On Friday, August 16th at 11:00 am two youth from the Youth and Ecological Restoration Program (YER) will lead a guided tour of a mature second growth forest in the headwaters of Millard Creek. The youth will be educating tour participants on the importance of understanding and protecting areas where groundwater emerges as springs and seeps.
YER is funded by BC Ministry of Children and Family Development. The Comox Valley Regional District supplied a Grant-in-Aid to assist with costs for teaching purposes with Registered Professional Biologist, Ian Moul, who will be working with the youth on this project. This work is being done under the guidance of GW Solutions (www.gwsolutions.ca) who specialize in groundwater supply and protection.
Groundwater is critical for providing a constant, clean water supply to creeks and rivers for wildlife, plants and humans. Threats to springs and seeps include development, impoundments or ponds, water withdrawal and pollutants. Earlier in the week the youth will be documenting some of the springs and installing water level measurements for a long term monitoring program.
YER conducted two years of ecological inventory in this forest with funding support from Millard Piercy Watershed Stewards (www.millardpiercy.org). The spring work will build on that database and support the objectives of their Water Source Protection Project, which is in initial stages of development.
The tour is located at 4327 Minto Road - follow the Courtenay Connector to Minto Road and turn left; the ninth house on the right has a green metal roof and the road number on a big fir tree. Please park along the road and wear sturdy footwear for a light walk. FMI contact Wendy Kotilla at 250-336-8487 or wkotilla@shaw.ca.