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Help a Toad to cross the road!
Dont miss these upcoming presentations, giving insight into wildlife rehabilitation, bird intelligence and the lives of coastal wolves:
Reporting wildfire sightings is easier with the BC Wildfire Service App:With the BC Wildfire Service app, you can quickly report wildfires electronically - even in areas with limited cell coverage. Click on the report button, prepare your report offline and your report will automatically go to the Provincial Wildfire Reporting Centre when you’re back in service.Our mobile app is free to download on both Apple and Android devices.
iOS: apps.apple.com/us/app/bc-wildfire-service/id1477675008
Google play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.bc.gov.WildfireInformation&pcampaignid=web_share
Interesting and helpful advice from John Neilson and the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Stewards :Recently, BCWS has been made aware of two incidents of soapy water at the Brooklyn Creek fish ladder (see picture taken July 2nd). This has likely resulted from a release of a detergent into the stream, possibly from car washing or moss removal on roofs.As readers know, Pacific salmon are found in Brooklyn Creek every day of the year, and there certainly is no “safe” time to release detergents or other pollutants into the storm water system that connects with the Creek. Release of any deleterious substance into salmon bearing streams is contrary to the Fisheries Act, and subject to fines. Soapy water can impact young salmon by damaging their gills or skin.
In addition to posing a threat to our salmon populations, soapy water may also indicate that some people are still washing cars, which as of June 23, is not permitted under Stage 3 water restrictions. Once car washing is again allowed, consider washing on a lawn, rather than a hard surface. This simple method can greatly reduce the amount of soapy water entering the storm water system.
Thank you for considering the health of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed.
Dr. John Neilson, President BCWS
Sophia Priestman, a graduate of Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School, is the 2026 recipient of the CVN Bursary. Our $1000 bursary was presented to her at the school’s awards ceremony on May 28.Sophia graduates with straight A grades. She made extensive contributions to the Environment Club throughout her career at Isfeld, taking on the president’s role in grades 11 and 12. She was also very involved in the Model UN Program, and participated in other school clubs and sports.
Outside school, Sophia has volunteered with Anderton Therapeutic Garden and with Lush Valley for several years. At 12 years old she was offered a job by five vendors at the Farmer’s Market and chose Alderlane Bakery where she is in her sixth year of employment. She also has helped out at Pendleton Farm.
Sophia has been accepted at the University of Victoria where she will pursue a dual major in Environmental Studies and Economics with a minor in Applied Ethics. Of this somewhat unusual combination of disciplines, Sophia says:
This variety of disciplines will allow me to see complex political and environmental issues from multiple perspectives and find innovative solutions that both foster sustainability and ensure welfare for all (human and non-human alike).
Congratulations, Sophia!
Category Archives: Plants and fungi
Nordic botany
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on January 17. I was up the mountain on Saturday, x-country skiing on the upper west-Jutland loop. The conditions weren’t great…it had rained heavily up there a week or so ago. … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Winter observations
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on December 24. Wishing you all a belated happy solstice and a Merry Christmas. A rare white Christmas this year! Between deluges of rain and the current wintery state, botany walks … Continue reading
Posted in Mammals, Miscellaneous, Plants and fungi
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More mega polypores, plus bear’s heads
Notes and photos by Alison M. distributed to the Botany Group on November 7. After the extremely hot dry summer, many of our favourite fungi have been noteworthy by their almost total absence. In Strathcona Provincial Park, both in the … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Dune blooms in mid-October!
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 24. I was over on the west coast last weekend, which was almost as wet as this weekend! While wandering the Wickaninnish beach dunes, I was surprised to see … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Spectacular polypores
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 16. I’ve seen some spectacular polypores this fall! Those that grow attached to dead trees and fallen logs are often called “bracket fungus” or “conks.” All have pores underneath … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Moss articles and photos
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 10. This is always a good time of year for moss watching (especially after the rain). Two members have sent links to interesting moss-related articles, and I’ve included a … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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A few Plateau plants
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 15. Here are a few photos from a hike I did up Mt. Becher with Mandy a few weeks ago. Some wonderful colours starting and lots of interesting plants … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Bedwell and Cream Lakes botany (part 2)
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 4. Here’s part 2 from the Bedwell and Cream Lakes area. See part 1 here. Click a photo to enlarge it. Cream Lake view River beauty or dwarf fireweed … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Bedwell and Cream Lakes botany (part 1)
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 4. Apart from Alison’s lovely photos of Paradise Meadows, we haven’t delved into subalpine/alpine plants much this summer. So, here is a blast of the mountain flora. I went … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Learn about western redcedar dieback
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host the following free online lecture: Title: Western redcedar dieback and community science in the Pacific NorthwestSpeaker: Dr. Joseph HulbertDate: Sunday, September 19, 2021Time: 7:00 p.m. PDT This webinar is facilitated by the Canadian … Continue reading
Posted in Climate, Guest Speakers, Plants and fungi
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