Kickstarting the Cowichan Estuary Nature Trail - Open Air Classroom Project
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On Saturday February 27 a group of twelve dedicated CERCA members followed our call for volunteers to start the trail clearing. We met at 10:00 am by the causeway gate where we mounted a sign announcing CERCA's new project to be implemented in cooperation with Western Stevedoring and to be sponsored by Island Savings, CERCA's new partner.Under Barry's guidance we organized two working groups combating the broom threatening to take over part of the trail. We cleared the area in front of the foot bridge in preparation of the proposed parking lot and the first couple of hundred feet of the trail. A piece of heavy work dragging all the clippings and cuttings to the road where the material was stockpiled. Western Stevedoring indicated that they will dispose of it. We are now waiting for a brush-cutter to carefully widen the trail to the required dimension.We will continue with broom removal along the trail and selective trimming of vegetation with focus on the sites allocated to bill-boards, interpretative signs and proposed platforms on Saturday March 5. All work on vegetation has to be finished by the end of March, prior to the bird nesting season. We will meet again at 10:00 am by the gate, hopefully with even more volunteers.We are also in discussion with Western Stevedoring (WS) regarding the replacement of the de-commissioned footbridge at the trailhead. WS promised to look after it.The construction of the gazebo at the trailhead, platforms etc. will continue throughout the summer. The interpretative signs are currently being designed by Ellen Rooney from the Royal BC Museum who also designed the panels for our mobile estuary exhibit. We can be sure that Ellen will do another stellar job designing the new panels judging by her previous work.