With the upsetting state of our water issues within the SCRD right now, sometimes we forget to look at the big picture. Chapman Lake, although not in Area E, is our water source and the conservation of it protects the water we use daily at home. Donna McMahon, our Area E Director, voices her concern explaining, “The reason we’re pulling down Chapman Lake so fast (it’s lower than ever before) is because the land surrounding the lower stretches of the creek is so dry that it’s sucking water out of the creek. So we have to release more water to meet environmental flow needs. This is new; welcome to climate change.”
Enter Streamkeepers, who preserve and protect streams, creeks and waterways here in B.C. and boy, do they have their hands full this year with our drought. The Elphinstone Community Association hosts a variety of speakers at their monthly meetings and last month they hosted Shirley Samples of Streamkeepers to talk about our local water system here in Elphinstone. Gayle Neilson (previous author of this column), attended the meeting and penned the following about Shirley’s presentation:
Our guest speaker, Shirley Samples, talked about what Streamkeepers has been up to recently. She discussed the temperature loggers that they have been able to purchase and install in various Sunshine Coast creeks. Salmon will quickly die off in water that is too warm, a growing problem with climate change so these are important instruments. Several Elphinstone residents help to monitor Chaster Creek and Streamkeeper Brian Thicke has installed a temperature logger near the mouth of Chaster Creek which he regularly checks. Shirley showed slides and described what is a good riparian area for a healthy fish-bearing stream; trees are needed for shade and there should be lots of native plants that hold the banks intact, providing good insect habitat. Ferns and willows are beneficial plants for riparian areas.
Streamkeepers has a mission to educate the public as to the critical importance of not clearing near or otherwise interfering with creeks, and keeping the banks free of added debris and refuse. Shirley pointed to the problem of culverts, which often prevent salmon from being able to get further upstream to spawn. Apparently, very few salmon were seen on Chaster Creek last season, but in a bit of good news, Roberts Creek had a good return in 2021. On another positive note, she discussed the growing practice of building “rain gardens” beside roadways to filter contaminants in road-water runoff. Runoff contains many things noxious to fish; recently tire dust and fragments has been discovered to be very harmful to aquatic life. Interested in becoming a Streamkeeper? Contact Shirley at: [email protected]
Thanks for informing us about the discussion, Gayle. If you would like to join in on the next Elphinstone Community Association general meeting, it will be held Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Email [email protected] for the code. I would love to hear feedback, take suggestions on topics in our neighbourhood, and hear from all 3,883 residents of Elphinstone. I know you’re out there. Email me at [email protected].
