The BC Conservation Foundation is looking for individuals who are able to assist with stream enrichment application on our local flows over the next few weeks.
Volunteer Opportunities
Bagging fertilizer
The Crystal Green® fertilizer is shipped in 1000kg bulk bags and needs to be portioned into burlap bags weighing 10kg. The work is fairly light with no special equipment or abilities needed. This activity takes place at the Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery in Abbotsford. Carpooling from the Surrey/Cloverdale area to Abbotsford and back is available. This will of course depend on the availability of volunteers, but it is anticipated that this work will occur during the week of July 4thto 8th.
Fertilizer Application
Since the peak of the freshet was late this year, it is also subsiding later and fertilizer application has been pushed back from the typical timing by up to 2 weeks in some systems. The majority of this work will require waders, wading boots and the ability to wade into shallow water while carrying a 10 kg burlap bag of fertilizer. Not everyone has to wear waders as some individuals can simply carry the burlap bags from the truck to the river’s edge where those with waders can position them.Carpooling from the Surrey/Cloverdale area to Abbotsford and back is available.
Here are the dates and times:
July 6 – Fertilize Foley Creek and Centre Creek (tributaries to the Chilliwack River)
Meet at the On The Way Store at 10:30am. I anticipate that volunteers would be back to the store by around 2:30pm. I can provide some people with transportation from the Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack areas but my day starts earlier and ends later than the times listed above.
July 9 – Fertilize Statlu Creek (tributary to the Chehalis River)
Meet at the Sasquatch Inn at 10:30. I anticipate that volunteers would be back to the Inn around 1:30pm. I can provide some people with transportation from the Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford and Mission areas but my day starts earlier and ends later than the times listed above.
July 10 – Fertilize Coquihalla River and Silverhope Creek
Meet at the Othello Tunnels exit (first exit off the Coquihalla Highway after leaving Hope) at 11:00am, lunch in Hope at 1:30pm, fertilize Silverhope Creek, leave Hope around 4:30pm. I can provide some people with transportation from the Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Hope areas but my day starts earlier than the times listed above.
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact me at dharper@bccf.com .
Youtube video on stream fertilization www.youtube.com/watch