Below are current actions in addition to those reported in the Ocean Watch - 2020 Edition.

+ 6.1 Conduct long-term observations of key species and habitats, and potential hazards (e.g., pollutants).

  • Town of Gibsons signed 4 year partnership with the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre to collect data in the harbour (data collection, surveying, etc) - Summer 2020.

  • Town of Gibsons has implemented the [Source to Sea project][2] in 2019 to ensure that the natural assets within the Town’s entire watershed are understood, measured, valued and, ultimately, managed to ensure their health. In 2021, a proposal was underway to instal surface watering monitoring stations in four creeks within the Gibsons Aquifer watershed. Staff is proposing to install two hydrometric stations (upper and lower) on each of these four waterways to determine the seasonal discharge values. This information would be useful for delineating potential areas of surface water – groundwater interaction (characterizing the groundwater recharge potential) and the ability of each creek to support aquatic life.

  • The Squamish Environment Society have four projects that involve monitoring species by volunteers (EagleWatch at Eagle Run, the Purple Martin nest boxes and the Western Toads at Alice Lake Provincial Park and Garibaldi Springs). In addition, annual bird counts take place each year.

  • Ocean Watch staff identified knowledge gaps during their research for the Ocean Watch Howe Sound 2020 report. Further identification of gaps is necessary. View the lists for: [species and habitats][4], [clean water][5],[ sense of place][6], [development][7], [stewardship][8], [climate and oceans][9], [seafood][10].

  • Ocean Wise is monitoring three sites in Howe Sound. [Pollution Tracker][11] is a monitoring program for coastal British Columbia, documenting the levels and trends of hundreds of contaminants of concern in mussels and nearshore ocean sediments. Since the Pollution Tracker article in the Ocean Watch report samples were taken at the same sites and analyzed for the same contaminant classes as during Phase 1. Staff are in the process of updating the Pollution Tracker website with Phase 2 summary data. In Phase 3 (2021-2023)depending on funding, more sampling and establishment of one or two more sites in Howe Sound is the goal in 2022.

  • The Pacific Salmon Foundation provided funding to Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers, Squamish River Watershed Society, and the West Vancouver Streamkeepers for recording Creek Water/Air Temperatures to support wild salmon and ensure their habitat remains healthy as our climate changes with longer, drier and higher temperatures putting salmon at risk. Temperature loggers record both water and air every hour of every day. The data will be important historical data to make the best future decisions including development and logging of forests in the riparian zones of our creeks.

  • The Gambier Island Conservancy arranged for a preliminary sensitive species assessment for Whistpering Creek which was conducted and prepared by Maddison Consultants. The assessment confirmed the likely presence of both at-risk and species of concern, as well as the presence of rare varieties of mosses, amphibians, and migratory birds. [Read more here][12].

  • In 2021, the Town of Gibsons installed Creek Monitoring Stations in three creeks within the Gibsons watershed, monitoring flow data and water levels, to better understand aquifer recharge through these systems. The monitoring will track changes over time from impacts due to activities occurring in the upper reaches of the streams, as well as changes in severity and frequency of precipitation events. The hydrometric stations will also determine the seasonal discharge values. This information would be useful for delineating potential areas of surface water – groundwater interaction (characterizing the groundwater recharge potential) and the ability of each creek to support aquatic life. The data is an important piece for the Source to Sea project, and the monitoring will continue monthly by Town staff and SC Streamkeepers.

  • In 2018 the Village of Lions Bay, following drought conditions, engaged UBC's Dr. Weiss Hydrological monitoring and modeling of Harvey Creeks and Magnesia Creeks. Monitoring is ongoing. 2021 Report can be [found here][13]

  • The Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative is collaborating with the Hakai Institute and Sewell's Marina to monitor the abundance of Dungeness megalopae and First Juvenile Instars at the Sewell's Marina Dock. The timing of arrival and spatial distribution of young crabs are key to replenishing populations each year, and the number of new recruits has been shown to predict the abundance of adult Dungeness crabs years later. This project will hopefully be conducted year after year until 2030 for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development dependent on funding.

ADDED APRIL 2023 * The Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative is entering its second year of collaboration with the Hakai Institute and Sewell's Marina to monitor the abundance of Dungeness megalopae and First Juvenile Instars at the Sewell's Marina Dock. The timing of arrival and spatial distribution of young crabs are key to replenishing populations each year, and the number of new recruits has been shown to predict the abundance of adult Dungeness crabs years later. This project will hopefully be conducted year after year until 2030 for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development dependent on funding. In 2023, an additional light trap has been adopted by the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre (NSMEC) based in Gibsons.

**ADDED APRIL 2023 ** * The Marine Life Sanctuaries Society has initiated, with the support of the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society and funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada, a resumption of Rockfish Monitoring. The plan will be in two phases: 1) January through March 31, 2023, will include the development of survey protocols, selection of a limited number of sites (6) and Rockfish ID training for volunteer divers. Phase 2 (March 2023 to March 2026 will continue with ID Training seminars, increasing number of sites (to be determined), the addition of video transects reviewed by hired taxonomists, and the installation of environmental monitoring equipment as determined by scientific advisors.
UPDATED JULY 5 MLSS finished first full year of funding from DFO and HSBRIS for monitoring programs, including reinstating the lingcod egg mass survey and new rockfish monitoring. Also secured some funds from BC Parks related to Halkett. • 9 species of rockfish observed including 2 under review for SARA (quillback and yelloweye). Also, hundreds or thousands of baby quillbacks for first time in about ten years. Will be about 10 years until they’re big enough to breed. Maybe can get improvement to monitoring or enforcement. Couldn’t have done it without the volunteers. [13]: https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/lionsbay.ca/files/2022-03/220315%20RCM%20Package.pdf [12]: https://gambierislandconservancy.ca/news-blog/whispering-creek-monitoring-project [12]: https://sunshinecoaststreamkeepers.com/scsk-work-plan-2019/ [11]: https://pollutiontracker.org/ [10]: /s/Seafood-Knowledge-gaps.docx [9]: /s/Climate-and-Oceans-Knowledge-gaps.docx [8]: /s/Stewardship-knowledge-gaps.docx [7]: /s/Development-Knowledge-gaps.docx [6]: /s/Sense-of-Place-data-gaps.docx [5]: /s/Clean-Water-data-gaps.docx [4]: /s/Species-and-Habitat-data-gaps.docx [2]: https://gibsons.ca/sustainability/natural-assets/source-to-sea-project/

+ 6.2 Make information easily available to support decision making, e.g., through the Marine Reference Guide.

  • [The Marine Reference Guide][16] online map and resources was launched in June 2021. The guide has hundreds of data layers that visualize and describe Howe Sound/Átl’ka7tsem’s aquatic ecology, biophysical environment, administrative boundaries, and human uses and values. This decision-support tool shows how different data layers overlap and interact and can be used to understand multi-use of aquatic spaces to reduce user conflict. This map also supports education and increase the holistic awareness of Howe Sound/Átl’ka7tsem – from mountain top to the seafloor.

+ 6.3. Create a centralized hub to make group information and data easily accessible and searchable, to increase group participation and data use