Slocan River Streamkeepers

The Slocan River Streamkeepers work in the Slocan River valley, in the unceded territory of the Sinixt people.

Slocan River Streamkeepers’ AGM 2022

The Slocan River Streamkeepers’ Annual General Meeting will convene on November 23, 2022 at 7pm in the Passmore Hall (3656 Old Passore Rd)
Slocan River Streamkeepers have worked with the community for over 19 years to protect and rehabilitate the aquatic and wetland ecosystems of the Slocan River through education, restoration and monitoring.
We’ll be calling for Board of Directors nominations.

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Referendum on Local Conservation Fund in Electoral Area H passes

A big Thank you! to everyone who voted and supported a Local Conservation Fund in Electoral Area H.

https://www.rdck.ca/EN/meta/news/news-archives/2022-news-archive/referendum-on-local-conservation-fund-in-electoral-area-h-passes.html

Trozzo and Winlaw Creek Water Users Fall 2022

Fall 2022 Water Quality Updates: Water samples from Trozzo and Winlaw creeks taken by Slocan River Streamkeepers in collaboration with SIFCo. 

Winlaw Creek October 11, 2022

Water Analysis Reports:

Water Analysis Report for metals and nutrients from Caro Analytic Services for water samples collected on November 1st, 2022:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/22k0537_1-caro-e1-2022-11-18-1745.pdf

Water Analysis Report for metals and nutrients from Caro Analytic Services for water samples collected on October 24, 2022:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/22j3309_1-caro-e1-2022-11-18-1731.pdf

Water Analysis Report from Passmore Laboratory, water samples collected on October 11, 2022:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/2210112310.pdf

Water Analysis Report for metals and nutrients from Caro Analytic Services for water samples collected on September 16, 2022

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/22i2441_1-caro-e1-2022-10-05-1523.pdf

Water Analysis Report from Passmore Laboratory, water samples collected on September 16, 2022:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/2209162271.pdf

Water Analysis Report from Passmore Laboratory, water samples collected on September 13, 2022:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/2209132270.pdf

The Little Slocan Watershed

The Little Slocan logging animation shows the history of logging, sometimes characterized as “sustainable forestry,” from 1955 up to, and including, 2021. This logging, carried out by Interfor Corporation (Interfor) and its predecessors has, and continues to degrade the forests of the Little Slocan River watershed (Little Slocan). The myriad ecological benefits of intact forests are diminished and lost as logging continues. The logging animation shows the ongoing deforestation of the Little Slocan. Through clearcutting natural, diverse forests are converted to tree plantations that are groups of trees, but are not forests. Thus, forests are continuing to be lost in the Little Slocan. (read more...

https://littleslocanlogging.netlify.app/

Trozzo and Winlaw Creek Water Users

Winlaw Creek May 27, 2022

Trozzo Creek May 27, 2022

Winlaw Creek May 6, 2022. All photos credit Ian Waterbury

Spring 2022 Water Quality Updates: Water samples from Trozzo and Winlaw creeks taken by Slocan River Streamkeepers in collaboration with SIFCo. 

Water Analysis Reports:

Water Analysis Report from Passmore Laboratory, June 15, 2022: https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/2206152120.pdf

Water analysis report for metals and nutrients from Caro Analytic Services from May 19, 2022:
https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/22e2890_1-caro-e1-2022-06-01-1446.pdf

Water Analysis Report from Passmore Laboratory, May 19, 2022:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/2205192066-1.pdf

Results for the E. coli samples taken on Winlaw Creek and Trozzo Creek on May 19th, 2022 did not meet Canada’s guidelines for drinking water quality for the Total Coliform test. Total Coliforms are not associated with human infection but may indicate the presence of other harmful organisms.

Water Analysis Report from Passmore Laboratory, May 6, 2022:
https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/2022-05-06-e.coli_2205122059.pdf

Results for the E. coli samples taken on Winlaw Creek and Trozzo Creek on May 6th, 2022 did not meet Canada’s guidelines for drinking water quality because there are counts of Total Coliforms and E.coli. Therefore, it is probably a good idea for residents to consider treating their water during and after large rain events, and to have their water tested regularly. See the information sheet from Passmore Labs with more info on the subject.

In terms of nutrients and metals, results from the first and second round of sampling show that there are nutrients and metals detectable in in the water samples, but none that exceed Canada’s guidelines. Results from the third round of sampling are expected within the next couple of days.

Water analysis report for metals and nutrients from Caro Analytic Services from May 9, 2022:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/22e1279-1-caro-e1-2022-05-18-1709.pdf

Water analysis report for metals and nutrients from Caro Analytic Services from April 19, 2022:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/22d2515_1-caro-e1-2022-05-09-1015.pdf

For more information on drinking water from Passmore Laboratory:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/drinking-water-information-1.pdf

Supporting Riparian Health on Farmland for Flood Management Webinar

March 15 10am

Find out how healthy riparian areas can reduce flood damage and support agricultural production in the Kootenay Region of BC

Join us for an interactive Farmland Riparian Health webinar led by two local riparian experts: Lee Hesketh of the BC Cattlemen’s Association Farmland Riparian Interface Stewardship Program and Gregoire Lamoureux of Slocan River Streamkeepers.

Presented by the Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP).
https://bcclimatechangeadaptation.ca/

Free online webinar

Tue, March 15, 2022

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PDT

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/supporting-riparian-health-on-farmland-for-flood-management-tickets-288030315427

Slocan River Streamkeepers’ Annual General Meeting (AGM) November 15, 2021

AGM
Welcome Slocan Valley residents. The Slocan River Streamkeepers’ 2021 Annual General Meeting will convene on November 15, 2021 at 7pm at the Passmore Hall (3656 Old Passmore Rd).

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Trozzo and Winlaw Creek Water Users

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For more information on drinking water from Passmore Laboratory:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/drinking-water-information-1.pdf

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Water Analysis Reports:

Water Analysis Report from Passmore Laboratory, October 23, 2021:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/2110191826.pdf

Water analysis report for metals and nutrients from Caro Analytic Services from September 22, 2021:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/21i3202_1-caro-e1-2021-10-01-1622.pdf

Water Analysis Report from Passmore Laboratory, September 22, 2021:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/2109221775.pdf

Water Analysis Report from Passmore Laboratory, September 13, 2021:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/2109131756.pdf

Water analysis report for metals and nutrients from Caro Analytic Services from September 13, 2021:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/21i1744_1-caro-e1-2021-09-22-1615.pdf

Water Analysis Report from Passmore Laboratory September 3, 2021:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/2109021740.pdf

Water Analysis Report from Passmore Laboratory August 30, 2021:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/2108301725.pdf

Water Analysis Report from Passmore Laboratory August 27, 2021:

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/2108231710.pdf

Water analysis report for metals and nutrients from Caro Analytic Services August 23, 2021:

Code: WIN-WQ01 = Winlaw Creek —– TRO-WQ01 = Trozzo Creek

https://slocanriverstreamkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/21h3009_1-caro-e1-2021-09-10-0940.pdf

Riparian Restoration

Thanks to Slocan Integral Forestry Cooperative for producing this great video about our riparian restoration program.

Thanks to our many Funders who have supported our riparian restoration work in the Slocan Valley. They include Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Power Corporation, The Province of BC, Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ardcorp, FortisBC, BCWF, CBWN, RDCK and SIFCo.

Thanks also to all our volunteers, helpers, workers, streamkeepers, local schools and especially landowners for your support!

Enjoy Slocan River…

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Image & text layout by Dominique Monnier

Slocan Riverwatch Map of the Slocan River

Slocan River Streamkeepers’ Riparian Restoration Project

A riparian restoration project in progress along the Slocan River

It’s a fact of our bygone days that cottonwood groves used to be common near the riverside in the Slocan Valley. They provided important habitat and soil-preserving benefits to the riparian areas. Historical land-use practices, and resident attitudes of former times (stretching back many decades), resulted in the clearing or decimation of a great deal of these stream-side groves. However, more recently, attitudes have been shifting.

The Slocan River Streamkeepers, a community organization with an 18-year history, will continue this year to carry out their “Riparian Restoration Project.” The project’s aim is to restore degraded riparian areas at four separate sites along the river, to reduce bank erosion, and create long-term wildlife habitat. Riparian ecosystems are known to benefit fish habitat, and are a positive factor in our engagement with climate change. According to the BC Conservation Data Centre, cottonwood ecosystems of the southern interior are among the rarest plant communities in the province.

Wherewithal to continue Streamkeepers’ work has arrived through the financial support from the Healthy Watersheds Initiative, which is delivered by the Real Estate Foundation of BC and Watersheds BC, with financial support from the Province of British Columbia.

This year, the Streamkeepers’ work will involve planting native trees (cottonwood, willows, red osier dogwood, alder and so on). The young trees will be protected from beavers by a combination of tree protectors and fencing.

Integral to the project, Streamkeepers will install 50 bird nesting boxes (short-term habitat) along Slocan River for species at risk, including Lewis’s woodpecker, western screech owl, and barn swallows — and for other, not-at-risk species, such as violet-green and tree swallows. Some bat boxes will also be installed.

Another dimension of the project includes monitoring of the sites to document the plants already established and survival rate of the newly established trees, also to ascertain how many birds have nested in previously installed nesting boxes, as well as how many will nest in 2021. Likewise, it will document the use of the already installed bat boxes, and the new ones to be installed this year.

In support of the restoration of damaged riparian ecosystems, the HWI funding will help in creating six part-time jobs in the Valley. The Slocan River Streamkeepers are extremely grateful for the support of this work by Healthy Watersheds Initiative, the Real Estate Foundation of BC, Watersheds BC, and the financial support from the Province of British Columbia.

Other funding for this project provided by Columbia Basin Trust, FortisBC and The Nature Trust of British Columbia.

In keeping with the Streamkeepers’ established approach, the group will continue their public outreach with local residents and landowners, sharing information about the importance of protecting riparian areas (or restoring, when needed).

People interested in part-time work in this project may send requests and résumés to: info@slocanriverstreamkeepers.com