Splashing water, hip waders and giant water bugs were simply a few of the highlights for participants in the Wetlandkeepers course held in Squamish last Friday through Sunday (April 1 to 3). Delivered by the B.C. Wildlife Federation, the 2 -day course featured in-class sessions on wetland restoration, rehabilitation and conservation, combined with plenty of "get your hands and feet wet" field work.
Wetlandkeepers instructor Michele Jones explained the mentality that a wetland is a wasteland where one can illegally dump unwanted items is pervasive in today's society, thus creating the need for education campaigns such as Wetlandkeepers. "One of the purposes here is to really let people know the functions of wetlands and how vital they are in our environment," she said.
Wetlands are now being increasingly recognized for their values as freshwater purifiers and reservoirs, flood control mechanisms and carbon sinks. However, problems arise because wetlands tend to occur on valley bottoms where humans also take up residence. But there is hope for change, said Neil Fletcher, wetlands education program co-ordinator. He said the goal of Wetlandkeepers is to "encourage individuals to be able to identify their wetlands and also promote their protection in their area."
Saturday's activities included interpreting aerial photos of a wetland, identifying its plant communities, and then a site visit to complete the mapping process. Jones emphasized the importance of mapping before new developments go in, as it creates a baseline of data to use to track changes over time, and Fletcher agreed.
"Having that knowledge base and being able to communicate that to say a city planner or regional planner or even to the community at large can really help drive that message home - that this is an important area to protect," he said.
Under sunny skies, the 12 enthusiastic participants worked in the wetlands of the former Garibaldi Springs golf course, first fine-tuning their skills in compass reading, then measuring out a transect and conducting vegetation surveys in one-metre-square quadrats.
Participant Anna Klimek said she has always been fascinated by wetlands. "I just wanted to gain generalknowledge about the ecology and eventuallyconnect with other people who see howimportantwetlands are and how we can care for them here in Squamish," she said.
To end the day on a lighter note, the winner of the coveted Wetlandkeepers chocolate frog award was announced. Gabriella Samson won for her impressive demonstration of how effective waders are, when she unexpectedly plunged into a particularly deep part of the wetlands. "Her waders were the same colour as the chocolate," Jones said with a laugh.
"You will be getting wet," was the prediction foretold by Jones leading into Sunday, and she was correct. If it wasn't from the rain falling from the sky, it was from playing with the mud or in the ponds.
But first, amphibian expert Elke Wind provided an extensive overview of amphibians in one of Squamish's wetlands. She described how amphibians are good indicators of environmental health and that population numbers are decreasing worldwide due to habitat destruction, disease and pollution. Monitoring programs are critical to learning about detailed distribution and range expansion, she said, and this entails call surveys, visual surveys and trapping techniques.
Twenty-one live traps in three ponds revealed the immense diversity of life in a wetland. Red-legged frogs, Northwestern salamanders, water scorpions and dragonfly larvae were just a few of the range of species discovered, and the group's fascination with amphibians and the field work was discernible.
Participant Mindy Skinner studies at Quest University and was keen to get trained in field work. "For me, the big thing is to get experience outside and I love to be outside," she said. "I'm passionate about conservation."
Another local wetland lover was Sheree Stewart, Squamish RBC manager of client care, who attended the course and also presented a cheque for $5,000 to the B.C. Wildlife Wetlands Education Program as part of RBC's Blue Water project.
To top off the weekend, local environmental groups delivered presentations on wetland conservation activities in Squamish and shared how to get involved in community wetland stewardship projects.
Edith Tobe of the Squamish River Watershed Society said that at most, 20 per cent of wetlands have been mapped in the Squamish area. Partnered with the District of Squamish, Tobe said a mapping program is ongoing and the group is always looking for volunteers. The Squamish Environmental Society's Meg Fellowes shared her group's vision for a Squamish estuary wetlands park. "We want the community to know and care about wetlands," she said.
For more information on the Wetlandkeepers course, visit www.bcwf.net.
