|
The purpose
of this conservation plan
is to elucidate the wildlife
values in the Baynes Sound/Lambert
Channel-Hornby Island Waters
Important Bird Areas, discuss
the issues that may affect
these values, introduce
and highlight the initiatives
that are addressing some
of these issues, and to
focus and direct future
initiatives that could further
address identified concerns.
What
is an Important Bird Area?
An Important Bird Area (IBA)
is a site providing essential
habitat for one or more
species of breeding or non-breeding
birds. These sites may contain
threatened species, endemic
species, species representative
of a biome, or highly exceptional
concentrations of birds.
The goals of the Canadian
IBA program are to:
- identify
a network of sites that
conserve the natural diversity
of Canadian bird species;
- ensure
the conservation of sites
through partnerships of
local stakeholders who
develop and implement
appropriate on-the-ground
conservation plans
The
Baynes Sound/Lambert Channel-Hornby
Island Waters IBAs
This complex of two IBAs is
situated on the east coast
of Vancouver Island. The Baynes
Sound IBA extends from the
Courtenay River estuary at
the head of Comox Harbour
to Deep Bay and Mapleguard
Point approximately 35 kilometres
to the southeast. Included
in this IBA is Chrome Island,
which is situated off the
southern point of Denman Island.
The Lambert Channel-Hornby
Island Waters IBA includes
the body of water that separates
Denman and Hornby Islands
as well as the shores of eastern
and southern Hornby Island,
especially the marine reserve
associated with Helliwell
Provincial Park and the marine
portion of Tribune Bay Provincial
Park. Included in this is
a one-kilometre radius around
Flora Islet.
The foreshore areas and marine
waters that encompass these
two IBAs represent one of
the most significant areas
for wintering and migratory
waterbirds in BC. Within in
the bounds of the two IBAs,
a total of nine bird species
have reached globally significant
levels, three have reached
continentally significant
levels, and one species has
reached nationally significant
levels. The predominance of
this region as a significant
area for several species of
birds is due largely to the
variety of different habitats
and hence sources of food
available to birds. The combination
of sheltered and exposed waters
together with the resultant
varying intertidal substrates
have given rise to a wide
range of different habitat
types such as inshore and
foreshore marshes, low gradient
deltas and tidal flats. This
region is also one of the
most productive Pacific herring
spawning areas and shellfish
growing areas in BC.
Conservation issues in the
Baynes Sound/Lambert Channel-Hornby
Island Waters area
Like many coastal regions
of the world, the east coast
of Vancouver Island in the
vicinity of these two IBAs
has undergone significant
changes. Recent population
increases in the region have
resulted in a number of issues
that potentially impact the
birds in these two IBAs. These
include pressures on shoreline
and associated habitats due
to urban development; water
pollution from non-point sources
(e.g., failing rural septic
systems, faulty storm drains,
agricultural runoff, boater
waste), and human disturbance
(e.g., wildlife viewing).
Other conservation concerns
relate to the health of the
Pacific herring stocks, and
expansions to the shellfish
industry in the area.
Current
conservation actions and activities
The Baynes Sound/Lambert Channel-Hornby
Island Waters area has long
been recognized as an important
area for waterbirds, salmon,
herring and shellfish. In
recent history, development
in this area has resulted
in significant impacts to
the natural environment. In
response to the challenges
that development has brought,
the area has seen the establishment
of an numerous community-based
conservation initiatives.
The Baynes Sound Stewardship
Action Group (BSSAG) is an
aggregation of project orientated
community, government and
industry groups that meet
on a monthly basis to address
local conservation concerns.
This group includes Comox
Valley Project Watershed Society,
Comox Valley Citizens for
Action on Recycling and the
Environment, the BC Shellfish
Growers Association, BC Ministry
of Fish, Environment Canada,
the local health unit, and
others depending upon current
project focus. BSSAG employs
a collaborative problem-solving
approach to the mitigation
of local health and environmental
issues.
Because of the tradition of
action-based conservation
activity in this region, the
opportunities for effective
conservation are numerous
and are generally limited
by access to project and core
funding, rather than the capacity
to design and implement the
necessary projects. The IBA
program will help focus conservation
activities in this area. By
doing so, waterbirds can be
incorporated in to the various
projects in the region. In
addition, highlighting the
birds within these IBAs can
help galvanize support for
conservation activities both
inside and outside the community.
The IBA program in this area
is helping to connect agencies
and programs together to support
conservation related work
in the region.
Conservation
Goals and Objectives
The conservation goals and
objectives for the Baynes
Sound/Lambert Channel-Hornby
Island Waters IBA encompass
four main focal areas: program
integration, water quality
amelioration, education and
outreach, and research and
monitoring. In many cases
these programs are ongoing
but are always limited by
available funding. In almost
all instances the infrastructure
and personnel are present
within the community to accomplish
most of the tasks required.
The long-term capacity of
these two IBAs to support
the birds presently found
here (resident and migratory)
will be enhanced by the achievement
of these conservation goals
and objectives.
- Program
integration: the development
of an information management
system
Given the large geographic
size of this area, and
the number of different
conservation initiatives
that are ongoing it is
critical to line diverse
initiatives together.
The State of the Sound
Program, led by Comox
Valley Project Watershed
Society (Project Watershed)
will create a system for
the long-term management
and reporting of water
quality and conservation
actions in the Baynes
Sound region. This system
will facilitate community
access to information,
improve awareness and
understanding about stewardship
issues, and increase public
participation in decision-making
and policy development
related to water quality
and conservation issues.
This program is in its
initial development stages
and will require secure
funding to fulfil its
potential.
- Water
quality amelioration:
making the water cleaner
throughout the region
Water quality is a key
component in the conservation
efforts in this area as
problems associated with
water quality can have
far reaching affects on
the entire ecosystem in
the region. Deterioration
of water quality can directly
affect human health, result
in economic losses for
those industries that
rely on clean water (e.g.,
the shellfish industry),
and negatively impact
spawning habitat for Pacific
herring and the feeding
habitat for various species
of waterbirds. Water quality
problems in the area result
from several types of
non-point source pollution,
including failing septic
systems, boater waste,
and hazardous waste disposal.
Failing
septic systems
Water quality problems
associated with failing
septic systems have been
chronic in the region.
Presently, there are several
initiatives that are actively
addressing this issue.
These initiatives include:
Septic seminars/socials:
a community out reach
program implemented by
Comox Valley Citizens
for Action on Recycling
and the Environment (CVCARE)
demonstrates the proper
care and maintenance of
a septic system. This
program has been extremely
successful in selected
locations in the area,
but requires additional
funding to be implemented
over a larger area.
Union Bay Waste to Wealth
Project: a project that
will research innovative
approaches to the treatment
of wastewater at a community
level. It will include
constructed wetlands,
solar greenhouses and
vermi-composting. This
project will represent
a significant contribution
to water quality amelioration
in the region. Should
this program prove successful,
it could be used as a
model for similar sized
communities in the region
and throughout BC.
Hornby Island constructed
wetland and grey water
treatment system: a project
implemented by CVCARE
examines the feasibility
of using a small constructed
wetland and grey water
treatment system to treat
waste from individual
residences. The program
is well suited for this
region, as well as many
coastal communities in
BC.
Biofiltration
Wetlands: these
small constructed wetlands
built by Project Watershed
in conjunction with the
Department of Highways
improve the water quality
of stormwater runoff and
wastewater effluent, while
creating valuable wildlife
habitat. Within the region
there are numerous areas
that could benefit from
these projects.
Boater
waste
Construction of boater
pump out facilities is
planned at each end of
Baynes Sound (Comox Harbour
and Deep Bay). These facilities
will provide an alternative
to dumping raw sewage
into the marine waters
of Baynes Sound.
Hazardous
Waste disposal
Spring Clean-up was a
pilot project developed
and implemented in the
spring of 2000 by CVCARE
that focused on raising
awareness of the misuse
of hazardous chemicals,
and offered information
on using safer alternatives.
The campaign culminated
in a hazardous waste drop-off
day for all citizens of
the Comox Valley. This
project may be repeated
in following years, pending
long-term funding.
- Outreach/Stewardship:
increasing the awareness
of conservation issues
and providing useful information
and practical tools
Business
Partners for Clean Water
This program initiated
by Project Watershed will
involve local businesses
in the automotive, marine,
landscaping, building
maintenance, construction,
and other business sectors
whose activities contribute
to water quality problems
in Baynes Sound. At least
200 businesses will be
invited to participate
as “Business Partners”,
and will receive best
management information
that will prevent and/or
reduce levels of toxic
substances entering wastewater
disposal systems as a
result of their business
activities.
Clean
Boating handbook
The Baynes Sound Boaters
Guide produced by Project
Watershed, outlines responsible
boating operation including
such activities as sewage
and engine waste disposal,
and boat maintenance.
Future editions may include
a wildlife viewing component
either as an addition
to the original document,
or as an insert (e.g.,
BC Parks Living with Wildlife).
Sound
management of marinas
A program initiated by
Project Watershed that
is in the early stages
of development will focus
on how marina operators
can carry out business
in an ecologically sensitive
manner. If feasible this
program will be extended
to boaters, both recreational
and commercial. The initiation
of this project is pending
the acquisition of sufficient
funding.
Disturbance
to wildlife
Ecotourisim and use of
natural areas such as
Provincial Parks have
increased throughout coastal
BC. One of the consequences
of these activities is
the disturbance to wildlife.
The disturbance to wildlife
in this region is an issue
that will undoubtedly
escalate as the popularity
of wildlife viewing increases,
and as the population
in the area increases.
It is therefore important
that the public be made
aware of how disturbance
affects wildlife, and
how to share the waters
with wildlife without
causing undue disturbance.
The production of information
material on how to utilize
natural areas with due
care and attention will
help reduce the detrimental
consequences for wintering
birds that uninformed
use of these areas can
cause. Signage at local
boat launching areas and
marinas, and within high
use areas (e.g., Provincial
Parks) can also reduce
these impacts.
Foreshore
stewardship
One of the most important
activities that could
be implemented in this
region is a foreshore
stewardship program. One
component of this program,
proposed by Project Watershed,
is the mapping and inventory
of foreshore wetlands,
and wildlife habitat for
government and private
landowners. In addition,
the marine section of
the Living by Water Program
initiated by the Federation
of BC Naturalists could
be modified and expanded
in order to more thoroughly
address marine issues
such as the alteration
of marine wetlands, the
role of large trees as
potential heron and raptor
nest sites, and disturbance
of sensitive wildlife
habitat areas such as
herring spawning areas
and heron colonies.
Stewardship of another
sort: connections between
birds and shellfish growers
who are outside the BC
Shellfish Growers Association
Presently the BC Shellfish
Growers Association, the
BC IBA Program and the
CWS are developing a waterbird
supplement for the shellfish
industry’s best management
practices. This supplement
integrates waterbird natural
history with shellfish
growing operations in
order to minimize the
conflict between growing
operations and waterbirds.
It will be important that
this material be extended
to the numerous businesses
that do not belong to
the BCSGA in order to
include as many growing
operations as possible.
Increased
awareness of birds in
winter
The development of signage
in appropriate locations
that highlights the area
as a globally important
wintering area for waterbirds
may increase the connection
of local inhabitants to
the area, and thereby
potentially influencing
day-to-day interactions
with the natural environment.
Content material for these
signs would include how
development, resource
use, and day-to-day living
affect major limiting
factors such as water
quality, disturbance to
birds, and foreshore and
herring spawning habitat,
and how to responsibly
interact with this resource.
Research
and Monitoring: ensuring the
availability of meaningful
data
- Waterbird
monitoring
Presently, the Coastal
Waterbird Survey, conducted
by local natural history
organizations in conjunction
with Bird Studies Canada,
is a vehicle that can
track potential changes
in bird distribution within
this area. It is therefore
critical that this program
continues as it is currently
providing valuable data
on which changes in abundance
and distribution of birds
can be based upon.
- Exploration
of the relationship between
shellfish growing activities
and waterbird biology
Concerns raised by numerous
individuals (both government
and non-government) regarding
the potential impact of
shellfish industry on
waterbird foraging habitat
suggest that a long-term,
carefully thought out
and well-planned research
project will be necessary
to address these concerns.
- Great
Blue Herons
Declines in the numbers
of Great Blue Herons in
coastal BC indicate that
an examination of heron
foraging habitat is warranted.
INTRODUCTION
The east coast of Vancouver
Island and associated gulf
islands represent extremely
important habitat for a
wide variety of birds both
during the breeding and
non-breeding seasons. The
coastal waters stretching
from Comox, to Maple Guard
Point on Vancouver Island,
including the waters surrounding
both Denman and Hornby Islands,
represent one of the most
significant areas for wintering
waterbirds in BC.
Presently this area encompasses
two IBAs. The Baynes Sound
IBA includes the marine
and foreshore areas between
Vancouver Island and Denman
Island. The Lambert Channel-Hornby
Island Waters IBA includes
the body of water that separates
Denman and Hornby Island
as well as the shores of
eastern and southern Hornby
Island, especially the marine
reserve associated with
Helliwell Provincial Park
and the marine portion of
Tribune Bay Provincial Park.
Included in this is a one-kilometre
radius around Flora Islet.
The predominance of this
region as a globally significant
area for several species
of birds is due largely
to the variety of different
habitats present in this
area. The combinations of
sheltered and exposed waters
together with the resultant
varying intertidal substrates
have given rise to a wide
range of different habitat
types including inshore
and foreshore marshes, low
gradient deltas and tidal
flats that receive input
from nutrient rich river
systems, and rocky intertidal
beaches. These numerous
different habitats support
a complex food web that
supports a wide range of
birds species including
fish eating species such
as herons, loons and cormorants;
diving ducks such as buffleheads
and scoters that prey on
gastropods and bivalves;
shore birds that feed in
the exposed intertidal areas
such as Turnstones and Dunlin;
and dabbling ducks, geese
and swans that feed upon
the emergent vegetation
of estuarine and foreshore
habitats. One of the most
important sources of food
for birds in this area is
the prolific herring spawn
that occurs throughout the
region. During the peak
of the herring spawn upwards
of 60,000 birds descend
upon the foreshore areas
of the region to feed upon
adult herring and their
eggs (Haegele 1993).
Like many coastal regions
of the world, the east coast
of Vancouver Island in the
vicinity of these two IBAs
has undergone significant
changes. The east coast
of Vancouver Island is one
of the fastest growing areas
in Canada. The area is presently
experiencing an annual growth
rate of 7% (MABF 1999).
Furthermore, the long history
of European settlement in
the region has resulted
in a wide array of land
uses, many of which can
have a negative impact on
natural ecological processes.
The present land uses include
urban and suburban regions,
agriculture, commercial
forestry and log storage,
recreational boating and
associated infrastructure
(marinas), commercial fisheries,
and aquaculture. This increased
human presence in the area
has influenced the quality
and quantity of both the
marine and foreshore habitats.
Urbanization, agriculture,
commercial fishing and recreational
boating in the area have
led to declines in water
quality throughout out the
region (Vermeer and Ydenberg
1989). The deterioration
of water quality has had
widespread impacts, especially
for the commercial aquaculture
industry in the area. Similarly
increased settlement has
seen the reduction of saltwater
marshes (Campbell-Prentice
and Boyd 1988, Dawe et al.
1998) as well as the forested
foreshore areas. The intensive
shellfish industry has also
raised concerns about affect
on the availability of waterbird
foraging habitat (Savard
1989, Axys 2000).
Furthermore, disturbance
to nesting, roosting, moulting
and feeding birds from water-based
activities such as ecotourisim
and recreational boating
has also increased in the
area.
Human induced changes in
this region have not gone
unnoticed by local residents,
and all three layers of
traditional government.
Within the region there
is a strong and vibrant
community of local organizations
who have designed, developed,
and implemented a wide variety
of measures and programs
that have addressed some
of the major environmental
concerns in the region.
These range from small scale
programs that involve individual
land owners (septic seminars),
to projects that will influence
entire communities (Union
Bay Waste to Wealth) to
initiatives that will track
environmental activities
over a large geographic
area.
These IBAs have been grouped
together in to one conservation
plan because, with minor
exceptions, similar bird
species are found in both
IBAs. In addition, conservation
concerns are similar in
both IBAs. The purpose of
this conservation plan is
to elucidate the wildlife
values in the area, discuss
the issues that may affect
these values, introduce
and highlight the initiatives
that are addressing some
of these issues, and to
focus and direct future
initiatives that could further
address identified concerns.
|
