PROJECTS

Shoal Islands Economic Development Initiative

Our team was retained by the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council to assist in the development of a major Manila clam farm for the Halalt First Nation. Specific project tasks include developing a strategy and business plan for economic development of intertidal resources, integrating aquaculture development, wild fisheries management and upland water quality remediation. We assisted in the planning, preparation and construction of the initial phases of Manila clam farming operations (see photo essay below).

Water quality from rural development and agriculture in the upland watershed impacts this area and our participation in the SIEDI initiative was with a project team of agriculturists, stream experts, biologists, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the local community under the guidance of project manager Koren Bear, to monitor, identify problems and promote remediation efforts in local salmon bearing creeks. BRC assisted in this part of the initiative with mapping, data analysis and planning.

The end goal is expected to be a sustainable community enterprise creating local employment for the Halalat First Nation and an improvement in the health of the freshwater and estuarine ecosystems necassary for successful shellfish aquaculture.

This project has received project funding from the Government of BC and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Final Project reports from this project included:

Kingzett. B., 2005. Shoal Islands Economic Development Initiative: Strategic Plan for Shellfish Development, 2005. Blue Revolution Consulting Group Inc., Prepared for Halalt First Nation. 90pp. + app

Kingzett. B ., K. Leask, R. Waters and K. Bear. 2005. Shoal Islands Economic Development Initiative: Summary of water quality investigations and remediation activities, 2005. Blue Revolution Consulting Group Inc., and Naut’ sa mawt Tribal Council. prepared for Halalt First Nation. 77pp.

Norgard, T., B. Kingzett, S. Richards and A. Perkovich. 2005. Shoal Islands Economic Development Initiative: Summary of 2005 Clam Survey. Blue Revolution Consulting Group Inc. Prepared for Halalt First Nation 33pp+ app.

Photo Essay

The Halalt Nation operates a valuable fishery for wild clams on their beaches that is threatened by water pollution, this project will enhance the marine environment, increase productivity and management to provide greater economic sustainability.

Halalt community members stretching and anchoring predator nets on their lease site at the Shoal Islets (April, 05). BRC is building capacity by demonstrating professional clam culture methods on the Halalt site.

Stephanie Richards (light blue top centre), project manager Koren Bear (to her right) and Halalt community members getting ready to seed clams. (April, 05)

Halalt community members carefully spreading out young clam seed over nets as the tide rises (April, 05). Over 6 million clam seed were spread in this phase of the project.

During July of 2005, BRC assisted the Halalt Band members to conduct a comprehensive systematic survey of the intertidal area to determine clam biomass and distribution. In In this photo Tammy Norgard (red sweater) briefs a Halalt crew at the beginning of a tide.

Halalt members processing clam samples on the beach during the survey - almost 1500 quadrats were dug over a 5 day period.

BRC brought in Meridian Mapping to assist in assist in developing a GIS map of the beach entailing biophysical features, development and tidal height. A Survey-grade GPS unit (left) operated by Dugald Dunlop was used for topograhical measurement (~ 1cm accuracy), and mapping grade units (<1m accuracy) like the one operated by Stephanie Richards on right were used to measure biophysical features. (July 2005)

Shepherd Stewart of Meridian Mapping delineates a stream channel by walking its length. The use of advanced GPS and GIS techniques has allowed the cost effective mapping of the intertidal area which will be used for development planning and on-going farm management.

Combined with available hi-resolution ortho-photography, we were able to establish mapping of (left to right), biophysical zones, farm management grids, and tidal elevation across the large intertidal area.

The Shoal Island site is influenced by the Bonsall Creek and Chemainus River watersheds. Both are important salmon systems and the Bonsall in particular has been affected by decades of riparian impacts. The Halalt First Nation is very involved in working to remediate salmon habitat and water quality in this system. In this photo, Dugald Dunlop of Meridian Mapping is conducting a GPS elevation survey of the creek with BRC assistance. Chief Bert Thomas of the Halalt Band with a lifetime's experience on this system, provides guidance and expertise.

The Bonsall Creek watershed is impacted by a variety of agriculture uses. With coordination by project manager Koren Bear, the Halalt Band has been working with the local agriculture community to remediate and prevent riparian impacts. During this phase of the initiative, the Halalt have funded and installed almost 4000' of fences to prevent cattle such as these from having direct access to the creek.

More links to this project:

Cowichan Valley Citizen - article

The Ladysmith Chroncile, May 31, 2005

Klahowya, April 2005 (see pages 3, 10)