Welcome

to the the first issue of the NCES Newsletter "Riffles".
This quarterly communication will strive to keep members current with the events, the projects and the people at the heart of the Nile Creek Enhancement Society. 

2011 YEAR IN REVIEW 

Water Supply Agreement

In late September an agreement was reached between the Water Board, the Province and NCES ( Nile Creek Enhancement Society). An order issued under the BC Water Management Act by the Province's Regional Water Manager outlines the conditions and the responsibilities shared by the Water District and NCES. As holder of two conditional water licenses the Water District shall supply water to NCES for conservation (fish hatchery) purposes and NCES will continue to maintain the hatchery as it has done for a decade. Above and beyond the Water Supply Agreement NCES was granted an Aquaculture License by the DFO. Federally issued freshwater Aquaculture Licenses now provide hatchery groups with the authority to carry out enhancement activities including cultivation and capture of fish under a management plan. The Water Supply Agreement lays the foundation for a lasting partnership between the Water District and NCES and demonstrates what can be  accomplished between like-minded people with common goals and positive attitude.



Ensuring the Supply  
 

NCES recently took on the job of upgrading two old and deteriorating valves crucial to the constant and reliable supply of water to the hatchery at the Nile Creek. The valves were unearthed, inspected, repaired and given extra reinforcement and containment to provide easier access and protect against further damage from the elements before they were buried once more. With incubation time at hand the newly maintained valves are just one more reason to smile.

Kelp Project

Last season, Bull Kelp was planted at 3 locations: South Qualicum Bay, Gabriola Island and Hornby Island. Although some growth occurred in our local area it wasn't as thick as in earlier plantings. Gabriola used their own planting methods which unfortunately were not successful. However the planting off Maude Reef at Hornby Island was the most successful. Although not as healthy as our source bed at Cape Mudge, Quadra Island, it was thick with many plants.
This year's planting will be at the same sites, with another line being planted at an additional site off Hornby Island. The Maude Reef site will be increased to a grid-sized planting, instead of a single line. We will also be taking tissue samples and at-depth water samples to have them analyzed in a lab to compare site conditions with the healthy source bed at Quadra. This may provide us with information as to why kelp does well in some locations and not others. This year's planting will be done in January.


Eelgrass Project

An Eelgrass Mapping workshop was held in May. Unfortunately we were unable to map this year due to weather, tides and conflicting schedules. Ian Birtwell and Diane Sampson will put together a schedule for 2012 and will be looking for volunteers. In addition to mapping the beds, we will be identifying species that use the beds as habitat during the different seasons.








Plainfin Midshipman

Ian Birtwell and Diane Sampson collected data on the Plainfin Midshipman when they came up to the beaches to spawn around our Eelgrass beds. The Midshipman is a source of food for our eagles, as well as other birds. Ian will be writing a report on our findings. Our methodology will be discussed and possibly revised prior to collecting data again when they return in the spring.




Nile Creek 2011/2012 Alumni 

The term "Alumnus" has it origin in the Latin language. It literally means "the nurtured" and what better way to refer to the 1.5 million fertilized pink salmon eggs that arrived in November at the Nile Creek Hatchery where water diverted from the creek through the hatchery tanks and back into the creek provides the habitat for the incubation. Once deposited into the tanks the eggs are monitored and cared for by volunteers. Any eggs that die are susceptible to fungus growth and must be quickly removed before the fungus can spread so volunteers check the eggs daily, painstakingly removing the dead ones (called dead-picking). Throughout the winter and early spring volunteers care for the fish until they leave the hatchery, swimming down the creek and out to the estuary as fry.

Getting to know...

This feature will acquaint us with a member of NCES, long standing or new to the group. As members of NCES, we all have a common interest in the health of our beaches and waterways and the birds, fish and animals that call them home. "Getting to Know"  will introduce us to some of the individuals that make things happen at NCES.

"Getting to know"  ERNIE BUCKLEY

Ernie was born, raised and spent his working career in Vancouver. He and his wife Anne moved to Vancouver Island upon retiring in 1996. They had spent the previous two years working on the mainland, commuting back and forth while building their beach front home and were very happy to settle into what they thought would be a quieter life. An avid conservationist and fisherman, it didn't take long before Ernie became friends with local fishermen who shared his passion for sea-run Cutthroat Trout and it was through this group of fishermen, bemoaning the declining numbers of trout and wondering what they could do, that the idea of NCES was born.

Research and discussion with the RDN and the DFO determined that Pink Salmon were key to bringing back the trout and other Salmonid species and so began the journey. A founding member of NCES, it seems appropriate to feature Ernie in our first "Getting to Know".

Fifteen years later, he is still very active with NCES and a familiar figure in and around the hatchery as he makes daily visits throughout the fall and winter to check on the current crop of "babies", taking water temperatures and keeping the logbook up to date. Ernie is the first to admit that bringing the fish back has been a lot of work and a lot of trial and error. There was no guide book and a lot of what that original group did was to try and mimic nature. Even today, as the new hatchery is slowly brought  to capacity new ideas, new approaches and new equipment are still being tested. Ideas are shared from one enhancement group to another and all benefit from the exchange. With his years of experience and wealth of knowledge, Ernie is a valuable resource and happy to share his enhancement knowledge or tidbits of NCES history. It has been a pleasure getting to know Ernie Buckley.