DROUGHT UPDATE > PULLOUT INSIDE WATER REGION 6 StreamsState 2015 WATER QUALITY EDITION

Haslam Creek

This publication gives a snapshot of two streams in your local water region that have been monitored for the past three years as part of the Community Watershed Monitoring Network. Made possible with community partners including provincial and local government, private forest companies, environmental stewardship organizations and volunteers, this network is coordinated through the RDN’s Drinking Water and Watershed Protection (DWWP) Program to monitor water quality in 23 streams across the region. We are excited to share what we continue to learn about our local water as we work to achieve goals outlined in the DWWP Action Plan. For more information please visit: www.dwwp.ca The Community

Watershed Program 2 under the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Action Plan outlines the goal to improve information about the Monitoring region’s water resources in terms of quantity and quality. The Community Watershed Monitoring Network (CWMN) furthers this program action by collecting water quality data to track Network stream health. Partnership between local stewardship groups, BC Ministry of Environment, Island Timberlands and the RDN DWWP program enables the expansion of monitoring in our region. Volunteers sample water quality in 17 watersheds at 51 sites. Monitoring occurs: – 5 consecutive weeks Aug. to Sept. (summer low flow) – 5 consecutive weeks Oct. to Nov. (fall flush period)

suspended particles in water; linked to higher levels of contaminants water quality indicators oxygen dissolved in water supports aquatic life

affects processes in water and in aquatic life

This DWWP program is linked to Indicator 5 of our Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) monitoring program which measures progress towards achieving Goal 2 of the RGS: to “protect and enhance the environment and minimize ecological damage related to growth and development”. With regard to fresh water, the RGS identifies a strategy to meet this goal, of “protecting the quality and quantity of ground water and surface water”. The RGS seeks to maintain the long term sustainability of these water resources. For more information on ‘Monitoring the RGS’ please visit www.rdn.bc.ca/rgsmonitoring.

2 WATER REGION 6 Nanaimo River

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COWICHAN VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT

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2 3 This publication highlights: 4 5 7 Nanaimo River & Haslam Creek 1 BIG QUALICUM 6 For more monitoring results and 2 LITTLE QUALICUM other streams in the region, go to 3 FRENCH CREEK www.rdn.bc.ca/CWMN 4 ENGLISHMAN RIVER 5 NANOOSE TO SOUTH WELLINGTON 6 NANAIMO RIVER 7 GABRIOLA ISLAND

3 NANAIMO RIVER Monitoring by the Nanaimo & Area Land Trustnt

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H E M E D R R R D G IN L R _ TA S Details Within the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, Water Region 6 is the largest of seven water regions in the Regional District of Nanaimo. Beginning at Mount Hooper and flowing 78 kilometers to the Salish Sea, the Nanaimo River has a drainage area of 829.5 square kilometers including all its tributaries. There are several headwater lakes including Fourth Lake, Nanaimo Lakes and Jump Lake. This watershed is an important source of drinking water, supplying the Snuneymuxw First Nation, City of Nanaimo and South West Extension Improvement District with water from the Jump Lake and South Fork Dams. Fourth Lake Dam located in the upper watershed is operated by Harmac Pacific to meet water demands of the pulp mill. Managing summer low flow periods, water is released from all three dams to maintain the necessary discharge for aquatic species. The majority of lands in the watershed are owned by private forestry companies, with the Nanaimo River Hatchery, Nanaimo River Regional Park, rural residential and industrial uses surrounding the lower Challenges reaches. It supports not only all five species of Pacific salmon, rainbow and cutthroat trout but also a variety The CWMN has been monitoring Nanaimo River of recreational activities from bird watching to white above the Haslam Creek confluence since 2011. Over water rafting. The southern portion of this water region the past four years CWMN results have found this extends into the Cowichan Valley Regional District. river to have good water quality. All four summer sample periods had exceedences of the Provincial Drinking Water Quality Guideline for temperature on at least one sample date. This exceedence is typical Opportunities of many East Coast Vancouver Island streams where The lower portions of the Nanaimo River are the lower portions are wide and shallow. As long as interconnected to the aquifers below – including the refuges remain with lower temperatures, juvenile Cassidy aquifer. Maintaining health and flow of this fish should be able to retreat to these during periods river is vital not only for aquatic habitat but also for the of elevated temperatures. In 2014 an additional site local groundwater source. Further research to better was added where the river underpasses the Cedar understand this connection has been determined a Road bridge; summer results here also showed priority in this watershed since the 1993 Nanaimo River temperature increases above the guidelines. Levels Water Management Plan. below the dissolved oxygen guideline were recorded From commissioning a Watershed Baseline Report to in the summer period of 2014 at both sites. working on land acquisition for conservation, Nanaimo and Area Land Trust (NALT) is continuously striving Historic logging practices removed riparian conifers to protect the river’s natural values. Suggestions in a which decreased the amount of large woody baseline report for enhancement of the rivers’ values debris in side channels, tributaries and the estuary, include completion of detailed rare species inventories, leading to erosion of stream banks, widening of increasing facilities (e.g. washrooms and garbage cans) channels and mounting of in-stream sediment. and restoration to enrich stream complexity (e.g. side While current forestry practices are much improved, channels, pools and riffles). Resulting from the 2011 effects of historic practices still persist. Increasing Nanaimo River Symposium facilitated by NALT, the encroachment of human development also Nanaimo River Watershed Roundtable was formed. challenges the many habitats naturally provided by The roundtable is a multi-stakeholder group that fosters the river. and facilitates communication, leading to the sharing of information and support for collaborative initiatives. If you would like to get involved with Nanaimo River initiatives contact NALT at [email protected].

5 HASLAM CREEK Monitoring by the Nanaimo & Area Land Trustnt

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Haslam Creek Nanaimo & Area Land Trust Community Watershed %, Monitoring Site Community Water %, Monitoring Site Haslam Creek a (Approximate Location) Haslam Creek (Approximate Location) Nana3i0mmo r i&pa Ariraena a rLeaand Trust Community Water 30 Meter Riparian 100m distance %, Monitoring Site Area Buffer VOWELS RD from stream

_ 100 Meter Buffer FloHwa Dsliaremc tCiorneek (Approximate Location) a Flow Direction 0 125 25030 M5e0te0r Riparian Meters ± Area Buffer 0 100 200 400 Meters ± 100 Meter Buffer

6 Details Haslam Creek is within the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. The 24.7 kilometer length of the creek drains an area of approximately 128.7 square kilometers. A major contributor of flow to the lower reaches of the Nanaimo River, Haslam Creek accounts for about 16.4% of the Nanaimo River watershed drainage. The headwaters begin in the slopes of McKay Peak and Mount Hayes in the southeastern quadrant of Water Region 6. Three lakes contribute flow to the creek: Michael Lake, Timberland Lake and Haslam Lake. Fish species found in Haslam Creek include coho, chum, Chinook and pink salmon, as Challenges well as steelhead, cutthroat and rainbow trout. The lower portions of Haslam Creek are in hydraulic From 2011 to 2013 the CWMN monitored a connection with the upper Cassidy aquifer, with sample site on Haslam Creek just upstream the aquifer contributing flow to the creek and of its confluence with the Nanaimo River. The water from the creek infiltrating to recharge site exhibited exceedences of the temperature the aquifer. Land uses in the Haslam watershed guideline each summer. However, as these are primarily forestry in the upper portions and temperatures are common in the lower reaches a mixture of agriculture, rural residential and of eastern Vancouver Island streams and all other industrial (e.g. gravel pit) in the lower reaches. water quality parameters yielded satisfactory Upper portions of the Haslam watershed are results, monitoring was reduced from a seasonal to located in the Cowichan Valley Regional District. a three year cycle. Haslam Creek is prone to low flows in the summer period; this has the largest impact on fish species. A combination of activities in the watershed have the potential to decrease flows, such as agricultural Opportunities draw for irrigation requirements, alteration of drainage patterns, removal of riparian vegetation The 2010 Haslam Creek Fish and Fish habitat and a decrease in water storage from the removal Assessment completed for the Ministry of of beaver dams and infilling of wetlands. The Environment highlights that a watershed unconfined upper Cassidy aquifer is considered assessment inclusive of geomorphology, highly vulnerable by the Province as it is close silviculture, hydrology and cultural uses involving to the ground surface and permeable, thus the Snuneymeuwx First Nation is a high susceptible to contamination. priority for this area. Physical restoration work is recommended in the 2010 report to increase riparian vegetation and bank stabilization, diminish gravel accumulation and channel widening, and research if side channel creation would provide winter refuge for anadromous species. Continuing community outreach efforts and education about how our individual water use impacts our local waterways, as offered by the RDN’s Team WaterSmart, is important in this watershed. As a whole, environmentally focused land management and development practices will ensure the continuance of good water quality in Haslam Creek. To participate in stewardship in this area contact NALT ([email protected]).

7 ACTIONS ACTIVITIES Keep stream banks naturally vegetated Continuous monitoring in local waterways helps to promote watershed Refrain from chemical use in landscape health awareness in our communities maintenance Environmental stewards are trained every year on how to monitor water Pick up after your dog to ensure dog quality and collect data to provincial waste stays out of waterways standards Minimize impervious surfaces – deal Trend reports created from the first with rainwater on site to limit what runs- three years of data determine which off into the stream, potentially carrying sites would benefit from additional contaminants, contributing to erosion monitoring and flash flooding CWMN results continue to highlight areas for improved watershed management, physical stream assessments, outreach and education

GET INVOLVED

Departure Creek Streamkeepers Lantzville-Nanoose Streamkeepers Nile Creek Enhancement Society operates under auspices of NALT nanoosestreamkeepers.blogspot.ca www.nilecreek.org [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Friends of French Creek Mid-Vancouver Island Habitat Qualicum Beach Streamkeepers Conservation Society Enhancement Society www.ffccs.ca www.mvihes.bc.ca www.qbstreamkeepers.ca [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Island Waters Fly Fishers Nanaimo & Area Land Trust VIU - Fisheries & Aquaculture Department www.iwff1.ca www.nalt.bc.ca www2.viu.ca/fisheries [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

For additional monitoring sites, trend reports and program details please visit www.rdn.bc.ca/CWMN

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