Archive for the ‘Conservation’ Category

According to a report in the Toronto Star, predictions for the sockeye run this year on the Fraser River suggest that it will be a massive number of the fish returning to the Fraser. In fact, the largest run in a century is suggested, with 25 million fish estimated to swim up the British Columbia river.

“The optimistic forecast stands in stark contrast to last year, when the commission predicted 10 million fish would swim up the Fraser and only 1.5 million showed up.”

Last year, the talk was about the apparent collapse of the Fraser River sockeye salmon – so much so that a Federal Inquiry was initiated to try to determine the cause of the collapse.

This year, for the first time in many, the sockeye season will be open to commercial, native, and sport anglers.

For those that might be interested, this just arrived in my inbox from the Ontario Headwaters Institute.  I notice that Jack Imhof of Trout Unlimited Canada will be a panelist:

Ontario has an enviable legacy of leadership in watershed management. As increasing population and development pressures converge with a changing climate, emerging sophistication in the natural sciences, and the need for increased agency collaboration, is Integrated Watershed Management a next logical step for Ontario?

Please join us on Tuesday May 11 for a robust discussion on the evolution of Integrated Watershed Management in Ontario.

This day-long symposium will be held in downtown Toronto and features 9 key speakers, opportunities for Q&A, breakout groups, and a closing plenary, at the reasonable fee of $50.00 thanks in large part to our sponsors: Conservation Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

The full agenda is provided below and can be seen at http://www.ohwi.ca/2010Symposium/ where you will also find information on Registration and a map and directions to the event.

For further information, please reply to this address or call me at the number below.M
Sincerely,
Andrew
Andrew McCammon
Ontario Headwaters Institute
416 231 9484

INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT IN ONTARIO
may 11, 2010               89 chestnut street, toronto

Registration and Networking over Coffee, muffins, and croissants                           7:30 – 8:30

Welcome and Introduction to the Day                                                                8:30
Greetings from Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources                        8:45
Current Conditions                                                                                                               9:00 – 10:10

Collaboration on the Provincial Water Agenda
Jennifer Keyes, Manager, Director, Great Lakes and Water Policy Branch,
Ministry of Natural Resources

Observations on Ontario’s Culture of Watershed Management
Don Pearson, General Manager, Conservation Ontario
Bio-break

Key Challenges                                                                                                                     10:30 – 12:00

Climate: Are Changes to the Hydrologic Cycle the Key Driver for IWM?
Dr Isobel Heathcote – Principal, Wyndham Research Inc. Dr Heathcote is the
author of Integrated Watershed Management and a former professor of
Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering, University of Guelph

Managing the Great Lakes and their Contributing Watersheds
Rick Findlay – Consultant and Vice-chair, Canadian Water Network. Past
Positions include: Director, Water Program, Pollution Probe; Chief, Climate
Change team at Environment Canada; and Director, Ontario Round Table on
Environment and Economy

Lunch                                                                                                                                      12:00 – 1:15

Existing Strengths and Future Goals                                                                                   1:15 – 2:30

Where are we on IWM, and where do we want to go?  Thoughts from and Q&A with an Expert Panel.
Nancy Goucher – Program Coordinator,
Forum for Leadership on Water
IWM, Canada, First Nations,
and the CCME

MNR – To be confirmed

IWM, Conservation, and Pollution

Ian Smith – Director, Source Protection
Programs Branch, Ministry of the Environment

IWM and Drinking Water
Source Protection
Jack Imhof – Senior Aquatic Biologist, MNR; and National Biologist, Trout Unlimited Canada

IWM, Biodiversity, and
Inland Waters

Mike Walters – Director, Watershed Management, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
IWM, Conservation Authorities, and Sustainable Communities

Community Consultation                                                                                                     2:30 – 3:30

Breakout Groups with afternoon beverages. Groups will be provided with guidelines, note-takers, and charts to record comments
Ontario’s Collaborative Culture of Watershed Management
Is Climate Change the key driver for IWM?
Managing the Great Lakes and their Contributing Watersheds
National Issues, First Nations, and the CCME
IWM, Conservation, and Pollution (To be confirmed)
IWM, Biodiversity, and Inland Waters
IWM and Drinking Water Source Protection
IWM, Conservation Authorities, and Sustainable Communities

Reports Back, Discussion, and Closing Comments                                                            3:30 – 4:30

The Telegraph reports on a new book authored by Norman Maclean and due to be published in August, 2010 entitled “Silent Summer – The State Of Wildlife in Britan and Ireland.”  The book has relevancy for fly anglers as it apparently reports that natural fly populations have decreased substantially in recent years on Southern England waters.

The result is less picky trout that are willing to take more variety of flies.

The article reports:

“Two anglers, Cyril Bennett and Warren Gilchrist, have been studying flies on the rivers Test and Itchen in Hampshire, the world’s most famous fly-fishing chalk streams.

…

They found that the fall in fly populations was so drastic that the trout had been forced to become less discerning about which species of fly they would take.”

It is believed there are a number of factors that have caused the alarming reduction in fly populations including pollution, climate change, poor water management and others.

This may be good in the short term for the fly angler that hopes to catch fish, but definitely is a very concerning situation.

Article located here.