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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 SALISH SEA S o u t h E n g l i s h m a n B r R o NANAIMO ve i Ri v n n e n Creek r ottle shma e C gli l E n C Brannen r Long Lake e Lake ek M M ill st o o Riv r n e er i a B r e t y n s C o Westwood n r e C Lake e re k e k N o R r Ch th ase ush N Riv Cr a er B Labour Day Lake ee n e k a c D im k a o C CEDAR s H R r h e iv e m C e e r k e r r ee Nanaimo Lakes C k re e N k iv er a o R naim iver Nanaim Third Lake o R er H Quennell Riv o Fourth o kk Lake G im a Dunsm a n Lake r u W e ir n e e C a h n re N i k C n e th s e r k u k e e C E Cr e k o e lk n r S h k ee y or Cr e e e J i a d k Sa c k C r e e k k ree Jump Lake C eek am Cr sl p a Jum H COWICHAN VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT 1 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 _ Nanaimo River Community Watershed %, Monitoring Site Nanaimo River C E (Approximate Location) D A R 30m riparian area R D 100m distance from stream _ Flow Direction 0 125 250 500 ± Meters D R N O D R O G %, DUKE POI NT H IG HW AY Friends of French Creek _ Conservation Society Community Water %, Monitoring Site Nanaimo & Area Land Trust D LAN R ACMIL H Community Water M FrenchO Creek LD %, (ApproximEate Location) Monitoring Site N C O 30 Meter RiparRian D Nanaimo River S R O Waterco urse (Approximate Location) selection Area Buffer D (Approximate Location) R A D E H 30 Meter Riparian 100 Meter Buffer N NanE aimoRiver_30mBuffer C K Area Buffer E Flow Direction A a D NanaimoRiver_100mBuffer 100 Meter Buffer A 0 75 150 300 R Meters ± R D 4 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 a HILBERT RD %, N AN A T IMO R RI V A ER N RD S - C A N A D A H I G H W A Y HASL AM RD S PRUST ON RD 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.