices.

DCA is also beginning to form Property Committees for some of the lands. If you are interested in knowing more or in joining the Landkeepers Program contact Juan Barker @ 335-2401 or email him at juan@island.net

The Landkeepers Project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada, provided through the Department of the Environment.

Thanks to Stacey

The Board has accepted, with regret, the resignation of Stacey Armstrong. Stacey has served ably as Secretary of DCA since April 2009. Thank you Stacey for your contribution. We will miss your smiling face and crisp minutes.

And so…
If any Denman Resident is interested on joining the Board (not necessarily to be secretary) they should talk to any one of the existing Board members.

2011 DCA Board members
Jenny Balke
Doug Bell
Annie Corddry
David Critchley - - - Co-Chair
John Dillon
Patrick Fawkes
DD Fuchs - - - - Treasurer
Peter Karsten
John Millen
J Thornton - - - - Co-Chair
Susan-Marie Yoshihara

DCA Structure Review
The Board recognizes that the work of DCA has changed and increased with the additional land under its management. An internal review is now underway to see what changes could be made to share the work more equitably and ensure the Society meets its obligations.

Opening Morning Beach Stairway

On Saturday afternoon, October 15, more than 50 people gathered in beautiful sunshine at the crest of the Komas Bluff to celebrate the opening of the new access to the northeast beaches of Denman Island.

Peter Karsten, Chair of the DIRA Parks Committee at the opening,
thanking the many contributors to the success of the project.
photo by John Millen

DCA wishes to add its congratulations and commendation to that of many others. Good work Parks Committee (of DIRA) and Regional District. And thanks to Bente and Henning Nielsen who designed their subdivision at The Point to accommodate the Park

The new Park and stairway provides safe public access to the beach below Komas Bluff and the low-tide walk to Tree Island. DCA’s annual walk to view the wildflowers each May on Tree Island will change!

Trying out the new stairway to the beach.
photo by John Millen

New DCA Covenant Co-ordinator

DCA has contracted with Patti Willis to provide services related to current and future DCA conservation covenants. This work is to ensure that obligations set out in the covenants are met by both the covenant holder (DCA) and the owner of the covenanted land.

Patti's job is to cover the legal responsibilities of our covenant management, thus freeing DCA Land Manager Andrew Fyson to do more on-the-ground work.

The Komas Bluff Conservation Covenant covers the waterfront cliff area of several of the lots in the new subdivision at The Point as well as that of the extensive Northlands to the south. With the existing lots at The Point and the anticipated Northlands lots there will be many new owners of covenanted land on Denman.

Short Notes:

DCA and the new Provincial Park
DCA is commencing joint discussions with the DIRA Parks Committee and BC Provincial Parks as to how our various interests can be addressed by the Province as it starts to manage the new Park lands.

DIMS cemetery: one more catch
While DCA and Denman Island Memorial Society are almost ready to complete the transfer of the proposed Natural Burial Cemetery land to DIMS another complication has arisen. Compliance Coal owns the sub-surface mineral rights to Central Park land. DIMS therefore has requested an undertaking from them to ensure there will never be surface disturbance of the proposed cemetery land.

A reminder: Central Park is good for winter walks
The wide trails and sunny spaces of DCA’s Central Park make good conditions for walks in Fall and Winter. The view from Beaufort Vista path is always worth checking out, but is especially rewarding when there is snow on the Beaufort Range. There has to be something good to say about a recovering clearcut!

Contributors to this Newsletter:
Andrew Fyson, John Millen, Susan-Marie Yoshihara, Juan Barker, J Thornton.

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