Special Held Meeting, April 2, 2004
8 A.M.
“Know Your Shore – It’s In Your Interest”
Presentation
by Clive Callaway, Author of “On the Living Edge”
Held in place of the April 21, 2004
General Meeting
Parksville
Community Centre
In
Attendance: Approximately
35 members and guests
Recording
Secretary:
Marilyn
Hayden
Manley
LaFoy welcomed members and guests in attendance and inquired if ODCA members had
business that required addressing before the presentation.
As there was no business to address, Manley introduced Hans Boerger,
Brant Festival Organizer and Caroline Dodd, Mid Island Wildlife Watch Organizer.
Hans
Boerger thanked the ODCA for sponsoring the “Living by Water” presentations
by Clive Callaway.
Hans
Boerger introduced guest speaker, Clive Callaway and turned the meeting over to
him.
Biographical
notes:
·
Shoreline
resident
·
Former
“mini” developer; created and marketed waterfront bare land strata; worked
with realtors.
·
Land
use planner involved in lakeshore development guidelines (for both private
sector and municipalities).
·
Former
resort operator.
·
Construction
background.
·
Co-founder,
The Living by Water Project.
Trends:
·
High demand for waterfront
property with baby boomers fuelling the demand. (9.6 million Canadians by 2011).
Semi-retirement to full retirement.
Consumer looking for peace and tranquility.
·
There are more people looking to
buy than there are lots available.
·
13% of Canadians, about 3.9
million own or lease offshore property.
·
Consumer trends:
o
Native plants increasingly
popular.
o
Xeriscaping with plants that
tolerate local condition – linked to water conservation programs.
o
Pesticide-free programs.
·
Other trends:
o
Forensic fecology – DNA test can
identify contaminants in water from septic systems using DNA fingerprinting at a
very cheap costs.
Storms and climate change:
·
High water issues – increased
erosion potential – storm surges.
o
Georgia Straight has increased 1.2
metres above high water.
o
Once a year Georgia Straight is 6
metres above normal.
·
Effects of clearing vegetation –
winds and blow down.
o
New diseases, e.g. West Nile
virus. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant
water.
o
Weeping Willows have negative
effect on the shoreline.
o
Choose plants that are tolerant of
moisture/temperature change
o
Engineered wetlands are a big draw
to buyers.
o
Biggest problem is that the
aquifer is sinking.
o
Saanich developer, Patrick Lucey
is promoting creative development.
o
In Alberta and Saskatchewan
waterfront landowners do not own shoreline, everyone has shared access, shared
docks, cluster developments.
o
Land and Water BC are promoting
more high-rise development, which is better for the developer and also better
for the land.
o
The insurance companies are
driving the way we build in the future. They
may not insure waterfront property because of the erosion or it will be too
expensive to purchase.
o
Trickle effect on drainage systems
causes erosion.
o
Stripping the shoreline causes
erosion and cannot be replaced.
o
Natural trees and plant roots
protect the shoreline from erosion.
o
Shoreline buffer vegetation is the
“last defense” to protect water quality from pollutants, sediments,
nutrients in runoff etc.
o
Buffer vegetation also helps hold
a shoreline together and prevents erosion.
·
Economic Benefits of
Healthy Shorelines
o
Tourism and recreation values.
o
Commercial, sport and recreational
fisheries.
o
Savings on water treatment.
o
Protection of property tax base.
o
Enhancement and restoration
activities lead to economic activity.
·
Buffer and Setbacks
o
Healthy shorelines need buffer
zones.
o
Buffers do not function well with:
§
Land cleared of vegetation
§
Roadways or driveways to water’s
edge.
§
Lawns.
§
Artificial beaches.
§
Retaining walls/bulkheads/shore
walls.
o
A damaged buffer can become an
‘erosion zone’.
o
The Steam Side Protection Act
states buffer set back be 30 metres
o
The Federal Fisheries Act is not
sufficient to protect a natural shoreline.
o
Work with nature; do not take
shoreline vegetation away. The best
way to protect yourself is to work with nature.
o
The more land that is cleared, the
more the aquifer drops.
o
Build back 30 metres to protect
your property. Build within if you
must, but make a fashion statement and keep the natural material and vegetation
on the shoreline.
o
Turf grass is poor at binding
soil, at filtering run-off, slows run-off down and requires energy and water to
maintain. Instead use a combination
of rocks and plants.
o
Go over the shoreline rather than
through the shoreline with stairs down to the water.
o
Bulkheads increase scouring –
waves come in and hit the bulkheads, the water sweeps under and takes away the
sand.
o
Through development we can
unwittingly increase erosion of bluffs and banks:
§
Clear cutting property/clearing
native vegetation.
§
Removing large root masses.
§
Installing hard, non-porous
surfaces (driveways)
§
Installing shore modifications and
structures.
·
Jurisdictions and Shorelines
o
DFO – Federal Fisheries Act
applies to both the riparian area and the water.
o
Land and Water BC – Crown Land
disposition; eases and licenses.
o
BC Water, Land and Air Protection
– habitat protection; water quality; fish and wildlife.
o
BC Sustainable Resource Management
– water.
o
BC Archaeology Branch
o
Others – e.g. Health Services
– sewage
o
Municipalities and Local
Government (including regional districts)
·
Official Community Plan
·
Zoning
·
Subdivision
·
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
(ESAs).
·
Development Permit Areas (DPAs).
o
First Nations
o
Local private controls – e.g.
Strata Bylaws
o
Self-regulation – best practices
·
Septic Field Systems:
o
Septic field systems have a
limited life.
o
By the time problems appear on the
surface – it’s too late. Pollution
and nutrients will have migrated to surface water
o
Setbacks – 30 metres for septic
systems, more in some jurisdictions.
o
Tank size – minimum is often not
enough.
o
Shoreline residents need extra
capacity to deal with visitors.
o
Sewage regulations are not good
enough for shoreline residents.
§
Exceed setbacks, including on
marine shorelines.
§
For septic tanks: install second
tank or go larger.
·
New Sewage Regulations:
o
Health officer will no longer
inspect, gas or plumbing installer will be responsible.
o
Licensed contractors will be doing
soil analysis in accordance with best practices
o
The manual for standards and best
practices are being prepared.
·
“On the Living Edge” –
by Clive Callaway
o
Whether purchasing land,
developing and selling, or planning to remain owner/operator, this is a
handbook.
o
Topics included in the book:
§
Shoreline Erosion
§
Using native plants on your
shoreline
§
Protecting water quality
§
Installing and maintaining septic
systems and wells
§
Building by water; docks
§
Caring for your yard and garden
§
Recreation, boating, living with
wildlife
·
Other Resources
o
Coastal Shore Stewardship and Land
Development Guidelines - www.stewardshipcentre.bc.ca
o
Best Practices
- http;//wiapwww.gov.bc.ca/sid/BMP/contents.html
o
Land and Water BC for private
moorage - www.lwbc.bc.ca
o
Living by Water handbook – www.livingbywater.ca
o
BC Archaeological Resource
Management Handbook available from:
Archaeology and Registry Services Branch
Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management
P.O. Box 9375 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W
3P8
Manley LaFoy thanked Clive
Calloway on behalf of the ODCA for an informative and relevant presentation.
Caroline Dodd thanked the ODCA for
sponsoring the presentation for the general public on April 1st, the
presentation to the ODCA this morning and for the presentation to follow
addressing the Oceanside Tourist Association Members.