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Location: Fraser Valley, Chilliwack River and Cultus Lake watersheds Project Summary
Overview The project will increase riparian ecosystem health by promoting good stewardship practices and obtain commitment to the care for ecosystems by signing stewardship agreements. These goals and objectives will be achieved by using a landowner contact program developed and refined in year one and modeled after four years of landowner contact delivery. Specifically landowner contact staff will contact residents and landowners with a letter and follow up phone call in order to arrange a time to speak to the landowner about caring for their local environment (e.g. Cultus Lake and or their own property). Where land property is large enough to sustain significant habitat value, landowners will be offered a site visit and property report. An information package tailored to the area will be delivered to all interested participants. The contents of which include the Caring for Cultus Booklet, Best Practices and local Species at Risk brochures, and other items. For those interested conducting actions, a stewardship agreement will be used to secure commitment to complete the chosen stewardship project. We will offer support in the completion of a stewardship project by providing subsidized purchase of native plants, nest boxes or bird feeders, and or monitoring for species at risk. Objectives Methods The first objective will be completed by the delivery of the first and second parts of the landowner contact program developed in year one. These parts are the contact of landowners along a waterway’s riparian edge by letter, postcard or ‘drop-in’ followed by a phone call to achieve a scheduled time to visit with the landowner or land user for the delivery of a information package. The information package contains brochures about stewarding land, Caring for Cultus booklet, local species at risk brochures, removal techniques for some invasive plants, and local initiatives (e.g. Chilliwack River Watershed Strategy or Cultus Lake Aquatic Stewardship Strategy). The second objective is achieved during discussion with the landowner regarding the information package. Specific selection of brochures to include in the package is made possible by simply engaging in discussion with the landowner or land user regarding their interest in the area. This method was piloted last year and was very successful in delivering a tailored package. Information about actions to improve the local environment is also included where landowners are interested. Contact information is also given to provide an avenue for follow up should the landowner need more information or advice. We have received numerous phone calls last year regarding the delivery of the Caring for Cultus booklet that resulting in the delivery of several more to landowners we would not have otherwise reached. The Fraser Valley Conservancy uses a landowner attitude scale and long-term commitment approach to landowner contact that allows for follow up in 6 months, a year and beyond to determine a change in attitude and behaviour as a result of our contact program. The final objective to achieve improved riparian habitat and commitment to care for habitat is achieved by finding, in each year, those landowners who only need a little support or encouragement to complete a stewardship project. These may include a native planting, following best practices (such as sanitation of boat hulls and equipment between lake launchings), installing feeders or nest boxes, and or removing invasive plants. Furthermore the three objective are a continuum of steps that build an environmental ethic. The first objective informs and improves attitudes and behaviours and stewardship actions follow.
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