TLC staff and volunteers visited the DeMamiel Creek and Rocky Creek covenants over the course of two separate days, drinking in this beautiful area with its crystal clear waters and lush surrounding forest.
Moss covered maples adorn the creek side, with very few invasive species ruining the party – hooray!
The first visit was in part to help train the Cowichan Community Land Trust’s summer interns in the art and science of field monitoring. Part of the training included setting up a photopoint to track landscape change via repeat photography, as well as filling out an adapted version of the Ground Inspection Form developed by the BC Ministry of Forests. The other part of the training was learning how to identify all the flora and fauna they possibly could while keeping a watchful eye for potential violations against the covenant agreement.
Some of the critters included caddisfly larvae, which look very similar to a walking twig found underwater. Caddisfly larvae, like many larvae, are tasty delights to many fish and other species that need to fill their calorie quotient, so they build themselves protective “houses” out of debris they find within the creeks they live in. They are also indicators of stream health – if caddisfly larvae and stonefly and mayfly nymphs are found within a creek this tells you that the waters are relatively free of pollutants. A great sight to see when monitoring a sensitive ecosystem! Caddisfly larvae can be seen scurrying along creek bottoms (the “twig” in one of the below photos) while mayfly and stonefly nymphs are found by picking up rocks that are partially submerged in slow-moving water. Looking under the rock you may find the nymphs clinging desperately, hoping to not be seen. Once these mature, they will undergo metamorphosis to one day become the flying insect they were born to be. Quite a journey.
Other treats along the way included salmonberries, ripe and plentiful. For a few of the volunteers it was the first time they had ever seen or eaten one! The salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) is a native shrub often found near streams or other moisture-laden areas, and bears salmon-coloured fruits similar to raspberries. Salmonberries were a popular plant among First Nations people. Herbal folklore says that an infusion of the roots was used to stimulate the appetite and promote weight gain. Using the leaves, an infusion was administered to treat anemia, to shorten an overly long menstrual period and to ease labor pains. Dried leaves were chewed to cure diarrhea and stomach upset. As a food source, salmonberries were equally important. In spring, the sprouts were peeled and eaten raw with salmon meat or dried salmon spawn – hence the name. The berries were eaten fresh, as they are too juicy to dry into cakes for winter use. Families in some tribes “owned” stands of salmonberry. They reserved the right to the first and second rounds of picking. This initial, and generally bountiful, harvest was used for a feast, after which the patch was open to all people.
Another species found was the maidenhair fern, also pictured below. This delightfully soft fern is also often found near streams or moist sites. The genus name comes from Greek and means “not wetting”, referring to the ability of the fern fronds to shed water without actually getting wet! This plant was far more appealing that the wall lettuce the crew also identified. Bearing tiny yellow flowers and having a distinct leaf shape, the misleading name tempts beginners to have a taste. However, while the plant is edible we dare anyone to try some without succumbing to its supremely bitter taste and spitting it out! Not for the faint of heart, but if anyone is ever lost in the woods its good to know which plants won’t kill you (even if they taste like they will).
Thankfully, DeMamiel Creek is host to a delicious plant species – a few members of the mint family. Entire sections of the creek that were presently dry due to low water levels were completely full of mint, as the picture of TLC staff member Andrew MacKinnon shows in his field of mint picture below! It was a very pleasing experience to stand in the middle of such a gloriously scented field.
One last interesting species the crew saw was a great blue heron, likely feasting on the small fish fry in the many pools along the creek. As water levels drop, the fish fry become trapped and have to fend for themselves until the rains come. The heron didn’t seem to mind the group as much as you might think, and would casually wander away as they approached. It also didn’t seem to understand why they were following it. It eventually gave up and flew away, showcasing its incredible wingspan and grace.
On the way home from one of the monitoring visits, a few members stopped by Sooke Inlet to view the algal bloom that had turned the inlet into a glacial blue-green colour. The algae in questions are known as coccolithophores (specifically Emiliania huxleyi, the most common coccolithophore) and are not harmful. However, they are of particular interest to those studying global climate change because as ocean acidity increases, their coccoliths may become even more important as a carbon sink due to containing special calcium carbonate plates of unknown function. Further, management strategies are being employed to prevent eutrophication-related coccolithophore blooms, as seen here in the Sooke Inlet, as these blooms lead to a decrease in nutrient flow to lower levels of the ocean. Beautiful and interesting! If you would like to find out more about algae and the folks that let us know if our waters are safe or not, visit the Harmful Algae Monitoring Program page.
In all, much was seen, learned, shared and experienced at DeMamiel Creek. TLC is very thankful to be a part of ensuring this area is well looked after and plan to visit again in the winter to record seasonal changes. You can bet it won’t be as dry a visit, but that’s what we’re here for – to observe and protect the ecological integrity of the areas we promised we would, no matter what. Besides, what’s a little rain to a West-coaster? Come join us by getting in touch with Torrey at covenants@conservancy.bc.ca.
