CERCA's PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFF
CERCA's perseverance pays off
Finally some good news!
You may recall that one of our major projects planned for 2019 was the enhancement of the trail along the crest of the dike leading to the spit at the Western Forest Products mill-pond. In the fall of 2018 we had reached an agreement with Western Forest Products Ltd. (WFP) to partner for this project pending clarification of dyke ownership. The agreement was made on the assumption that the dike was owned by WFP and managed Ducks Unlimited jointly with the Vancouver Island Conservation Land Management Programme (VICLMP) under the umbrella of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources (FLNRO).
By early 2018 the dike was severely damaged. A log jam just below the trail-head had caused a dangerous wash-out of the popular dike trail compromising its save use. Subsequently CERCA unsuccessfully contacted Cowichan Tribes, Ducks Unlimited, VICLMP and WFP requesting the dike to be repaired. But nobody felt responsible.
It was not until CERCA requested a permit from VICLMP to remove broom from the trail that a proper title search for the dike tenure was initiated by FLNRO. Finally, in February 2019 CERCA received a letter from FLNRO's provincial dike inspector informing that the Province of BC is the owner of the dike. This was on the advice of FLNRO's legal department, although ironically, no legal document could be found on which to base this arbitrary decision. When the dike was built in the 1980s, the land belonged to Doman Industries. The arrangement between Doman and the Government specified that the BC Government would build the dike for the protection of Doman's dairy farm. In exchange Doman would transfer 25 acres of estuary salt- marsh to the Crown for conservation management. Within this process however the question of dike ownership was never addressed.
In his letter and follow-up conversations with the dike inspector CERCA was informed that FLNRO as legal dike owner with responsibility for its maintenance would repair the wash-out at the trailhead. This would result in a temporary and possibly permanent closure of the popular trail to the public.
Meanwhile the dike has been repaired as promised. That is the good news!
The bad news is that it is too late now for broom removal along the trail planned to be completed prior to this year's bird breeding season (which has started already!). Our hope was to finish this first project phase by the end of March. We now may have to wait until late fall or winter.
Another part of the project was hanging swallow nesting boxes along the dike using the fence-posts lining the meadows of Blackley's farm. As reported earlier and published on our website, this was accomplished last week. Another activity along the trail will be the posting of four interpretative signs along the spit at the south end of the WFP mill-pond. The signs are currently being built by Mark's Signs. I will keep you informed when they will be installed.
Dr. Goetz Schuerholz Chair CERCA