Where can you find birds, bats, frogs and many other wild creatures just a short distance from downtown Squamish? At a recently completed 13-acre conservation project in the Squamish Estuary. The Nature Trust of British Columbia announced this week the acquisition of land along Cattermole Creek between the recently established Estuary Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and Capilano University.
"By protecting this land from urban development and sustaining the biodiversity, this property will provide values as a wetland including water filtration, wildlife habitat, open space and greenway corridor, and opportunities for the community to enjoy nature in its backyard," said Doug Walker, CEO of The Nature Trust."Partners in the project include Ducks Unlimited Canada, the District of Squamish, BC Trust for Public Lands, Capilano University and CN.
Following two presentations on the land purchase proposal by local environmental advocate Edith Tobe, the district got on board, said Mayor Greg Gardner.
"This property became the focus of some attention when it went on the market by BCR [BC Rail] Properties a few years ago," said Gardner. "It's an area that's rich with biological diversity, and I would suggest it's unusual to have a wetlands like this preserved in the centre of a community. So it's very valuable. I, on behalf of the District of Squamish, am very pleased to see it preserved."
The district has not allotted funds to the purchase of the land, but has agreed to act as stewards and take responsibility of the newly protected area, according to Gardner.
CN's participation is part of the Crown corporation's fish population recovery efforts on the Cheakamus River following the 2004 train derailment resulting in a caustic soda spill into the river, according to Normand Pellerin of CN.The property has been acquired for a number of conservation purposes, according to a Nature Trust news release, including the protection of bird habitat andestuarine values, which have been effective in the rehabilitation of Howe Sound,and to provide a buffer to the new Wildlife Management Area (WMA) as well as public access for Capilano University students to study ecology and for the community to enjoy trails and learn from information kiosks.
The property includes estuary, wetland and riparian habitats. In B.C., estuaries occupy only three per cent of the coast, yet are used by over 80 per cent of all coastal wildlife, according to the Nature Trust. There are several species at risk on the property including the Pacific water shrew, Peregrine Falcon subspecies anatum, and marbled murrelet. Species of special concern include the coastal tailed and red-legged frog, short-eared owl, and Townsend's big-eared bat. The area has also been identified as an important bird area. A total of 207 bird species have been identified using the estuary including the Peregrine Falcon and Trumpeter Swan. "The Nature Trust acquisition is a great example of how people can work together to benefit the future of the community," said Casey Dorin, Capilano University's dean of Howe Sound and Tourism programs. "Hats off to that organization and to all its partners for ensuring that this land will be preserved forever and for all to enjoy."The Nature Trust of British Columbia is dedicated to protecting B.C.'s natural diversity of plants and animals through the acquisition and conservation of critical habitats and other areas of ecological significance. Along with its partners, The Nature Trust has invested more than $63 million to secure over 61,000 hectares of critical habitat throughout the province.
