MVIHES and Ministry of Environment work together for health of Englishman River
Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society (MVIHES) had the opportunity to assist the Ministry of Environment with water testing of the Englishman River during the low flow period . Volunteers collected samples of the river water at a number of sites 5 times over a 30-day period. On the 5th day they also scraped algae off rocks, collected benthic invertebrates in a net, measured and counted rocks and assessed the physical attributes of each site.
Water Quality Objectives for the Englishman River have been set by the Ministry of Environment and include chemical, physical and biological parameters at 6 different sites. The same sites are re-assessed every 5 years. With training from Ministry Biologist, Rosie Barlak, MVIHES volunteers were able to do much of the sample collecting this year. Other partners in the program include the Regional District of Nanaimo, Environment Canada, BC Conservation Foundation, Island Timberlands and Vancouver Island University.
MVIHES Project Coordinator, Faye Smith, believes this partnership is a win-win situation – the Ministry gets the help it needs, the information gathered complements the MVIHES Groundwater Surface Water Interaction project and the volunteers get to learn more about the Englishman River. Preserving the health of the river is everyone’s goal.
Another round of samplings will take place in October/November after the flow has increased. MVIHES will be participating then too, so anyone wanting to get involved can contact Faye on the website, www.mvihes.bc.ca.
MVIHES
Faye Smith, Project Coordinator
250 752 9297