stewardship by a hundred small successes

1 Stewardship by a Hundred Small Successes Elk River Watershed Alliance (ERA) Annual Report November 5, 2014

Stewardship by a Hundred Small Successes Elk River Watershed Alliance (ERA) - Annual Report 2014

Prepared by Lee-Anne Walker, Executive Director for ERA AGM

November 5, 2014


Table of Contents

1. Administration ........................................................................................................ 3 1.1 Who we are ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Vision for the Elk River watershed ............................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Our aim ................................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Principles Guiding ERA Activities ............................................................................................................... 3 1.5 ERA’s 4 Strategic Goals .................................................................................................................................... 3 1.6 ERA History ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.7 ERA Board of Directors 2014 ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.8 ERA Contractors .................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.9 Professional Development ............................................................................................................................. 5 1.10 ERA Communication Tools .......................................................................................................................... 5 2. Financials ................................................................................................................ 6 2.1 Project summary – See Appendix 1 ............................................................................................................ 6 2.2 Profit & Loss -‐ See Appendix 2 ..................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Balance Sheet – See Appendix 3 ................................................................................................................... 6 2.4 Thank you to our funders for 2014 projects .......................................................................................... 6 2.5 Annual Revenue Summary ............................................................................................................................. 6 2.6 Sustainable Funding Strategy (under development) .......................................................................... 7

3. Outcomes supporting ERA’s 4 Strategic Goals .......................................................... 8 3.1 Increase and ease public access to information about the Elk River watershed .................... 8 3.2 Use education programs and community outreach activities to strengthen our collective water literacy ............................................................................................................................................................... 8 3.3 Use knowledge to engage meaningful community participation in the decision-‐making process affecting the Elk River watershed ..................................................................................................... 9 3.4 Monitor to assess aquatic health and prioritize community involvement in activities that steward, enhance and restore aquatic ecosystems .................................................................................. 10

Appendix 1 – Project Summary .................................................................................. 10

Appendix 2 – Profit & Loss ......................................................................................... 10

Appendix 3 – Balance Sheet ....................................................................................... 10


1. Administration

1.1 Who we are The Elk River Alliance is a community-‐based water group that aims to connect people to the Elk River ensuring it is drinkable, fishable and swimmable for future generations. Registered as a BC Society in 2013, Elk River Watershed Alliance does business as Elk River Alliance (ERA).

1.2 Vision for the Elk River watershed Promote a new ERA in watershed thinking where well-‐managed human activities result in healthy ecosystems and a robust economy.

1.3 Our aim Raise community awareness and understanding about our watershed. Facilitate community dialogue and engagement to better inform sustainable water decision-‐making. Monitor aquatic health to prioritize our collective effort in activities that enhance and restore aquatic ecosystems.

1.4 Principles Guiding ERA Activities • We unite not divide. • We bring together diverse points of view and offer a safe place to dialogue

about the Elk River. • Although we do not have decision-‐making authority, our role is to stimulate

broad-‐based conversation, provide a conduit for information sharing and facilitate community input encouraging sustainable water decision-‐making.

• Promoting watershed thinking, ERA contributes a coordinated community voice to watershed planning and management, regulatory processes and other regional water initiatives.

1.5 ERA’s 4 Strategic Goals 1. Increase and ease public access to information about the Elk River

watershed. 2. Use education programs and community outreach activities to strengthen

our collective water literacy. 3. Use knowledge to engage meaningful community participation in the

decision-‐making process affecting the Elk River watershed.


4. Monitor to assess aquatic health and prioritize community involvement in activities that steward, enhance and restore aquatic ecosystems, wetlands and riparian areas.

1.6 ERA History The Elk River Alliance (ERA) was started in September 2010 under the leadership of Lee-‐Anne Walker. A resident of the Elk Valley region since 1983, Lee-‐Anne has a deep passion for her home and love for the Elk River. She was motivated to bring together people with a common vision of the Elk River watershed. The formation of ERA was inspired by her MA thesis research where she interviewed 8 community-‐based water groups and 16 decision-‐makers in the Columbia Basin region. These community water champions and visionary leaders are the basis of her MA Environment and Management thesis “Community-‐based water monitoring: bridging citizens and decision makers” (2009). As the inaugural Executive Director, she approached Wildsight Elk Valley Branch who acted as the initial sponsor of ERA (2010-‐August 2013). ERA received independent BC non-‐profit society designation in September 2013 and is in the process of seeking charitable status.

1.7 ERA Board of Directors 2014 • Stella Swanson, PhD. Aquatic Toxicologist, Chair/Director -‐ Science • Helena VanKoughnett, BSc. Biology, Secretary/Treasurer/Director – Citizen

at Large • Jim Miller, PEng., Director -‐ Municipal Water • Doug Marteinson, MSc Organizational Development/Masters in

Environmental Design, Director -‐ Community Engagement • Carla Fraser, Director -‐ Teck/Industry Representative • Bob Livsey, Forestry Technician, Director -‐ Fernie Nature Club • John Poirier, Master Fly Fisher, Director -‐ Fishers • Mike Bennett, Hon. BSc. Environmental Science, Director – liaison with

Wildsight Elk Valley Branch • Matt Huryn, Director – Director Rod and Gun Clubs liaison with Sparwood

Fish and Wildlife Association • Director -‐ River Based Tourism VACANT • Director – Commercial Fishing Guide VACANT • Director -‐ Municipal Government VACANT • Director -‐ Education VACANT • Director -‐ River Recreation and Paddling VACANT • Director – Youth VACANT


2014 Board meetings for 2014 were held January 31, April 9, September 24, AGM November 5, and scheduled for December 10.

1.8 ERA Contractors • Lee-‐Anne Walker – Executive Director, MA Environment and Management,

B.A. Recreation Administration (Heritage Interpretation) • Ayla Bennett – Program Coordinator: Community-‐based Water Monitoring,

B.Sc. Earth Sciences (2011) • Allie Dickhout – Program Coordinator: Watershed Education & Restoration

Projects, B.Sc. Environmental Science (2012)

1.9 Professional Development The Canadian Freshwater Alliance Workshop “Engagement Organizing Training Intesive” was attended June 6-‐8, 2014 at Blue Lake by Lee-‐Anne, Ayla and Allie. ERA contractors learned about engagement organizing: the technology and culture of building power. From this workshop we decided to revamp the ERA website to Nation builder, which can manage on-‐line memberships, member management, donations and engagement. All worked on ERA’s theory of change using personal, collective and organizational stories about ERA to strengthen external communications. It was a great opportunity to network with other water groups from across western Canada (West Coast, Fraser River, Okanagan, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba). Lee-‐Anne also attended the “Sustaining the Blue Planet: Global Water Education Conference” hosted by Project WET in Bozeman Montana June 24-‐27, 2014. She brought back new ideas for raising water literacy throughout meaningful engagement activities.

1.10 ERA Communication Tools • ERA has a NEW Nationbuilder website that can manage ERA’s membership

database and track social capital engagement: www.elkriveralliance.ca • ERA has a regularly updated Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elk-‐River-‐Alliance/ • Reports written and available on our website under resources include:

o McPherson, S., G. Duke, M. Robinson, and L. Walker. 2014. Elk River watershed valley bottom assessment – Report to residents on river health, phase 1. Prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd., GranDuke Geomatics, Ltd. and Elk River Alliance for the Columbia Basin Trust.

o Bennett, Ayla. 2013. Community-‐based water quality monitoring report: Lizard Creek & Alexander Creek. Prepared by the Elk River Alliance.

o Walker, Lee-‐Anne. 2014. Silver Springs stewardship solutions report.


Prepared by the Elk River Alliance for the RDEK CBT Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Program.

o Report card – Report to residents on Elk River health: Valley bottom

assessment. Prepared by the Elk River Alliance for Columbia Basin Trust and Teck.

o Survey monkey to collect 189 Elk Valley wide input on Silver Springs Stewardship Solutions

o Two Animoto videos produced for Elk River Watershed Discovery Camp

2. Financials

2.1 Project summary – See Appendix 1

2.2 Profit & Loss -‐ See Appendix 2

2.3 Balance Sheet – See Appendix 3

2.4 Thank you to our funders for 2014 projects CBT, Teck, RDEK Community Initiatives, Small Change Fund, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, BC Hydro Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, BC Parks Public Education Fund. Other funding sources: private donations, membership, in-‐kind donations, corporate donations (Fernie Brewing Company), fundraising BBQ’s, sales of t-‐shirt/hat/buttons/stickers, fee for service

2.5 Annual Revenue Summary From 2010 to 2014, ERA has contributed $268,22530 worth of watershed benefits in terms of fiscal resources circulated in contractor services, supplies/materials, hospitality, etc. Of this total amount to date, Teck has contributed $96,000 in cash and in-‐kind contributions for mapping support, orthophotos and lidar imaging. Year TOTAL Revenue 2010/2011 $23,234.13 2011/2012 $31,922.72 2012/2013 $58,114.77 2013/2014 $105,925.37 2014/2015* $55,803.16 TOTALS $275,000.15 * Recently confirmed funding for Elk River Flood Solutions Strategy $40,000 from BC Real Estate Foundation, $97,500 in-‐kind contribution from University of Lethbridge for hydrology research and modeling. CBT Grant Application pending for $50,000.


Corporate Contributions:

• Teck Coal, Lotic Environmental, Fernie Brewing Company

Foundations/Trusts: • CBT, Vancouver Foundation, BC Real Estate Foundation, RBC Bluewater, TD

Friends of the Environment Foundation, Small Change Fund

Governments: • BC Parks, RDEK-‐Area A, City of Fernie, District of Sparwood, District of

Elkford

Other Organization Support: • Wildsight

Private Donors: • Non-‐Stop Ski (Fernie), Private Individuals, In-‐kind Contributions of ERA staff

and board members • Memberships (Corporate – annual, Lifetime – family $40 and individual $20)

Fundraising: • Canada Day BBQ • Button/Sticker donations at businesses around town

2.6 Sustainable Funding Strategy • Corporate – Requesting Teck provide an annual contribution and additional funding

to special projects. Solicit contributions from other corporate entities i.e. Canfor, Finning, Joy Global, RCR.

• Pursuing NEW funding opportunities from Kootenay/Koocanusa Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program Upper Kootenay Ecosystem Enhancement Program for e.g. Marsh mapping, wetland construction, enhancement on Alexander Creek

• Received confirmation of $40,000 from NEW funder BC Real Estate Foundation • Ongoing funders will be pursued for 2015– CBT, TD Friends of the Environment

Foundation • Fee for Service model e.g. Mining Week • Exploring fee for service wetland construction e.g. Montane development and for

municipal governments, interpretive signage, water conservation consulting. • Raised over $5000 through the Small Change Fund’s (SCF) National Freshwater

Fund crowd-sourcing initiative, where SCF matched donations 2:1.


• Fundraising – BBQ Canada Day, sales of hats/t-shirts, button/sticker donation jars

3. Outcomes supporting ERA’s 4 Strategic Goals

3.1 Increase and ease public access to information about the Elk River watershed

• Produced the following reports, written in plain language, widely distributed and available on the ERA website:

o Bennett, Ayla. 2013. Community-‐based water quality monitoring report: Lizard Creek & Alexander Creek. Prepared by the Elk River Alliance.

o McPherson, S., G. Duke, M. Robinson, and L. Walker. 2014. Elk River watershed valley bottom assessment – Report to residents on river health, phase 1. Prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd., GranDuke Geomatics, Ltd. and Elk River Alliance for the Columbia Basin Trust.

o Report card to residents on Elk River health: Valley bottom assessment. Prepared by the Elk River Alliance for Columbia Basin Trust and Teck.

o Walker, Lee-‐Anne. 2014. Silver Springs stewardship solutions report. Prepared by the Elk River Alliance for the RDEK CBT Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Program.

• ERA Water Celebration and Streamkeepers Splash presenting ERA’s community-‐

based water quality monitoring report 2011-‐2013 at the Arts Station, attended by 42 people.

3.2 Use education programs and community outreach activities to strengthen our collective water literacy • Host summer camps with youth (11-‐14) involving watershed stewardship

activities e.g. plant trees, paint water barrels for Eco-‐Garden and applied science/math in the field. 10 people volunteered 75 hours as wetland, geology, environmental engineering, urban stormwater and fly-‐fishing experts.

• International Fly Fishing Film Festival – Blue Drinks Social (2014) International Fly Fishing Film Festival where we hosted the Blue Drinks Social with 35 participants. Presented the community-‐based water monitoring 3-‐year data report and played the fishing game to raise money for ERA.

• Increase school age Grade 4-‐6 understanding of water quality and Teck’s Water Quality Plan Process. Co-‐sponsored mining week with Teck in the Crowsnest


Pass and Elk Valley schools to discuss water quality and how students can help protect water quality.

• Sharing ERA water quality data with Teck. • Streamkeeper and Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) trained

community volunteers were mobilized to participate in water quality monitoring. 10 volunteers donated 88 hours to conduct high and low flow monitoring on Alexander and Lizard Creeks in 2014. 2 volunteers took the CABIN training and contributed to water quality monitoring in the Elk watershed.

• ERA staff and directors volunteered to support the CBT Know Your Watershed stream science and student action projects with Grade 8 students in Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford. 3 volunteers for 10 hours.

• Wrote and installed 5 signs for the Forests and Fish Interpretive Trail at Mount Fernie Provincial Park featuring how healthy forests foster healthy fish, even though fish cannot climb trees. Deactivated a hazardous part of the trail, rerouting visitors through the campground.

3.3 Use knowledge to engage meaningful community participation in the decision-‐making process affecting the Elk River watershed • ERA has a representative on Teck’s Community of Interest (2012-‐2014) steering

committee. • Participated and mobilized community input for Teck Water Quality Plan (2013-‐

2014) • ERA is on the working group on the Elk Valley Cumulative Effects Management

Framework • Participated in the Kootenay-‐Koocanusa Water Action (2013/2014) • Coordinate solutions to Silver Springs stewardship. In 2015 ERA will fill out

grant applications to implement priorities identified in report: 1) outhouse construction 2) community trail maintenance and site cleanup 3) parking and 4) better management.

• Build on the Valley Bottom Assessment with the Elk River Flood Solutions Strategy (proposal development for 2015-‐2016).

• Attended meetings and reviewed official community plans for the District of Sparwood and RDEK Area A

• RDEK Flood Control Service public consultation in Hosmer • Make presentations to the mayors and councils of the Districts of Elkford and

Sparwood and the City of Fernie on the results of the Valley Bottom Assessment.


• On the steering committee for the Columbia Basin Watershed Network .

3.4 Monitor to assess aquatic health and prioritize community involvement in activities that steward, enhance and restore aquatic ecosystems • Gather and share water quality monitoring data (SHIM, Streamkeepers, CABIN)

with community on Lizard (2011-‐2014) and Alexander Creek (2012-‐2014). • Sponsored and hosted the annual Elk River Great Shoreline Cleanup and Swim

Drink Fish Festival since 2011. This year, expanded to Sparwood and Elkford. September 27-‐28, 77 people volunteered 196 hours to clean up 71 kms of shoreline, weighing 1270 kgs, 30 garbage bags and 4 recycling bags.

• Coordinate Fernie Christian Youth Group cleanup at Silver Springs September 19. 12 students and 4 adults volunteered 64 hours.

• Lizard Creek restoration and enhancement project to enhance dikes and slope failure sites. For the dike enhancement project 18 COTR Mountain Adventure Skills Training students volunteered 36 hours to plant native species in and behind the rip rap. 10 volunteers donated 80 hours to complete the slope stabilization gathering willow and dogwood, placing the stakes in brush terraces and burlap soil cover.

• In September, removed rock walls in Coal Creek built for swimming holes to ensure low flow fish passage in Coal Creek (2014). 3 volunteers spent 6 hours creating viable fish passages.

• East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council – several ERA volunteers came out to pull knapweed for 3 hours near Maiden Lake

• Capture and transfer of west slope cutthroat trout from side channel to mainstem of the Elk River to reduce risk of winterkill. 7 people volunteered 21 hours for this project.

• Share ERA water quality data with Teck and encourage Teck to share with community data from their Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program.

Appendix 1 – Project Summary

Appendix 2 – Profit & Loss

Appendix 3 – Balance Sheet

stewardship by a hundred small successes

Documents