Submitted
At noon on Sunday, Aug. 24 the Youth and Ecological Restoration Program (YER) will host the third and final 2014 youth led public tour at Bear Creek Nature Park.
This is a YER, Phase II project funded by Ministry of Children and Family Development and Comox Valley Regional District grant-in-aid funds.
Bear Creek Nature Park has been a CVRD-managed public park since 2010. The 161-acre park was a combined donation and purchase from the previous owner and is certified as an ecological gift with Environment Canada, Ecological Gifts Program.
CVRD and Ducks Unlimited Canada are jointly required to maintain and protect the park’s significant ecological values, and to promote public awareness.
Since 1983, the Oyster River Enhancement Society has been conserving wild Pacific salmon stocks and their habitat in the Oyster River watershed.
ORES has a fish hatchery operation on the lower floodplain of the park, which includes a side channel network for salmon spawning and juvenile rearing habitat.
About 30 volunteers meet on Tuesday mornings to contribute to salmon enhancement in the river.
YER provides work experience, training and support for youth through restoring local watersheds with community members. Most YER, Phase I participants are involved with ORES conservation work.
This YERII project will involve two youth in completing an ecological inventory in Channel #1 and conclude with them leading the tour.
Please join us at Bear Creek Nature Park on Sunday at noon. Follow the Old Island Highway north, go left on Hamm Road, then right on MacAuley Road to the park entrance on the right and drive to the upper parking area.
FMI contact Wendy Kotilla at wkotilla@shaw.ca or 250-336-8487.
