BCLSS Loonie News - June 2020

Reposted with permission: https://www.bclss.org

Postponed - BCLSS Annual Conference The BCLSS Annual Conference scheduled for October 2 – 4, 2020 has been postponed until 2021. The conference committee is exploring if aspects can be presented virtually. More information to come. Secchi Dip-In It's that time of year again! The Secchi Dip-In is an international event where volunteer monitors take a transparency measurement at least one day during the month of July (Lakes Appreciation Month). These values are used to assess the transparency of volunteer-monitored lakes in North America. Dip-In information can be found here and the data sheet can be found here. They are also available on our website. Participation in the Dip-In has been steadily decreasing over the years. Please consider participating and pass the information on this opportunity along to anyone that may be interested. The data collected is very valuable! Practice your dipping using this online simulator! Student Limnology Video Check out the awesome video from a BCLSS member and teacher at the Academy of Inquiry and Adventure in Vernon! This Introduction to Limnology course offered a unique learning opportunity for students to get outside and connect to their watershed through real-world science. BCLSS was happy to have a number of these students attend our annual conference in Winfield, with Okanagan Fisheries Foundation sponsoring their registration costs. The video can be viewed here. BCLSS Volunteer Insurance  BCLSS is updating our Safety Program and related insurance policy. We are now required to provide the ages of volunteers to our new insurer in order to receive comprehensive coverage. If you are currently a BCLSS member and volunteer for our BC Lake Stewardship and Monitoring program, and did not receive our email on May 5 regarding updating your information, please contact the BCLSS office so that we can ensure you are added to the policy.

Announcements and Reminders BCWF Wetlandkeepers workshops have gone virtual! Due to COVID-19, all in-person workshops have been updated for an online setting. Participants have the opportunity to explore wetlands through games, interactive activities, and expert guest speakers. More information can be found on the BCWF website.   Ducks Unlimited Canada National Boreal Program - Wetlands 101 In support of social distancing efforts, Ducks Unlimited is offering FREE access to Wetlands 101: And Introduction to Boreal Wetlands online course for a limited time. This offer ends June 30, 2020. More information can be found here. Community Gaming Grants - Environment Applications Community Gaming Grant Program Guidelines have been updated for 2020. Apply between July 1 and August 31 for programs that revitalize, protect, or provide education about BC's ecosystems and environment. Information on eligibility and applications can be found here.   News and Information Used COVID-19 gloves, masks and wipes clogging up metro Vancouver sewage systems Gloves, face masks and disposable wipes can all be used to defend against COVID-19, but they're wreaking havoc on Metro Vancouver's sewage system. Shock Therapy Prescribed for Two Popular Fishing Lakes in the Interior Electroshocking is a novel approach to reduce numbers of competing or invasive fish species that may be impacting rainbow trout and their habitats.

What should we do with yard waste?

It is that time of year when we begin to see yard waste dumped illegally around our community. Thank you, Jacquie, for the photos and reminder! 

Photo by Jacquie Brugger May 25, 2020

Photo by Jacquie Brugger May 25, 2020

Photo by Jacquie Brugger May 16, 2020

The Logan Lake Eco Depot is located just 5.1 km south west of Logan Lake on Highway 97C, on route to Ashcroft. Note that it is FREE to take your yard waste there. They also accept many other items at no cost. 

Click the image for larger view / to download

BCLSS Loonie News

Reposted with permisson

BCLSS Loonie News May 2020 View this email in your browser

BCLSS Volunteer Insurance  BCLSS is updating our Safety Program and related insurance policy. We are now required to provide the ages of volunteers to our new insurer in order to receive comprehensive coverage. If you are currently a BCLSS member and volunteer for our BC Lake Stewardship and Monitoring program and did not receive our email on May 5 regarding updating your information, please contact the BCLSS office so that we can ensure you are added to the policy.   Safe Boating Awareness Week May 16-22 Since 1995, Safe Boating Awareness Week has been the mainstay of boating safety to over 16 million people who recreate on Canadian waters. Due to Covid-19, this campaign will be a little different in many ways. Please see the Canadian Safe Boating Council website for the Safe Boating Awareness Week messages. Please also refer to the Government of Canada's Physical Distancing for Canadian Boaters. Lifejackets and Boating Safety Did you know that May 14 was National Lifejacket Day? The Canadian Red Cross urges lifejacket use for all boaters as every year, 161 Canadians drown while boating. Of these, 87% are not wearing a lifejacket or do not have it properly secured. Before heading out on a boat, ensure that all persons on board - even strong swimmers - are outfitted with a correctly sized lifejacket appropriate to the activity. Be aware of and monitor the weather and water conditions, be prepared to head to the nearest point of safety if the conditions change, never consume alcohol before or during a boating outing, and ensure boaters know how to safely operate and load the vessel. More information on boating safety and how to choose a lifejacket or PFD can be found here. Announcements and Reminders The BCLSS is pleased to announce that our annual conference will be held in partnership with Lake Windermere Ambassadors (LWA) and Living Lakes Canada (LLC) in Invermere. This year, the theme is All Hands on Deck - Lake Stewardship in Climate Challenged Times. The event will be held at Windermere Community Hall from October 2-4, 2020. Keynote speaker will be Bob Sandford, Chair in Water and Climate Security at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health. Please note that the Conference Committee is monitoring public health information during this pandemic as it may affect the conference. If the conference is postponed, we will provide an update on our website and in future newsletters. More information to follow.   News and Information Salmon Respond to Earth's Magnetic Field, And We Might Finally Know How The ability to detect our planet's magnetic filed and use it as a map while migrating, homing, or hunting could well be one of the most remarkable feats of evolution, and it's also one of the most mysterious. New Canada Water Agency to provide solutions for emerging water crisis - expert panel The new Canada Water Agency - a mandated commitment of the federal government - will provide much-needed solutions to the emerging water crisis, according to Tom Axworthy, chair of a national water policy panel organized by Global Water Futures (GWF) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

Not a member of the BCLSS yet? Please consider joining our network of lake stewards! For more information on the benefits of membership, please visit our website. Thank you to LUSH for funding the BC Lake Stewardship Engagement Initiative.  The BCLSS gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Government of British Columbia through the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Provincial Park Safety

Excellent signage at the Lac Le Jeune park! Thanks for keeping everyone safe. 

Caution! Sharp metal pieces on our streets

Be careful when out on your bicycles or walking your dogs! Residents are finding these metal spiral pieces all over our streets, likely from the street sweepers on the weekend. 

Reminder: Sugarloaf trails are closed!

Lac Le Jeune residents are grateful to Sugarloaf Ranch for allowing access to their trail system. Due the COVID-19 health and safety concerns, these trails are closed, just as all other recreational trails. Unfortunately, the signs are being ignored and we all risk losing this trail privilege.

These photos were shared by Will Ciancone, Ranch Manager. Local cycling groups, Kamloops Performance Cycling Centre and Kamloops Bike Riders Association, were quick to get the word out to members that this behaviour is unacceptable.

Please, do not put others at risk or jeopardize the future use of these incredible cycling opportunities in our area.

Thank you Sugarloaf Ranch for your generosity and local cycling organizations for establishing this valuable partnership and staying vigilant!

~ Sylvia Currie, with thanks to Chris Wynne for helping to get the word out.

News Release: BC Parks Closed Until Further Notice

BC Parks Response to COVID-19 

Updated April 8, 2020

Full BC Parks System Closure

• Order of the Executive Director [PDF]

Lac Le Jeune Park
Photo by Jacquie Brugger

BC Parks is immediately closing the entire BC Parks system, including all parks, protected areas, conservancies, recreation areas, and ecological reserves. All camping (front and backcountry) is now banned until May 31st, 2020. This action is being taken in response to the call for increased action to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the desire of the public to get outdoors, many parks have already experienced peak season levels of use that have resulted in overwhelmed parking lots, trails and trailheads, making physical distancing difficult, if not impossible in some locations. It has also resulted in damage to our facilities and the environment.

This closure is also necessary to ensure the continued health and safety of our visitors, employees, park operators and their staff, volunteers, and park contractors. By taking this action, we align with federal and provincial directives for people to stay home to reduce COVID-19 transmission risk.

This temporary measure means public and vehicle access is prohibited until further notice. All trails, roads, day-use areas, beaches, lakes, boat launches, and backcountry areas are closed to the public. Park closures will be enforced through regular monitoring and patrols and anyone found in a closed park will be evicted and could face a $115 fine.

In addition to the full system closure, the campground closure has been extended to May 31st, 2020. Full refunds will continue to be provided to those with existing reservations during this time. The Discover Camping reservation system has been suspended for all new reservations. A public notice will be issued once facilities are reopened and the system is able to accept new reservations.

BC Parks continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic closely and is following the recommendations set out by the Provincial Health Officer and the Minister of Health for decisions related to closure and reopening of parks and facilities.

Please continue to check the BC Parks website for updates.

BC Parks COVID-19 Questions and Answers: bcparks.ca/covid-19/questions-answers/

Media Release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020ENV0014-000553

For more COVID-19 information, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control: BCCDC: http://covid-19.bccdc.ca/

Provincial Health Officer and Ministry of Health News: https://news.gov.bc.ca/ministries/health

Save the date - BCLSS Annual Conference

Save the date - BCLSS Annual Conference The BCLSS is pleased to announce that our annual conference will be held in partnership with Lake Windermere Ambassadors (LWA) and Living Lakes Canada (LLC) in Invermere. This year, the theme is All Hands on Deck - Lake Stewardship in Climate Challenged Times. The event will be held at Windermere Community Hall from October 2-4, 2020. Keynote speaker will be Bob Sandford, Chair in Water and Climate Security at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health. Watch the BC Lake Stewardship Society website for information about this event.

Community Spirit during COVID-19

A heart posted on the Lac Le Jeune bulletin board 

To all residents of Lac Le Jeune:

It is an anxious time for us all. Let’s join other communities in saying THANK YOU to those who are on the front lines including medical staff, grocery and food industry staff, gas attendants, truckers, and all those who continue to work with the public in various capacities!

Here are some suggestions:

• Hang hearts in your windows.
• Keep outside lights on for a few hours at night.
• Step out your door and make some noise at 7:00 pm each night; call out, sing, use pots and spoons, whatever (Kids like doing it, make it their responsibility!) We truly are all in this together and some of us are dealing with other issues in our lives besides COVID-19. We can let them know we are thinking of them as well!

~Jacquie Brugger on behalf of the Lac Le Jeune Conservation Society~

Community Mailboxes

We made it almost a full year without a community mailbox incident!

Waiting for repair: March 26, 2020

Thankfully, the boxes were repaired quickly this time so we weren't faced with having to travel to Kamloops to pick up mail.

There have been a few good suggestions from residents over the years:

1. Pick up your mail daily.
2. Put up a security camera. (Anybody have a spare camera?)
3. Go paperless whenever possible, especially for banking and investment mail.
4. Move the mailboxes to a more suitable location. (How can we make this happen?)
5. Rent a mailbox in Kamloops or other nearby location (Many residents already do this.)