Final Report of the

Comox Valley Salmon Stream

Stewardship Project
HCTF Project # 1-166

Prepared by
Comox Valley
PROJECT WATERSHED
Society

"This project was funded by the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund. The Trust Fund was created by an
act of the legislature to preserve, restore and enhance key areas of habitat for fish and wildlife
throughout British Columbia. It is supported primarily by surcharges on angling, hunting, trapping and
guide-outfitting licences. Voluntary contributions, court awards and sale of educational materials
provide additional revenue. For further information, check the Trust Fund website at www.hctf.ca"
 2004 Habitat Conservation Trust Fund Grant Final Report, Project # 1-166
Comox Valley Project Watershed Society

1. PROJECT NAME: Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project

2. HCTF PROJECT FILE #: 1-166
3. TYPE OF REPORT: Final
4. FISCAL YEAR 2004-2005
5. SITE DESCRIPTION
The Project area focus was the Comox Valley on the central east coast of Vancouver Island, as
illustrated below in Figure 1. This area encompasses: the City of Courtenay, the Town of
Comox, the Village of Cumberland, and Rural Areas A, B, and C of the Regional District of
Comox Strathcona (RDCS). It is within the Comox Valley Electoral Area 111, and the Ministry of
Environment, Lands and Parks Vancouver Island Region 1-6, in the Nanaimo Lowland of the
Georgia Depression Ecoregion. These areas are located within the Coastal Western Hemlock
biogeoclimatic zone. Appendix A depicts the project area.

Determining the location of our mapping and

inventory projects and follow up landowner
contact activities was an adaptive process,
responsive to the needs of the community.
Comox
Valley Due to a need for flexibility the list of streams
Vancouver Island and wetlands that required treatment
expanded with the continuation of the
project. The sites varied and covered a full
range of salmonid habitats namely: streams,
lakes, wetlands, riparian, estuary, coastal,
and upland watershed areas. The majority of
the watercourses in the project drain into
Baynes Sound.
Figure 1. Vancouver Island map showing
location of Comox Valley

6. PROJECT OVERVIEW
A) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Several areas of the Comox valley are rapidly urbanizing or are being intensely harvested for
timber. There is a critical need to protect fish habitats and other sensitive ecosystems from
degradation during upland and foreshore industrial and residential development. There are well
over 50 salmon streams in the area. Much of the endangered salmon spawning and rearing
habitat is held in private ownership.

The Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project was conducted between late 1999 and
early 2005 as a major component of the ‘Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program’ operated by
Comox Valley Project Watershed Society. The Program has focused on stewardship of sensitive
fish and wildlife habitat on private land in the Comox Valley. The ultimate objective of the
projects, such as the Comox Valley salmon Streams Stewardship Project was, in partnership
with local government agencies, landowners and organized stewardship groups, the protection
of sensitive habitats through improved community planning and development.

B) ISSUE - Rapid urban growth, intense timber harvesting and inadequate mapping and
inventory information for sensitive habitats. Between 1991 and 1996, the City of Courtenay

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grew 48% to a current population of 20,000 residents. Throughout the Regional District the
growth rates were also high. From 1992 to 1996 the rural communities of Merville and Royston
grew a staggering 74% each. As a result of this rapid growth, inadequate planning and
protection of sensitive habitats has occurred during land development and fish habitats,
sensitive ecosystems, and other watershed values are being degraded and/or threatened.

Rapid urbanization in lowland and foreshore areas as well as intensive timber harvesting in
upland areas is threatening to impact entire watersheds from the shoreline to headwaters.
Increased recognition of Baynes Sound as a sensitive area, highly productive and critical to
numerous and diverse fish and wildlife lifecycles, further intensifies the need to inventory
upland stream and wetland habitat that is discharging into the Sound. The uniqueness of
Baynes Sound is partially related to the inflow of fresh water from over 50 salmon streams,
creating an extensive estuary environment. As upland wetland habitat is cleared during logging
or urban development, significant water reservoirs and fish and wildlife habitat is lost.
Increased flow fluctuation and accompanying channel damage and morphological alteration
have increased siltation and decreased water quality impacts fish and wildlife habitat
throughout the watershed. The preservation of streams, wetlands and shore zone areas
depends on inventory and accurate spatial representation of these areas for inclusion in
provincial and municipal government maps and planning atlases.

It is estimated that well over 30% of watercourses and wetlands in the urbanizing areas of the
Comox Valley are neither mapped nor inventoried and resource management decisions by
government and landholders themselves are being made without inadequate information.
Project Watershed’s Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program, within which the Comox Valley
Salmon Streams Stewardship Project was major component, was based on detailed habitat
surveys. The society provides better information to the community to facilitate habitat
protection efforts. The habitat surveys data is collected with support from local streamkeepers
and qualified staff and information is made available to community partners and decision-
makers through a variety of outreach, education and capacity building activities.

C) OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Comox Valley Salmon Stream Stewardship Project flow from the
objectives of the Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program, which are:
1. Sensitive Habitat Surveys: to inventory and verify (ground truth) watercourses,
wetlands, and other sensitive habitat areas for updates and additions to the digital
Comox Valley Sensitive Habitat (CVSH) Atlas, and to provide detailed descriptions of
biophysical information that can aid in land use decision-making and watershed
planning.
2. Geographic Information System (GIS) Development: to digitize field information and
manage data for updates and additions to the digital CVSH Atlas; to centralize
watershed information for easier access by the community-at-large; and to raise
awareness about sensitive habitat (locations).
3. Community Partnerships: to increase public awareness of and involvement in watershed
stewardship; and, in turn, to foster a coordinated effort locally to increase information
exchange among partners and to reduce potential land use conflicts.

The salmon streams treated between 1999 and 2004 in the project included: Millard Creek,
Piercy Creek, Brooklyn Creek, Glen Urquhart Creek, Mallard Creek, Morrison Creek, Arden

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Creek, Roy Creek, and Hart/Washer Creek, Perseverance Creek, Beacon Creek, Black Creek,
small tributaries of The Puntledge River, Oyster River, Trent River and Pup Creek and Finlay
Creek which are tributaries of the Tsolum River.

Project Objectives 2004-2005

1. Sensitive Habitat Surveys

Through a unique Memorandum of Understanding between the RDCS, the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans, the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Canadian Wildlife Service,
habitat survey data and maps created by Project Watershed are included in the Comox
Strathcona Sensitive Habitat Atlas. As a legal reference to land-use and planning bylaws, the
Atlas data better protects sensitive aquatic and terrestrial habitat in land development decision-
making at the local government level.

In the 2004- 2005 Project year, in order to update the Atlas, and provide resources for further
landowner contact and community outreach, habitat surveys, and where applicable, SEI
wetland inventory, was proposed for streams and tributaries of Little River (Block 71), small
streams in the Fanny Bay/Union Bay area (McNaughton Creek, Apple/Cherry Creek, Cougar/
Cowie Creek, Waterloo Creek, Emily Creek, Upper Hart/Washer Creek), Upper Trent River
Tributaries and sections of Black Creek.

2. Landowner Contact
Education and community outreach, with a targeted landholder contact and community
involvement approach, was proposed within the lower reaches of McNaughton Creek,
Apple/Cherry Creek, Cougar/Cowie Creek, Waterloo Creek, Emily Creek, Upper Hart/Washer
Creek and Upper Trent River. Detailed information on sensitive habitat protection issues on or
near specific private land would be produced and distributed with an orthophoto map/brochure
relating to the watershed. The maps would be based on new stream and wetland data and
other map themes already acquired. The landholder contact and community involvement
conducted through mail, media releases, site visits and workshops would result in individual
stewardship action plans being developed for individual landholders as well as a network of
stewards that would participate as a group to build watershed level stewardship action plans.

Landholders would be invited to make voluntary stewardship agreements in which they agree to
protect, restore and/or monitor the natural features of their property. This would range from
leaving an area in a natural state to preventing damage by limiting or modifying uses or
undertaking habitat restoration work. A new variation on Project Watersheds landowner contact
program would be to focus on large property landowners, specifically those involved with
logging or land development.

Long-term goals included encouraging binding conservation agreements and catalyzing the
formation of neighbourhood stewardship groups. Project Watershed would begin working with
developers and large landholders to inform and educate them as to protection of sensitive
habitat and reduction of impacts during the development land clearing process. Through the
landholder stewardship program, partnerships would be fostered and information exchanged
within the community. This would aid in community-based decision-making and watershed-
based sustainability planning. A priority was to maintain a positive experience with the
landholder and to adapt expertise to fit landholder interests and priorities.

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3. Project Evaluation
An additional objective for the final year of the “Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship
Project” was the completion of an evaluation. The purpose of evaluating the project was to
provide insight into the project’s implementation and it’s effectiveness in achieving its stated
goals and objectives. The “formative evaluation” intended to gather information on the project
derived outcomes over the past five years and the results of this research would be used to
guide program improvements for the following 5 years. (Appendix C contains the evaluation
report).

The evaluation proposal was designed by a contractor with a master’s degree in planning, with
thesis research in “Evaluating Environmental Stewardship Programs". This individual also had
8 years of work experience in the environmental stewardship sector, some of which was gained
in the Comox Valley.

7. Report on Activities

A) ACTIVITIES/TECHNIQUE(S)

Activities and results for all five project years, plus a one year complementary project during the
2001-2002 year, are listed in a table format in Appendix B.

Activities/Techniques for 2004-2005

1. Sensitive Habitat Surveys.

Many project activities conducted in previous years were not undertaken in the final 2004-
2005 project year. These project activities could not be conducted due to a shortfall in expected
funding. The focus was limited to stewardship and community outreach efforts in Morrison
Creek, Perseverance Creek, Finlay Creek, Wildwood Marsh (Tsolum River tributary), Little River
and on completing an evaluation of project outcomes related to activities conducted over the
life of the project. The following is a list of activities originally proposed for the final year
followed by notes on results achieved.

a) Habitat survey of 62 km of stream and wetland in Block 71, McNaughton Creek,

Apple/Cherry Creek/ Cowie Creek, Waterloo Creek, Emily Creek, Upper Hart/Washer
Creek, Upper Trent River and sections of Black Creek in order to gain information useful
for demonstrating habitat protection needs to the landholders and to provide information
to the RDCS.
• No habitat surveys were conducted due to a shortfall of funding and a decision to focus
on landowner contact and habitat protection.

2. Geographic Information System (GIS) Development

b) Produce watershed specific and shorezone area maps (11”x17”colour, orthophoto)
displaying watershed data relative to conservation of aquatic and marine salmon habitats
• Shorezone areas were not included in the final project year.
• A map and brochure depicting the wetland values associated with Morrison Creek and
several documents about the Morrison Creek lamprey were produced and delivered to
landowners.

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• A Map and brochure was created for the Wildwood Marsh area (Tsolum River tributary)
and information on invasive species and landowner stewardship was compiled in a
brochure.
• A map was produced for the Perseverance Creek area and it was used as a base map
for a conservation covenant being drafted for the Cumberland Community Forest Society
by the Comox Valley Land Trust.
c) Produce watershed-specific brochures outlining concerns in two watersheds related to
aquatic habitats.
• See activity b) above

3. Community Partnerships
d) Maintain and append new information from landholder contact information in a Landholder
Contact Database.
• Information from Landholder contacts in Morrison Creek and Perseverance Creek were
added.
e) Deliver 42 introductory stewardship packages to landholders. These include a letter
introducing the project and private land stewardship, along with the above described
maps and brochures.
• In early February, 150 packages were delivered to residents in the Morrison Creek
watershed.
f) Contact 42 landowners by mail and conduct 12 property site visits to share information
about the natural features, plants, and animals of the watershed and to address
landholder interests and concerns regarding stewardship of their land.
• Instead of site visits, landowners were invited to two Community Mapping events held in
the Finaly Creek (Block 71) area and in the Arden/Morrison creek area.
g) Deliver12 follow-up thank you letters, commitment confirmations and information
addressing interests and concerns presented during property site visits.
• Follow-up was conducted on a habitat securement proposal put forward to PECP for land
acquisition in the Morrison Creek area.
h) Assist with other levels of land stewardship, such as conservation covenants, by way of
providing information and referrals to landholders.
• Assistance has been provided on an as needed basis to the Cumberland Community
Forest Society and the Comox Valley Land Trust in aid of covenants for the Sandwick
Forest (Finlay Creek) and the Cumberland Community Forest (Perseverance Creek).
Maps have been provided to Ducks Unlimited, the Hart Creek Watershed Society,
Morrison Creek Streamkeepers and the Millard/Piercy Watershed Stewards for planning
purposes.
i) Maintain and build new datasets for display on an Internet-based GIS application
(Mapguide) that provides Free access to all habitat survey data collected in the Comox
Valley and Campbell River areas.
• Working with the Comox Valley Naturalists, procedures for collecting invasive species
data were developed and a two-month project to identify areas was initiated. A new
Invasive Species Atlas has been created and is now hosted by the Community Mapping
Network. The map applications are web-served on the CMN website and linked on
Project Watershed's "Maps and Reports" page on our web site found at
www.projectwatershed.bc.ca . Also on this web page are downloadable versions of the
reports, maps and brochures produced during this project.

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j) For landholders with specific concerns, restoration prescriptions for aquatic and riparian
habitat improvements will be offered and developed.
• None developed in this project year.
k) Continue to support Streamkeepers assisted in earlier stages of the project through the
provision of information & GIS maps and assistance with project proposals.
• See activities h) and i) above.
l) Host 3 watershed walks, and 1 relevant workshop on stewardship opportunities.
• A workshop was hosted for the upper Finlay Creek and Little River area (Block 71
recently annexed into the City of Courtenay). Maps of the area were presented and a
community mapping exercise was initiated to allow the public an opportunity to offer
information to Project Watershed about issues and values associated with the watershed
areas. A community mapping workshop was also arranged for the West Courtenay
(Arden/Morrison Creek) area to raise awareness of watershed issues and create more
opportunities for landowners to participate in stewardship activities.
• A Wetlandkeepers course was held June 4 - 6th, 2004 titled: Wetlandkeepers: The
Importance of Estuaries. The course focused on the Comox Bay Estuary.
Wetlandkeepers is a 2½ day introduction to wetland stewardship. The course offers
individuals an opportunity for hands-on practice of wetland conservation skills such as
mapping, conducting wetland plant and bird surveys, and raising public awareness. This
special session focussed on estuarine and marine wetland systems and included
freshwater instruction. Participants who successfully completed the course were
awarded a Wetlandkeeper Certificate.
m) Facilitation of community partnerships among government agencies, landholders and
local stewardship groups.
• Our staff began assisting the Comox Valley Land Trust to assemble a regional
conservation planning project, to build on the sensitive habitat inventory and landowner
contact work conducted in the “Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project”.
n) Public outreach to 9000 people through community programs including: public
presentations, media coverage, watershed walks and workshops.
• Media work is ongoing and incorporated into each activity.
• A “Maps for Schools” project produced “poster-sized” laminated maps for each of the
schools that are already involved with the DFO sponsored “SEP Salmonids in the
Classroom” project in the Comox Valley area. These 1:15,000 scale (or larger) maps
for the schools, show school locations, streams and rivers, wetlands, cadastral (property
line) information and background aerial photos. The students were presented the maps
to allow them to gain a sense of place and to increase their awareness of the Comox
Valley as being a community of many watersheds. These maps will be used as
teaching tools for elementary and secondary school programs.
• A public open house at the Regional District of Comox Strathcona (RDCS) was co-hosted
by Project watershed and RDCS in May 2004. The open house marked the production
of the updated Sensitive Habitat Atlas (SHA), and provided an opportunity for Project
Watershed’s role in the SHA update process to be acknowledged and for the project
funders and supporters to be acknowledged.

Project Evaluation
o) Produce an evaluation report of project successes with the objective of modifying and/or
tailoring future project activities to achieve increased protection of sensitive habitat.
• A Final Project Evaluation report was prepared by a contractor and this will be used to
guide future project activities (see Appendix C).

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8. MEASURES OF SUCCESS.
The outcomes for the project for 2004-2005 are outlined in Table 1:
Table 1. Outcomes for the 2004-2005 Salmon Stream Stewardship Project (Habitat
surveys & landowner contact)
Outcomes Morrison Block 71 TOTAL
Creek
# of km of habitat surveys conducted 0 0
# of maps and brochures distributed to property owners and 150 0
stream stewards 150
# of landholders contacted by mail for stewardship pledge 150 0
commitments 150
# of site visits and prescriptions/ stewardship plans 0 0
# attending workshops and community meeting(s) 75 75 150
# people reached through media 9000

Table 2. New Project 'Tools' Developed

1. Orthophoto Watershed Maps of West City of Courtenay, Hart/Washer Creek, Upper Trent River/ Perseverance Creek and
Morrison Creek, and watersheds surrounding all schools in the Comox Valley.
2. Stewardship brochures focusing on streamside and wetland habitat issues and best management practices for development for
Morrison Creek and Wildwood Marsh
3. Database updates -> landholder information
4. New Library materials for promoting stewardship of stream & wetland areas
5. Project Evaluation for focusing future activities

9. Benefits/Risk
This project considered land use and land management practices, while respecting the rights of
landholders. It focused on giving landholders the encouragement, information and practical
assistance they need to steward their land. It aided landholders to explore opportunities for
protection of land – to conserve and protect sensitive habitat in ways that make sense for
landholders and communities.

This project raised awareness of different property values. With a focus on the benefits of soil,
water, and sensitive habitat conservation, this project made good economic sense. With
growing population pressures, many communities are facing the loss of green space. Scarce
resources to protect land, increases the relevance of private land stewardship. A healthy
watershed and community was a main benefit of this initiative. Healthy watersheds begin in
everyone’s backyard. Without the project, land development practices of landholders would
continue to degrade the habitat value of streams and creeks.

10. Extension/Public Information/Participation/Partners

Project promotion and publicity continued to take place with public presentations, workshops,
watershed walks, press releases, and poster board displays at community events. Products
such as maps and brochures had the HCTF logo incorporated into the layout. The project
involved community participation as a priority. Table 3 lists the project advisory committee
members for the 2004-2005 term.

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Table 3. 2004-2005 Project Advisors:

Contact Name(s) Affiliation
Chris Hilliar Fisheries and Oceans, Comox
Dave Davies FOC Community Advisor
Brad Mason Fisheries & Oceans, Vancouver
Odete Pinho Regional District of Comox-Strathcona
Alison Mewett Village of Cumberland
Heather Follis Regional District of Comox Strathcona
Lynda Fyfe Comox Valley Land Trust
Ernie Selentin Comox Valley Naturalists Society
Jim Palmer/ Murray Kennedy- Morrison Creek Streamkeepers
MacNeil
Maye Davis School teacher, Project Watershed Board member
Judy Ackinclose Fanny Bay Salmonid Enhancement Society
Ronna Rae Leonard City of Courtenay Councilor
Mike Nicell Hart (Washer) Creek Watershed Committee
Mac Fraser Village of Cumberland
Jack Minard Tsolum River Restoration Society
Gwyne Sproule Perseverance Creek Streamkeepers, Village of Cumberland
councilor
Peggy Ward Canadian Wildlife Service
Michele Jones Biologist

11. Contractor Performance

Contractors are chosen for their ability to perform tasks that Project watershed Staff are limited
in their ability, or time, to conduct. Contractors work under the direction of project staff, who
propose, guide, and generally assist contractors or perform complementary tasks. Contractors
hired during this project included:
• Heather Johnstone was hired under contract to conduct the evaluation. Heather has
been involved with conservation, stewardship and sustainability initiatives in a
professional capacity and as a volunteer community member for most of her life. Over
the course of the nine years preceding the evaluation she had worked and volunteered
with various stewardship organizations in the Comox Valley, including Comox Valley
Project Watershed Society.

12. Photographic Record

• See Appendix D

13. Financial Details

A) Project Financial Report - Final Year (2004-2005)

Proponent / Project Leader: C.V Project HCTF Project #: 1-166

Watershed Soc.
HCTF Approved Budget Amount: $40,000
Project Name: Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project

Reporting Period: Apr 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005 Reporting Purpose: X Annual Report

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PART 1. BUDGET DETAILS

A. Labour Costs
i. Human Resources – Wages & Salaries (include Youth employment as a separate line)
Position # of Crew # of Work Rate/day HCTF
Days Amount
Project Coordinator 1 35 215 $7,613.07
Project Technician 1 8 180 $1,477.88
Project Technician 1 18 206 $3,700.35
Subtotal $12,791.30
ii. Subcontractors & Consultants (provide details in text)
Contractor # of Crew # of Work Rate/day HCTF
Days Amount
Heather Johnstone, Evaluation Consultant 2 45 consult., $16,857.50
25 assistant
Comox Valley Land Trust, Landowner 1 5 $1,000.00
contact consultations
Backdoor Gallery, graphic artist 1 7 $1,195.95

Subtotal ii $19,053.45
A. TOTAL LABOUR COSTS $31,844.75
B. Site / Project Costs
DETAILS HCTF Amount
Travel $237.79
Small Tools & Equipment 0
Site Supplies & Materials $498.06
Equipment Rental 0
Vehicle Rental (incl. Helicopters) 0
Work & Safety Supplies 0
Repairs & Maintenance 0
Permits 0
Technical Monitoring 0
Other Site / Project Costs 0
0
B. Total Site / Project Costs $ 735.85
C. OVERHEAD
DETAILS HCTF
Amount
Office space, utilities, etc. $2,832.10
Insurance $1,500.00
Office supplies $70.56
Telephone & long distance $503.57
Photocopies & printing 0
Administration fees $2,400.00
Other overhead costs Bookkeeping $112.86
Wkshps & community events 0
C. Total Overhead Costs $7,419.09

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PART 2. SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES FROM ALL FUNDING SOURCES (2004-2005)

Other Funding
HCTF Total
Funding Source In- Cash
Amount kind
A. Labour $31,844.75 Env. Can. HSP, BC Gaming-Direct ` 24,403.83 56,248.58
Costs Access, Pacific Salmon Foundation
B. Project / $735.85 Env. Can. HSP, PSF, 0 4,041.78 4,777.63
Site Costs BC Gaming

C. Overhead $7,419.09 Env. Can. HSP, PSF 4000 3,665.20 15,084.29

Costs BC Gaming, CV Project Watershed
Board members, volunteers
Total Costs $39,999.69 4,000 32,110.81 76,110.50

PART 3. Equipment Purchase Summary (2004-2005)

Equipment (list items >$1000 purchased Serial Number Dollar Value Location Contact
and quantity) Stored

B) Project Financial Report - All Project Years (1999-2005)

Proponent / Project Leader: C.V Project HCTF Project #: 1-166

Watershed Soc.
HCTF Approved Budget Amount:
Project Name: Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project

Reporting Period: Apr 1, 1999 to March 31, 2005 Reporting Purpose: X Final Report

PART 1. BUDGET DETAILS

A. Labour Costs
i. Human Resources – Wages & Salaries (include Youth employment as a separate line)
Position # of # of Work Days Rate/da HCTF
Crew y Amount
Project Coordinator 1 229 215 $49,225.70
Project Technician 1 222 180 $40,045.59
Project Technician - event coordinator 1 18 206 $3,700.35
Project Mapping Technician 1 152 200 $30,481.33
Subtotal i. $123,452.97

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ii. Subcontractors & Consultants (provide details in text)

Contractor # of # of Work Days Rate/da HCTF
Crew y Amount
Heather Johnstone, Evaluation Consultant 1 70 240 $16,857.50
Comox Valley Land Trust, Landowner contact 1 5 200 $1,000.00
consultations
Backdoor Gallery, graphic artist 1 7 170 $1,195.95
Susan Macvittie 1 2 240 $474.00
Mimulus Biological Consultants (botanist) 1 13 300 $4,811.00
Darrin Heisler (Diap Viewer setup) $240.00
Marcel Pepin (Diap Viewer Training) $262.50
Ironfire Computer Services $900.00
Gary Lyons (graphic artist) $600.00
Laura Dawson (Evaluation Contractor) $6,000.00
Graphic Artist $400.00
Graphic artist $865.05
Subtotal ii $33,606.00
A. Total Labour Costs $157,058.97
B. Site / Project Costs
Item Details HCTF
Amount
Travel $1,290.38
Small Tools & Equipment $0.00
Site Supplies & Materials $3,948.34
Equipment Rental $0.00
Vehicle Rental (incl. Helicopters) $0.00
Work & Safety Supplies $241.90
Repairs & Maintenance $172.12
Permits $0.00
Technical Monitoring $0.00
Other Site / Project Costs $0.00
$0.00
B. Total Site / Project Costs $5,652.74
C. Overhead
Item Details HCTF
Amount
Office space, utilities, etc. $7,832.10
Insurance $4,415.97
Office supplies $1,130.59
Telephone & long distance $2,358.26
Photocopies & printing $1,825.12
Administration fees $14,111.07
Other overhead costs Bookeeeping $1,362.86
Wkshps & community events $359.04
C. Total Overhead Costs $33,395.01
Total HCTF Project Costs $196,106.72

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PART 2. SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES FROM ALL FUNDING SOURCES (1999-2005)

HCTF
Other Contributions In-kind+
Funding
Cash Total
Amount
Source In-kind Cash
A. Labour 157,058.97 Volunteers, Canada Trust- Friends of 39,600.00 85,063.11
Costs the Environment Fund, Env. Can HSP, 124,663.11
Real Estate Foundation, Fish Renewal
BC, DFO,
B. Project 5,652.74 Canada Trust- Friends of the 6,800.00 106,957.31
/ Site Environment Fund, Env. Can HSP, Real 113,757.31
Costs Estate Foundation, Fish Renewal BC,
DFO, RDCS, CV Land Trust, BC
Gaming- Direct Access, Misc. incomes
C. $33,395.01 Canada Trust- Friends of the 15,050.00 13,622.16 28,672.16
Overhead Environment Fund, Env. Can HSP, Real
Costs Estate Foundation, Fish Renewal BC,
Project Watershed Board members
Total $196,106.72 61,450.00 205,642.58 267,092.58
Costs
Total: All Contributions 463,199.30

PART 3. Equipment Purchase Summary (1999-2005)

Equipment (list items >$1000 purchased Serial Number Dollar Value Location Contact
and quantity) Stored

Certified that the project has been satisfactorily completed and all purchases and equipment over $1000 per item
have been returned in satisfactory condition.

Project Proponent Signature Date Print Name

HCTF USE ONLY – Financial Report Accepted by:

Comptroller, Habitat Conservation Trust Fund Date

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Appendix A – Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project Location
Appendix B Summary of Activities and Results 1999-2005
Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project, a project of Comox Valley
Project Watershed Society’s “Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program”

Program Objectives
The objectives of the long-term Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program are three-fold:

1. Field Surveying: to inventory and verify (ground truth) watercourses, wetlands, and other sensitive habitat areas for
updates and additions to the digital Comox Valley Sensitive Habitat (CVSH) Atlas, and to provide detailed descriptions of
biophysical information that can aid in land use decision-making and watershed planning.
2. Geographic Information System (GIS) Development: to digitize field information and manage data for updates and
additions to the digital CVSH Atlas; to centralize watershed information for easier access by the community-at-large; and
to raise awareness about sensitive habitat (locations).
3. Community Partnerships: to increase public awareness of and involvement in watershed stewardship; and, in turn, to
foster a coordinated effort locally to increase information exchange among partners and to reduce potential land use
conflicts.

Program year 1999-2000

In 1999 a new project was created within the Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program operated by Comox Valley Project Watershed
Society. In its inaugural year of a five year project, the “Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project” focused on the
Morrison Creek - Arden Creek watershed in the City of Courtenay and RDCS. For this, staff developed a MS Access landowner
contact database and site visit form. Staff gathered landowner contact information based on detailed referencing of streamside
lots, using BC Assessment microfiched property information. This project built on landowner contact and sensitive habitat
information gathered during the Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping (SHIM) work completed in the Morrison-Arden watershed
in 1998-1999.

Project funders: HCTF, Canada Trust - Friends of the Environment Fund.

Total project funding (cash + in-kind): $31,900
HCTF Contribution: $20,000

Activities Proposed • Results

1. 200 households will receive • 274 households received stewardship packages

stewardship packages
2. 200 landowners (LO’s) will be
contacted
3. 25-35 pledges will be gathered
4. 500 ha will be under pledge
5. Interest in developing a
conservation covenant (no
objective given in revised
objectives; in the original proposal,
the objective was 12 landowners)
6. 100 people will participate in 2
watershed walks
7. Existence of an updated landowner
contact (LOC) database
Additional results
• 274 received information packages; of these, 59 streamside residents were
contacted directly by telephone (phone calls to 73 streamside residents were
placed), 25 streamside residents participated in a phone call and a property visit,
and 190 received an information package only (some hand-delivered, some
mailed)
• 32 verbal pledges were made
• This information was not gathered
• 5 landholders have considered a conservation covenant on their property (of
these, one had previously considered a covenant)
• 76 people participated in two watershed walks
• Existence of a landowner contact database, not completely updated
• On request, provided project information with other stewardship groups (10), post-
secondary institutions (1), senior government personnel (8), local government
staff (4), potential funding sources (6), and consultants (1)
• Delivered 34 follow-up thank you letters and information addressing interests and
concerns presented during property site visits or telephone conversations

1
Appendix B Summary of Activities and Results 1999-2005
Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project, a project of Comox Valley
Project Watershed Society’s “Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program”

Program year 2000-2001

For the 2000-2001 term, the project focused on four urban salmon streams, their wetlands and foreshore areas: Brooklyn Creek,
Morrison Creek, Arden Creek (a tributary of Morrison Ck), and Glen Urquhart Creek. Other salmon streams identified to eventually
be covered in the long term (6 year timeframe) include: Roy Creek, Millard Creek, Piercy Creek, Brooklyn Creek, tributaries of the
Puntledge River, tributaries of the Tsolum River, and tributaries of the lower Oyster River.

Also included in the long-term project are foreshore areas and wetlands and tributaries of the Trent River, and Hart Creek and
small, ungazetted streams near urban areas. This list was expected to expand with the continuation of Project Watershed's
Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping (SHIM) of other streams, wetlands and foreshore areas. The sites vary and cover a full
range of salmonid habitats namely: streams, lakes, wetlands, riparian, estuary, coastal, and upland watershed areas. These areas
would be located within the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone.

Project funders: HCTF, Environment Canada's Habitat Stewardship for Species at Risk Program, Real Estate Foundation,
Canada Trust - Friends of the Environment Fund, Fisheries Renewal BC.
Total project funding (cash + in-kind): $129,422.90
HCTF Contribution: $20,000

Activities Proposed Results

1. Conduct an evaluation to assess the
effectiveness of the program (1999-
2000 project pilot year) Deliver 75
evaluation questionnaires & phone
calls
2. Deliver introductory stewardship
packages (letter, brochure and map) to
3070 landholders (670 Morrison, 2000
Brooklyn, 200 Glen Urquhart)
3. Carry out 175 follow-up phone calls to
streamside LO’s
4. Conduct 120 landowner property site
visits
5. 120 landowner voluntary land
stewardship pledges made
6. Deliver 120 follow-up thank you letters
and any information addressing
interests and concerns presented
during property site visits or telephone
conversations
7. 120 citizens will attend three
community workshops and watershed
walks
8. 9000 people will be reached through
community programs including public
presentations, media coverage,
watershed walks, and workshops
9. Maintain and append landowner
contact (LOC) information in LOC
database
• Completed An Evaluation of the 1999 Morrison/Arden Landholder Stewardship
Project, which encouraged a conservation marketing approach and more flexibility
with the program LO contact; 157 evaluation survey participants (109 Morrison, 48
Brooklyn)
• Introductory packages were mailed to 4891 landowners in the three focus
watersheds (1400 Morrison, 1956 Brooklyn, 1535 Glen Urquhart)
• Produced watershed maps (11”x17” colour, orthophoto) displaying watershed data
relative to conservation of aquatic habitat
• Produced watershed specific brochures outlining concerns in each watershed
related to aquatic habitat generally and specifically, salmon and Morrison Creek
lamprey habitats
• 172 streamside residents were contacted by phone during February 2001
• 10 property site visits
• 68 verbal pledges
• 10 phone call follow-up “thank yous” to LO’s who participated in site visits Mailed
or hand delivered follow-up information to approx 20 landowners who participated
in workshops or called the office for more information
• 20 individuals attended a 17 March 2001 Habitat Nest Box Workshop 23 citizens
attended 28 March 2001 lecture on Constructed Wetlands N.B. page 11 of the
final 2000-2001 report (erroneously) states 120 people in three (3) workshops
• Nov 2001 HCTF proposal refers to 3 feature newspaper articles, which profiled
Morrison Creek, Glen Urquhart Creek and Brooklyn Creek watersheds; page 11 of
the final 2000-2001 report states 20,200 people (estimated size of population
receiving local community newspapers) reached
• Main LOC database was updated with additional contacts and LO watershed
interests and issues; a separate database was created for storing information and
to generate reports for (the evaluation survey). A commercial contact database
InfoTyme was used for creating mailing lists

2
Appendix B Summary of Activities and Results 1999-2005
Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project, a project of Comox Valley
Project Watershed Society’s “Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program”

10. Facilitate Community Partnerships: to
increase public awareness of and
involvement in watershed stewardship
• Facilitation of Community Partnerships among government agencies, landholders
and local stewardship groups – project partners have accepted digital data and
the mapped information is now found in a new publication of the CV Sensitive
Habitat Atlas
• Assisted Brooklyn Creek Streamkeepers to develop a Brooklyn Cr information and
media package as a teacher resource
• Presentation made to Highland Secondary School
• SHIM survey work completed in upper Morrison Cr (6 km of stream and wetland
perimeter); USHP survey of lower 2 km of Glen Urquhart Cr conducted
• Provided Morrison Cr Streamkeepers, Brooklyn Cr Streamkeepers and 3 Glen
Urquhart landowners detailed reports and maps who will use the information to
plan protection strategies

Program year 2001-2002

During 2001-2002 program funding was not applied through an HCTF grant, instead funding was secured from other sources for
conducting the 2001-2002 Baynes Sound Shoreline Stewardship pilot project. Efforts were focused on Mapping and Inventory of
the areas of the Comox Valley that were most threatened or impacted by urban development and on building GIS and Information
Management tools to allow the community access to Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Resources pertaining to the shorezone area of
Baynes Sound. Landowner Stewardship Projects were also conducted.
Similar to HCTF funded Project years, the objectives were:
• Apply Trimble Pathfinder GPS technology and Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping (SHIM) methods to collect
data for community awareness and planning purposes,
• Continue to acquire and compile watershed information and make it more user-friendly with GIS (Arcview)
technology,
• Develop more community partnerships with long-term relationships through networking, program development, and
providing training and library resources through a “conservation centre” approach;
• Increase stewardship in the community by integrating volunteers into the mapping and inventory as well as library
development work, building their capacity to act as long-term stewards.
• Assist in the formation of the Community Mapping Network to provide guidance and leadership to communities
interested in developing projects and products that increase sensitive habitat stewardship.
• Integrate our sensitive habitat mapping/ inventory activities, landowner contact and community awareness projects
into a one-stop local "Community Conservation Centre" complete with a catalogued library, field equipment loan
system, computer terminal access, and Streamkeepers and Wetlandkeepers courses.

Project funders: DFO’s Habitat Restoration and Salmon Enhancement Program, Canada Trust - Friends of the Environment Fund,
Real Estate Foundation, MoELP’s Urban Salmon Habitat Program, and HCTF.
Total project funding (cash + in-kind): $41,000
HCTF Contribution: $0

Activities Proposed Results

1. Ground truth, inventory, and verify
shoreline areas, watercourses,
wetlands, and sensitive areas for
updates and additions to the Comox
Valley Sensitive Habitat (CVSH) Atlas.
2. Digitize field information and manage
data acquired form other sources for
updates and additions to the CVSH
Atlas, and to compile and centralize
watershed information for easier
access by the community.
• Several meetings and workshops were attended to allow a review and refinement
of the methodology for stream, shoreline and wetland mapping and development
of draft data dictionaries for data collection.
• Field data have been gathered, processed and compiled for stream sections of
Hart Creek, Millard and Piercy Creeks, Beacon Creek and Craigdarroch Beach
area.
• Acquired biophysical data for streams, wetlands, eelgrass beds, and shorezone
areas was compiled in a GIS project where exports for use in the CV Sensitive
Habitat Atlas and the Community Mapping Network website were generated:
• 5 km riparian habitat were inventoried
• 1.5 km Baynes Sound shoreline inventoried piloting newly developed Coastal
Shoreline Inventory & Mapping (CSIM).
• 23 ha of Baynes Sound backshore riparian classification using Sensitive Habitat &
Mapping Inventory (SHIM) methods.
• Review and update of previously collected mapping information was conducted to
allow it to conform to a new standard for SHIM data. Data collected over the past
eight years has been updated to meet a new SHIM Data Management and
Deliverables standard. Through regular meetings and a focused workshop, Project
Watershed staff worked with partners in DFO and the Discovery Coast Greenways
Land Trust to develop the new standard. Management of data acquired from other
sources comprised a small part of this work.

3
Appendix B Summary of Activities and Results 1999-2005
Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project, a project of Comox Valley
Project Watershed Society’s “Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program”
3. Increase public awareness of and
involvement in watershed stewardship
4. Establish a process to recruit new
stewards, and organize their activities
in meaningful ways.
• A draft Internet Mapping application for the Comox Valley/ Campbell River area
was developed using Autodesk Mapguide software. This allows pubic access to
data collected from historical as well as recent surveys.
• Hard copy map products designed for landowner contact and protection and
restoration initiatives were developed. An advisory team of biologists and agency
staff worked with our technician to develop the brochure content focussing on
conservation of eelgrass habitats in the Baynes Sound area.
• Data sets of wildlife (Bird Studies Canada), eelgrass (2 from DFO) & sensitive
ecosystems (shorezone classification) for Baynes Sound acquired & compiled in
Arcview for review & utilization for landowner contact maps & brochures, and site-
specific queries.
• The RDCS has openly discussed a willingness to use the high quality GPS/GIS
data and develop a more regular and less formal approach to data updates. In
discussions with planning and GIS staff at RDCS arrangements for data provision
have been agreed to that removes the necessity for “sign-off’ of the data by
Federal and Provincial MOU partners. The data produced by Project Watershed
staff can be provided directly to RDCS staff as long as it meets a SHIM standard,
which uses RIC standards for GPS data collection.
• 125 landowner contact packages delivered to shoreline landowners in
Craigdarroch Beach and Royston shorezone area.
• 25 stewardship verbal pledges from landowners attending March 2002 shoreline
walk at Gartley Pt
• 25 native plants installed by volunteers in an eroding shoreline area in Royston
during April 2002 shoreline planting workshop
• Black Creek watershed map created by PW and distributed to LO s through the
Comox Valley Farmer’s Alliance – Black Creek Watershed Round Table
• Agreement with Ministry of Highways and Regional District staff to promote
vegetation recovery in eroding shoreline park areas in Royston.
• New eelgrass bed monitoring activities initiated by volunteer group on Denman
Island.
• Commitment by volunteers in Comox to initiate eelgrass monitoring activities once
protocols are established.
• Presentations of the project were made to the Eelgrass Conservation Group, the
Land Trust Alliance of BC, and the SFU Centre for Coastal Studies workshop in
Campbell River - Building Capacity for Decision Making: Community Natural
Resource Cataloguing Workshops.
• Attended Eelgrass Conservation Group meetings to solicit advice and provide
networking opportunities supporting the project.

Program year 2002-2003

For the 2002-2003 term, the project focused on streams in Baynes Sound: Roy Creek, upper Morrison Creek and Hart Creek.
Due to shortfalls in anticipated funding and recent boundary extensions intensifying potential development in the project area, field
project objectives were revised and modified during the 2002-2003 project year. The result was re-prioritizing of mapping and
inventory survey locations and the inclusion of wetland surveys as part of field data collection. Field surveys were conducted in
upper Hart Creek, and upper Morrison Creek was added as an area of focus.

Project funders: DFO, Real Estate Foundation, and HCTF.

Total project funding (cash + in-kind): $97,568
HCTF Contribution: $49,320

Activities Proposed Results

1. 12 km of SHIM surveys to be • 9.5 km of SHIM surveys completed

conducted
2. survey 43 ha of wetlands • 43 ha of wetlands surveyed
3. Produce watershed specific and shore • 650 maps and brochures distributed to LO’s and stream stewards
zone area maps (11”x17” colour
orthophoto maps) displaying
watershed data relative to
conservation of aquatic and marine
salmon habitat in three watersheds

4
Appendix B Summary of Activities and Results 1999-2005
Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project, a project of Comox Valley
Project Watershed Society’s “Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program”

4. 1280 maps and brochures distributed

to LO’s and stream stewards
5. Mail or Telephone 210 LO’s re:
stewardship pledge commitments and
site visits
6. 52 site visits and
prescriptions/stewardship plans
7. 187 pledges gathered (187 follow-up
thank you letter, pledge commitment
confirmations and information
addressing interests and concerns
raised during property site visits)
8. 120 citizens attending 1 workshop and
3 watershed walks
9. 9000 people reached though media
• 650 LO’s contacted by mail re: stewardship pledge commitments
• 5 site visits and prescriptions/stewardship plans in the Roy Cr watershed (3
streamside and 2 shoreline)
• No pledges gathered, one site visit with landowner following up concerns about
shoreline area.
• 86 citizens attended workshops and watershed walk: 16 people attended 2 Living-
by-Water workshops: Conservation Action Marketing Clinic (12 in attendance) and
Home Site Assessor Training Clinic (4 in attendance), 15 people attending 1
presentation on Groundwater - Getting Wise on Water, 40 people attending 1
forum - Protecting Your Water, A Groundwater Forum, 15 people attending 1
community meeting for Roy Cr residents
• 20,000 people reached through media; 2 articles and 4 press releases referenced

10. Maintain and append new information • RDCS provided an Excel spreadsheet of Roy Creek resident’s mailing addresses
from LOC into LOC database (names excluded)

11. Facilitate Community Partnerships: to • Data accepted by both the Canadian Wildlife Service, for the Sensitive Ecosystem
increase public awareness of and Inventory (SEI) database, and the Regional District, for the Comox-Strathcona
involvement in watershed stewardship Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Atlas
• LO’s, government staff, and stewards participated in workshops

Program year 2003-2004

For the 2003-2004 term (year 4 of 5 of HCTF funds), Project Watershed continued to focus on streams and wetlands that may be
impacted by logging or industrial development and to expand this focus to include headwaters areas that are being threatened by
urban development. These area include: Perseverance Creek, Pup Creek, Finlay Creek and Arden Creek. As well, the Regional
District of Comox Strathcona planners continued to identify areas that needed updating in the Sensitive Habitat Atlas stream layer
and through a protocol agreement, requested that Project Watershed perform these updates.

Project funders: Vancouver Foundation, Real Estate Foundation, DFO, CV Land Trust, BC Gaming Direct Access Grant, and
HCTF.
Total project funding (cash + in-kind): $128,185
HCTF Contribution: $66,775

Activities Proposed Results

1. 60 km of SHIM surveys conducted • 6.4 km Perseverance Cr; 4.8 km (+11.2 km 3D-Diap photo interpreted) Pup Cr;
3.7 km Arden Cr; 1.6 km (+2.9 km 3D-Diap photo interpreted) Finley Cr

2. 258 ha of wetlands surveyed • 42.7 ha wetlands survey (14 ha Perseverance Cr; 20.5 ha Pup Cr; 8.2 ha Finley
Cr)
3. Produce watershed specific and shore • 19 new GIS maps generated
zone area maps (11”x17” colour • Posted information on the Project Watershed website: 40 Maps; 30 reports
orthophoto maps) displaying generated
watershed data relative to
conservation of aquatic and marine
salmon habitat
4. Produce watershed specific brochures • “Not pursued due to lack of funding”
outlining concerns relating to aquatic
habitats in three watersheds
5. 50 maps and brochures distributed to • “Not pursued due to lack of funding”
LO’s and stream stewards

5
Appendix B Summary of Activities and Results 1999-2005
Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project, a project of Comox Valley
Project Watershed Society’s “Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program”
6. 14 site visits and
prescriptions/stewardship plans
7. 14 follow-up thank you letters, pledge
commitment confirmations and
information addressing interests and
concerns raised during property site
visits
8. 50 citizens attending community
workshops and meetings; 3 watershed
walks and 1 relevant workshop
9. 9000 people reached though media
10. Maintain and append new information
from LOC into LOC database
11. Facilitate Community Partnerships: to
increase public awareness of and
involvement in watershed stewardship
• “Not pursued due to lack of funding”
• “Not pursued due to lack of funding”
• 17 people attended February 2004 Wetlandkeepers Course
• 38 people attended (7 2-day) Community Mapping and Stewardship Development
Workshops (Vancouver Foundation funding) workshops conducted
• 10th Anniversary Newsletter produced (along with media releases and radio
interviews for Project Watershed AGM and Healthy Watersheds ~ Healthy People
community art show)
• Permission to map and inventory was secured
• Liaison with government agencies: The Regional District of Comox Strathcona
(RDCS, the City of Courtenay and the Village of Cumberland), as well as other
agencies such as BC Transmission Corporation and the Ministry of Highways
were contacted in regard to this project.
• To provide data and to facilitate the inter-governmental communication process,
Project Watershed undertook SHIM mapping of upper Arden and provided this
data to the RDCS and the City of Courtenay. This information was then used by
these agencies to establish a protocol for implementing Environmentally Sensitive
Areas Development Permits on watercourses that straddle both jurisdictions
addressing sensitive habitat issues.
• Project Watershed arranged and attended meetings with the RDCS, and the City
of Courtenay. These meetings were conducted for the purpose of establishing an
inter-jurisdictional protocol regarding the ESA DP process. The outcome was
successful with the City of Courtenay and RDCS agreeing to have planning staff
communicate in regard to the ESA DP process. The two representatives of the
governments agreed that they have common ground and will continue to meet to
discuss joint environmental and planning concerns.
• Project Watershed, The City of Courtenay and BC Hydro also met to discuss
downstream water management impacts in the Arden area.
• Project Watershed and The Comox Valley Land Trust worked jointly in the upper
Finlay Creek in the Sandwick Forest area to produce accurately mapped
vegetation polygons, streamlines and wetland polygons. The resultant map was a
requirement for the covenant process undertaken by the CVLT for the Sandwick
Forest. This area was annexed by the City of Courtenay and has traditionally
been under the jurisdiction of the Sandwick Water Works.
6
Appendix B Summary of Activities and Results 1999-2005
Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project, a project of Comox Valley
Project Watershed Society’s “Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program”

Program year 2004-2005

For the 2004-2005 term (year 5 of 5 of HCTF funds), Project Watershed attempted to continue to focus mainly on streams and
wetlands of streams, that may be impacted by urban development and to expand this focus to include headwaters areas that are
being threatened by industrial activities such as logging. These areas include several planned massive golf course / residential
developments: Block 71 (924 forested acres slated for development), Upper Hart/Washer Creek, Upper Trent River (site of another
massive planned golf course residential plus a private university) and less urban areas discharging into Baynes Sound that have
active community stewardship such as, upper Tsable River (potential coal and coal bed methane issues), Perseverance Creek
(logging issues), Pup Creek, McNaughton Creek, Apple/Cherry Creek, Cougar/Cowie Creek, Waterloo Creek, Emily Creek, and
sections of Black Creek and upper Morrison Creek. As well, the Regional District of Comox Strathcona planners continued to
identify areas that required updating for the Sensitive Habitat Atlas and through a protocol agreement, requested that Project
Watershed perform these updates.

Many of the planned project activities, however, could not be conducted due to a shortfall in expected funding in the final year.
Project activities were refocused and no new mapping data was collected from the target watersheds. Instead, activities completed
were based on previous landholder contact and habitat surveys, mapping and inventory work, with the addition of geo-referenced
SEI wetland data collection. Efforts were focused on Morrison Creek, Finlay Creek, and Little River (Block 71).

An additional objective for the final year of the “Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project” was the completion of an
evaluation. The purpose of evaluating the project was to provide insight into the project’s implementation and it’s effectiveness in
achieving it’s stated goals and objectives. The “formative evaluation” intended to gather information on the project derived
outcomes over the past five years of HCTF funding and the results of this research would be used to guide program improvements
for the future.

Project funders: Environment Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) for Species at Risk, Pacific Salmon Foundation, BC
Gaming Direct Access grant and HCTF.
Total project funding (cash + in-kind): $67,713
HCTF Contribution: $40,000

Activities Proposed Results

1. Maintain and append new information • Information from Landholder contacts in Morrison Creek and Perseverance Creek
from landholder contact information in were added.
a Landholder Contact Database.
2. Habitat survey of 62 km of stream and • No habitat surveys were conducted due to a shortfall of funding and a decision to
wetland in Block 71, McNaughton focus on landowner contact, habitat protection and evaluation activities.
Creek, Apple/Cherry Creek/ Cowie
Creek, Waterloo Creek, Emily Creek,
Upper Hart/Washer Creek, Upper
Trent River and sections of Black
Creek in order to gain information
useful for demonstrating habitat
protection needs to the landholders
and to provide information to the
RDCS.
3. Produce watershed specific and • Shorezone areas were not included in the final project year.
shorezone area maps (11”x17”colour, • A map and brochure depicting the wetland values associated with Morrison Creek
orthophoto) displaying watershed data and several documents about the Morrison Creek lamprey were produced and
relative to conservation of aquatic and delivered to landowners.
marine salmon habitats • A map and brochure was created for the Wildwood Marsh area (Tsolum River
tributary) and information on invasive species and landowner stewardship was
compiled in a brochure.
• A map was produced for the Perseverance Creek area and it was used as a base
map for a conservation covenant being drafted for the Cumberland Community
Forest Society by the Comox Valley Land Trust Society
4. Produce watershed-specific brochures • See activity 3 above
outlining concerns in two watersheds
related to aquatic habitats.

7
Appendix B Summary of Activities and Results 1999-2005
Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project, a project of Comox Valley
Project Watershed Society’s “Sensitive Habitat Stewardship Program”

5. Deliver 42 introductory stewardship
packages to landholders. These
include a letter introducing the project
and private land stewardship, along
with the above described maps and
brochures.
6. Contact 42 landowners by mail and
conduct 12 property site visits to share
information about the natural features,
plants, and animals of the watershed
and to address landholder interests
and concerns regarding stewardship of
their land.
7. Deliver 12 follow-up thank you letters,
commitment confirmations and
information addressing interests and
concerns presented during property
site visits.
8. Assist with other levels of land
stewardship, such as conservation
covenants, by way of providing
information and referrals to
landholders.
9. Maintain and build new datasets for
display on an Internet-based GIS
application (Mapguide) that provides
Free access to all habitat survey data
collected in the Comox Valley and
Campbell River areas.
• In early February, 150 packages were delivered to residents in the Morrison Creek
watershed.
• Instead of site visits, landowners were invited to two Community Mapping events
held in the Finlay Creek (Block 71) area and in the West Courtenay,
Arden/Morrison creek area.
• Follow-up was conducted on a habitat securement proposal put forward to PECP
for land acquisition in the Morrison Creek area. Agencies seem to be in disarray
and not receptive to the proposal at this time.
• Assistance has been provided on an as needed basis to the Cumberland
Community Forest Society and the Comox Valley Land Trust in aid of covenants
for the Sandwick Forest and the Cumberland Community Forest. Maps have been
provided to Ducks Unlimited, the Hart Creek Watershed Society, Morrison Creek
Streamkeepers and the Millard/Piercy Watershed Stewards for planning purposes.
• Working with the Comox Valley Naturalists, procedures for collecting invasive
species data were developed and a two-month project to identify areas was
initiated. A new Invasive Species Atlas has been created and is now hosted by the
Community Mapping Network. The map applications are web-served on the CMN
website and linked on Project Watershed's "Maps and Reports" page on our web
site found at www.projectwatershed.bc.ca. Also on this web page are
downloadable versions of the reports, maps and brochures produced during this
project.

10. For landholders with specific concerns, • None developed in this project year.
restoration prescriptions for aquatic
and riparian habitat improvements will
be offered and developed.
11. Continue to support Streamkeepers • See activities 8 and 9 above.
assisted in earlier stages of the project
through the provision of information &
GIS maps and assistance with project
proposals
12. Host 3 watershed walks, and 1 • A workshop was hosted for the upper Finlay Creek and Little River area (Block 71
relevant workshop on stewardship recently annexed into the City of Courtenay). Maps of the area were presented
opportunities. and a community mapping exercise was initiated to allow the public an opportunity
to offer information to Project Watershed about issues and values associated with
the watershed areas.
• A community mapping workshop was also arranged for the West Courtenay
(Arden/Morrison Creek) area to raise awareness of watershed issues and create
more opportunities for landowners to participate in stewardship activities.
13. Facilitation of community partnerships • Assisted the Comox Valley Land Trust to assemble a regional conservation
among government agencies, planning project to build on our inventory and landowner contact work.
landholders and local stewardship
groups.
14. Public outreach to 9000 people • Media work was ongoing and incorporated into each activity
through community programs
including: public presentations, media
coverage, watershed walks and
workshops.
15. Produce an evaluation report of project • A Final Project Evaluation report was prepared by a contractor and this will be
successes with the objective of used to guide future project activities (see appendix C).
modifying and/or tailoring future project
activities to achieve increased
protection of sensitive habitat.

8
Appendix C – An Evaluation of the Comox Valley Sensitive Habitat
Stewardship Program Including the Comox Valley Salmon
Stream Stewardship Project

Prepared by Heather Johnstone, August 2006

Appendix D – Comox Valley Salmon Streams Stewardship Project
Photographic Record (Photo Gallery CD)