RAILWAY GRADE MARSH COVENANT AREA
This marsh is a two kilometre long wetland at the northern end of Denman Island. It drains out under Northwest Road just south of Danes Road, the new road to The Point and the stream flows out to Henry Bay. Denman Conservancy holds a conservation covenant on the Marsh. There is a long history behind this that can be read on the DCA web site: denmanconservancy.org
The covenant area
is all within the new Provincial Park and the northern boundary of the covenant area has become the north boundary of the Park. The railway grade itself defines the south edge of the covenant area. There is a public walking trail that follows the railway grade from Northwest Road until it connects with the old logging road network in the new Park area. This is a pleasant sunny walk at any time of year.
The Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly,
an endangered species with its only known Canadian breeding sites on Denman Island, may be seen along the trail in May and early June. Beavers have built a dam at the north end of the Railway Marsh and from 2007 to the present have maintained this structure which is essential for maintaining open water in the marsh year round. In 2006 and 2007, when the beavers were apparently absent, the marsh almost dried out in summer. This beaver pond supports a rich ecosystem and in winter attracts a handful of Trumpeter swans which hang around for several weeks. The trail is an excellent place to observe these majestic birds. The swans and a diversity of ducks attract Bald eagles (see photo). As many as 50 eagles have been observed adjacent to Railway Marsh at one time.
This year, DCA’s Land Manager, Andrew Fyson,
has updated the baseline survey of the covenant area, recording the changes that have occurred as the vegetation recovers from logging.
In addition to counting trees, Andrew found a total of more than 160 species of plant (flowering plants, ferns and conifers) including 15 species of sedge. He also observed mink, beaver, a Black bear and a diversity of birds including Tree swallows and House wrens which both nest in the snags at the north end of the marsh.
South of Railway Marsh,
after a pleasant walk through a narrow valley is another extensive wetland, Eagle marsh. This is a sedge marsh with no open water. Towards the south end of this marsh, extensive patches of the beautiful and fragrant Labrador tea (actually a relative of rhododendrons) may be seen from the trail.
Under the terms of the covenant
DCA is entitled to manage the covenant area. A draft Management Plan will be prepared by DCA this winter and offered for public discussion. The Management Plan must then be approved by BC Parks.
Denman Conservancy Association Newsletter October 2011
DENMAN AND HORNBY NATURE VOL. 1
Mike Yip’s Beautiful New Book
Nature photographer and newspaper columnist Mike Yip has just released his latest book and this time we’re in it!
Denman and Hornby Nature volume 1 is a feast of fabulous full colour photographs and engaging text about our two favourite islands. Mike begins the book with a look at our human communities and our efforts to protect the natural beauty of the islands. It hasn’t been easy. Mike writes that in 2001 the Canadian Wildlife Service found that Denman had lost 49.3% of its existing sensitive ecosystems in the previous decade, largely the result of industrial logging in the late ‘90s.
This book, however, does not dwell on the damage: it celebrates what we have. And what we have is magnificent! This book overflows with Mike’s lush photographs of forests, seascapes, birds and wildflowers. It is augmented with portraits of undersea creatures by Hornby’s Amanda Zielinski and a butterfly supplement by our own Jenny Balke.
No doubt it is the most gorgeous examination of island nature to date. There’s even a special section on our local eagles. One “family portrait” shows the parents standing proudly by their two very young Denman eaglets, and later, the same two youngsters perched on a branch after the collapse of their nest.
The most amazing thing of all is that Mike is generously letting our local Conservancies sell the books as a fundraiser. Here on Denman $5 from each $25 book goes to the DCA. Thank you, Mike! Abraxas Books has very generously offered to sell the books for the DCA in their store for a limited time. The price is the same, $25, cash or cheque made out to the Denman Conservancy Association. This book makes a great gift!
You can also get your book at the Kaffee Klatch Bistro on Monday October 24 at 10 am and meet Mike, too. Need more information? Call me—Susan-Marie Yoshihara at tel -0253.
ANNUAL FUNDRAISING LETTER
Soon the Fundraising committee will be mailing out our annual letter. We ask you to help us continue to do our work by donating to the Denman Conservancy Association. We are a registered charity and issue tax receipts and memberships for donations of $10 and over. Donations help us cover our on-going expenses including monitoring and managing Central Park, Winter Wren Wood, three Nature Reserves, the Settlement Lands and numerous Conservation Covenants. DCA also contributes funds to activities such as Landkeepers.
ONCE UPON A TIME
at Railway Grade Marsh
Climax Locomotive built in 1900 and operated by Henry Bay Logging on Denman Island in 1930 or 31.
from Robert B Turner Logging by Rail
This is the only photo we know of that shows a railway locomotive logging on Denman Island. If anyone has more such pictures in their collection or family album we would love to hear from them.
Denman Conservancy Association Newsletter October 2011
LANDKEEPERS, MONITORING AND BEYOND
A quick reminder of what the Landkeepers Program is. Over the years the DCA has had great success in acquiring lands for conservation The Landkeepers Program has the aim of integrating more members of the Denman community into the ongoing work of monitoring and maintaining the lands under the DCA’s stewardship.
When asked what it is about the Landkeepers Program that appealed to them one of the volunteer Landkeepers replied, “I just like being out in nature. This program gets me out there.” There was a murmur of agreement from many of the other volunteers present at that Assembly. While this is certainly one of the perks of being a Landkeeper it is not the only one. Through the summer months the aim of the program was to familiarize the volunteers with the diverse assortment of properties owned or managed by the DCA in preparation for monitoring.
Guided excursions
by working professionals into the lands have not only taken us out into nature but also provided background on the flora, fauna and landscape considerations found there. For example, did you know that the River Otters found on Denman Island’s foreshore have numerous dens and can’t survive unless they find fresh water to wash off the salt left by seawater on their pelts? So they have dens in the Lindsay Dickson Nature Reserve but only in those fall and winter months when the rains create the ephemeral creeks and ponds found in the Reserve and, as these dry out, they move to other dens near sources of fresh water.
In the coming weeks
excursions into the Morrison Marsh Nature Reserve will take place. The format for these excursions will mimic monitoring functions with the aim not only of familiarizing Landkeepers with the Reserve but also providing training in monitoring practices.
DCA is also beginning to form Property Committees for some of the lands. If you are interested in knowing more or in joining the Landkeepers Program contact Juan Barker @ tel -2401 or email him.
The Landkeepers Project
was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada, provided through the Department of the Environment.
Contributors to this Newsletter:
Andrew Fyson, John Millen, Susan-Marie Yoshihara, Juan Barker, J Thornton.
THANKS TO STACEY
The Board has accepted, with regret, the resignation of Stacey Armstrong. Stacey has served ably as Secretary of DCA since April 2009. Thank you Stacey for your contribution. We will miss your smiling face and crisp minutes.
And so…
If any Denman Resident is interested on joining the Board (not necessarily to be secretary) they should talk to any one of the existing Board members.
2011 DCA Board members
- Jenny Balke
- Doug Bell
- Annie Corddry
- David Critchley – – – Co-Chair
- John Dillon
- Patrick Fawkes
- DD Fuchs – – – – Treasurer
- Peter Karsten
- John Millen
- J Thornton – – – – Co-Chair
- Susan-Marie Yoshihara
DCA Structure Review
The Board recognizes that the work of DCA has changed and increased with the additional land under its management. An internal review is now underway to see what changes could be made to share the work more equitably and ensure the Society meets its obligations.
Denman Conservancy Association Newsletter October 2011
OPENING MORNING BEACH STAIRWAY
On Saturday afternoon, October 15, more than 50 people gathered in beautiful sunshine at the crest of the Komas Bluff to celebrate the opening of the new access to the northeast beaches of Denman Island.
DCA wishes to add its congratulations and commendation to that of many others. Good work Parks Committee (of DIRA) and Regional District. And thanks to Bente and Henning Nielsen who designed their subdivision at The Point to accommodate the Park.
The new Park and stairway provides safe public access to the beach below Komas Bluff and the low-tide walk to Tree Island. DCA’s annual walk to view the wildflowers each May on Tree Island will change!
NEW DCA COVENANT CO-ORDINATOR
DCA has contracted with Patti Willis to provide services related to current and future DCA conservation covenants. This work is to ensure that obligations set out in the covenants are met by both the covenant holder (DCA) and the owner of the covenanted land.
Patti’s job is to cover the legal responsibilities of our covenant management, thus freeing DCA Land Manager Andrew Fyson to do more on-the-ground work.
The Komas Bluff Conservation Covenant covers the waterfront cliff area of several of the lots in the new subdivision at The Point as well as that of the extensive Northlands to the south. With the existing lots at The Point and the anticipated Northlands lots there will be many new owners of covenanted land on Denman.
SHORT NOTES:
DCA and the new Provincial Park
DCA is commencing joint discussions with the DIRA Parks Committee and BC Provincial Parks as to how our various interests can be addressed by the Province as it starts to manage the new Park lands.
DIMS cemetery: one more catch
While DCA and Denman Island Memorial Society are almost ready to complete the transfer of the proposed Natural Burial Cemetery land to DIMS another complication has arisen. Compliance Coal owns the sub-surface mineral rights to Central Park land. DIMS therefore has requested an undertaking from them to ensure there will never be surface disturbance of the proposed cemetery land.
A reminder: Central Park is good for winter walks
The wide trails and sunny spaces of DCA’s Central Park make good conditions for walks in Fall and Winter. The view from Beaufort Vista path is always worth checking out, but is especially rewarding when there is snow on the Beaufort Range. There has to be something good to say about a recovering clearcut!
Nature Book Signing Reminder
Mike Yip will be at the Kaffee Klatch Bistro on Monday October 24 at 10 am to sign (and sell) his new lavishly illustrated book:
Denman and Hornby Nature Vol. 1
$5 from each sale goes to benefit DCA.
Denman Conservancy Association Newsletter October 2011
