Cowichan River Cleanup

Cowichan River Cleanup
15 August 2015
Presented by:
Sandy Cumming
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River Cleanup
Background
• Cowichan Lake and River Stewardship Society
(CLRSS)
• Once per year for the past 7 years, our CLRSS
volunteers along with friends, neighbours and
in conjunction with the local levels of
government participate in a cleanup in and
around the entire 44 kilometer length of the
Cowichan River on Vancouver Island, BC.
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CLRSS
• Volunteer group of lake and river residents
• Dedicated to the monitoring, protection and
rehabilitation of the Cowichan Lake Watershed
Strongly promote:
– public education,
– participation with local government in order to
maintain a respectful and healthy environment,
– safe use of our valuable resource
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Upper River
Cleanup
Started in 2009 by the President of the Board of
Directors of the Cowichan Lake and River
Stewardship Committee (later the Stewardship
Society)
Broad Based Community support:
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CVRD Areas I and F and the Town of Lake Cowichan
Cowichan Valley Search and Rescue
Cowichan Watershed Board
Environmentally concerned groups ( CLSES, One Cowichan etc...)
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River Cleanup Statistics
• 108 Participants
– Walkers, Swimmers, Boaters, Truck Drivers, Divers,
Site Volunteers
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River Cleanup Statistics
• 2835 Cans and Bottles Collected
– Returned to the Bottle Depot
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River Cleanup Statistics
• 1408Lbs 640kgs of Garbage delivered to land fill
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Report
• Donations
– Myers Norris Penney
– Royal Bank
– Bottle Depot
– Rod`s Auto Glass
– Total
• Expenses:
$250
$100
$253.56
$60
$663.55
$391.48
– Includes:
• Consumables: plastic bags, Ink cartridges, paper etc...)
• Reuseables: Garbage cans
• Promotional materials: T Shirts and hats
• Total Volunteer Hours expended - 608 until end Aug
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Sponsors
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Meyer Norris Penny (MNP)
J&V Burgers & Pizza
Jake’s on the Lake
Town of Lake Cowichan
Shaker Mill Restaurant
Country Grocer
Mountain Man Services
Lake Cowichan Home Centre
The Tube Shack
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ORKA Tube Rentals
Tim Horton’s
CVRD Areas I & F
The Town of Lake Cowichan
Royal Bank
Island Savings
Rod’s Auto Glass
Lake Cowichan Lodge
Lordco
Cow Café
Special Mention – The Cowichan Search and Rescue Ground search team
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Cleanup Day Participants
Genevieve and Bob with the children’s activities
Water cycle explained (sort of!)
Divers in the big pool
Fish Painting was very popular
Ready to sort
Excellent BBQ provided by Jake’s at the Lake
Paper work!!!
The hunt is on
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What did we find?
Baby crayfish released from tin cans
Train wheels
Off to the dump
Excellent work by our sorters
I’ve often thought of doing
this with my IPhone
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Lower River
Cleanup
• Organized by The Cowichan Watershed Board
• CLRSS members participated
• Used CLRSS Resources
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Comparison
• 2014 - 2000 lbs of Garbage and 4000 Cans and Bottles, 102 participants
• 2015 – 1400lbs of Garbage and 2800 Cans and Bolltles, 108 participants
Conclusions
Essentially the same number of participants
Tubing Companies actively collected garbage
People have been getting the message
This year we found more “old” junk and glass due to lower river levels &
easier access
Lessons Learned
Community based efforts can make a difference
Find a Child safe zone
Move to another venue – Central Park
Continue until no garbage found!
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A Good Time was had by all
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