Cowichan Green Map Front

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The Community

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Green Map

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In community mapping workshops, people expressed great passion for the land and unique spaces in the Cowichan Valley. Under the themes of “Food,” “Land” and “People,” we have created a map which is a collective expression of what is important to people in the Cowichan Valley. Concerns were expressed about Kw’ikw’uws development pressures, habitat loss and poor land stewardship practices. However, many are committed to preserving the ecological integrity of the Cowichan Valley and want to learn ways to become better stewards.

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As community mapping participants have expressed, the stewardship and protection of Cowichan Valley’s special places and natural spaces is not only for their intrinsic value, but for the vital roles these natural systems play toward healthy and liveable communities. Our land and ecosystems: ♦ Regulate our climate and clean the air ♦ Sustain and clean our water ♦ Clean and recycle nutrients in our soils ♦ Provide homes for native species, and wildlife corridors ♦ Maintain genetic diversity and pollinate our crops ♦ Bring nature into communities and provide discovery opportunities ♦ Provide recreational opportunities and create economic benefits ♦ Support life for us all…

Food There is a growing realization of the importance of growing

organic and eating locally-produced food. Some of the many benefits include: better food quality, healthy lifestyle, fossil fuel reduction, value-added land use, and community building. The film “lsland on the Edge” (a DV Cuisine production) highlights the need for greater food-growing self-reliance on Vancouver Island. The Green Map features a sampling of local growing initiatives that uphold land stewardship with quality food production, for example, community gardens, Certified Organic farms, farms with protected habitat status, such as the TLC’s Conservation Partners.

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100 St. Andrew’s Church Community Garden 531 Herbert St. 250-746-7413 101 Jubilee Community Gardens in Centennial Park, end of Third St. 250-748-0580 102 Kinsmen Community Gardens in Kinsmen Park, Alderlea St. 250-748-8506

2 Certified Organic Farms

110 Alderlea Bio-dynamic Farm 3390 Glenora Rd. 250-715-0799 111 Springfield Farm 1246 Bazett Rd. 250-748-0463 112 Red Nettle Farm 6000 Heger Rd. 250-749-4321 113 Kingcott Farm 11887 Allison Way 250-245-0324 114 Organic Fair Farm & Garden 1935 Doran Rd. 250-733-2035 115 Cowichan Valley Organic Farm 6182 Lakes Rd. 250-748-8089 116 Glen Eden Farm 4690 Old Cowichan Lake Rd. 250-746-6954 117 Kismet Farm 7530 Richard’s Trail 250-746-3236 118 Sungold Meadows 4164 Telegraph Rd. 250-743-1042

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Bird’s Eye Cove Farm 5881 Genoa Bay Rd.

Á Protected Habitat

The following properties are protected in some way, either through acquisition by a Land Trust, or through participation in The Conservation Partners Program. This program is an initiative of The Land Conservancy of BC with the purpose of protecting and enhancing important habitat on privately owned agricultural lands. They provide recognition, incentive and assistance to growers who are committed to conservation of natural habitat on their farm. The butterfly label shows these Conservation partners are protecting soil and water health by using natural methods to fertilize and control pests and weeds.

140 Keating Farm Estate The Land Conservancy of BC, 5250 Miller Rd. 250-737-1401 T 141 Manley Farm The Northwest Preservation Society 142 Shincliffe Enterprises TLC Conservation Partner, 3080 Wilkinson Rd. 250-743-3706 143 Valhalla Herbs & Things TLC Conservation Partner, 3693 Gibbins Rd. 250-748-1741 144 Fairburn Farm TLC Conservation Partner, 3310 Jackson Rd. 250-746-4637 145 Merridale Cidery TLC Conservation Partner, 1230 Merridale Rd. 250-743-9310 { 146 Godfrey-Brownell Vineyard TLC Conservation Partner, 4911 Marshall Rd. 250-715-0504

People The Cowichan Valley is called – “sun warming your back” in Hul’qumi’num, the language of the Cowichan First Nations. Those living here for generations and those who have moved here recently would agree that the Cowichan Valley is one of the sunniest places around. Residents are privileged to be just steps from beautiful vistas, natural spaces and countless outdoor recreation opportunities. According to residents, the area boasts some of the best swimming, the tastiest water, the biggest wooden train trestle, the most scenic vistas atop local mountains. Locate your special place on the green map.

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Cowichan Exhibition Grounds Mays & TCH, Duncan Xeel's Footprint Left by the legendary Transformer from Coast Salish oral tradition as he stepped across the Islands to Thetis and beyond

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Ashburnham Creek Honeymoon Bay Stocking Creek Ladysmith Holland Lake Ladysmith

220 Cowichan Lake Education Centre Lakeview Park Rd. 250-749-6213 221 Ministry of Forests Education Centre 7060 Forestry Rd. 222 OUR Ecovillage 1565 Baldy Mtn Rd. 250-743-3067 ª/2 O.U.R. (One United Resource) Ecovillage is a 25 acre sustainable learning

community and demonstration site located near Shawnigan Lake. The registered nonprofit society is dedicated to the promotion of sustainable community living rooted in social, ecological, and economic well being.

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Herb Wise Farms 3060 Mt. Sicker Rd. 250-246-3606

Ó Museum

250 BC Forest Discovery Centre 2892 Drinkwater Rd. Duncan 250-715-1113 { 251 Cowichan Valley Museum 130 Canada Ave. Duncan 250-746-6612 { 252 Kaatza Station Museum South Shore Rd. Lake Cowichan 250-749-6142 { 253 Chemainus Valley Museum 9299 Waterwheel Cresc. Chemainus 250-416-2465 {

5 Recycling

For more information about CVRD recycling centres, contact Recycling & Waste Management at 250-746-2530

260 CVRD Bings Creek Solid Waste Management Complex 3900 Drinkwater Rd. Duncan 261 CVRD Meade Creek Recycling Drop-off Depot 8855 Youbou Rd. Lake Cowichan 262 CVRD Peerless Road Recycling Drop-off Depot 10830 Peerless Rd. Ladysmith

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These are places that people have identified as having many food, ecology and cultural values, and are therefore, vital hubs of stewardship, education and empowerment in the community. 270 Glenora Farm 4766 Waters Rd. 250-715-1559 e

Glenora (golden valley) is a farm community where care givers and people with developmental disabilities live, learn and work together, sharing in a culturally rich and productive environment. An acre and a half of land is farmed with Bio-dynamic and certified organic growing principles to feed the community and to sell locally.

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Hope Farm 3504 Drinkwater Rd. 250-748-4479

Hope Farm, the latest project of the Mustard Seed Street Church ministry, is a 32-acre former dairy farm on Drinkwater Road, near Duncan. Here participants learn how to produce and handle vegetables and fruit which will be distributed free to food banks on Vancouver Island.

Providence Farm 1843 Tzouhalem Rd. 250-746-4204j “Where care for the individual and care for the land come together”. Providence is a 400-acre therapeutic organic farm dedicated to restoring the spirit and skills of those with physical, mental and emotional challenges. There are self-guided tours, a Farm Store and Nursery for fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, bedding plants, shrubs.

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280 Trail off Sunrise Rd. to Cowichan River Regional Park 281 River access off Gibbins Rd near Hydro Right-of-Way 282 Forestry Pools access off Hillcrest Rd. in Chemainus River Provincial Park 283 Paradise Pools river access off Cliffs Rd. 290 Brentwood College School 2735 Mt. Baker Rd. 250-743-5521

Land The Cowichan First Nations express that we are the land. In



Hul’qumi’num, the Cowichan language, the law of snuw’ey’uth teaches that we all have responsibility to respect and care for the living world around us. Many have expressed that the Cowichan Valley is a very special place with unique landscapes and features. In community mapping workshops, people shared their local knowledge such as natural habitats, geological features and habitats at risk where greater conservation efforts are needed. They also proudly spoke of positive examples of land stewardship such as stream restoration and habitat protection areas.

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Lamprey spawning grounds Hummingbird Creek

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We hope this map will inspire residents and visitors to renewed connection, discovery and stewardship of our bioregion. The map is organized with icons from the international Green Map System. Each icon identifies a site, along with a number that can be looked up for more detail. You can learn about our Valley on the ‘Story Side’ of the map. For more information and map copies, visit: www.cowichanlandtrust.ca

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Drinkwater viewing platform end of Drinkwater Rd. Chisholm Island Maple Bay Marina Dougan's Lake off TCH Merrilees' Pond Merrilees Nature Park Coffin Point- Intertidal pools

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Askew Creek Estuary Chemainus Bush Creek Estuary Ladysmith Cherry Point Beach Cobble Hill À®



The beach is one of the only in the region where you can find sand dollars in the intertidal, as well as several large boulders that have been deposited by glaciers. Nearby Garnet Creek is a site of ongoing restoration works, and has been recently inhabited by a beaver.

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Shoal Islands & marshes Crofton Stocking Creek Estuary Saltair v Kuper Island Intertidal Wetland Kuper Island Osborne Bay & Beach Crofton Woods Islands Ladysmith Holland Creek Estuary Ladysmith Chemainus River Estuary Chemainus v

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Eelgrass Habitat

Cowichan Bay eelgrass transplants off Cowichan Bay Rd. Boulder Beach access off South Oyster Rd. Shawnigan Creek Estuary Mill Bay

 Garry Oak Meadow

340 Garry oak grove end of Irvine Rd. 341 Garry oak with wildflower bluffs In Cowichan River Provincial Park 342 Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve The Nature Conservancy of Canada, Maple Bay Rd. 343 Somenos Garry Oak Protected Area BC Parks, York Rd.

® Geological Feature

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Stoltz Bluff Stoltz Rd. Skutz Falls Caves Skutz Falls Forest Service Road El Capitan & Landale climbing sites Youbou Christopher Rock off Hemlock St. near dam, Youbou Sandstone Cliffs Halalt Reserve, Chemainus Rockhounding site Holyoak Lake, Chemainus

‰ Habitat at Risk

These are places where people have identified threatened flora, fauna and natural habitats. These highlight the need for stewardship and protection of natural values. In all development we must remember that nature knows no boundaries, and that conservation is about stewardship, not ownership.

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Old Growth Trees Norcross Rd, Duncan Mature Second Growth Spectacle Lake Old Growth Trees Mill Bay Old Growth Trees Holland Lake, Ladysmith Octopus Point off Genoa Bay Rd.

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Meades Creek Forest Research Site Meades Creek Rd. Askew Wilderness Park Oak & Chemainus Rd. vÈ Echo Heights Echo Heights Rd. vl‰AÈ



This 54 acre forest is valued for recreation, wildlife viewing and education. It is also home to the blue listed red-legged frog, however there are development pressures on this site.

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Chemainus Lake Park River Rd. vo Manzanita Site Koksilah Ridge, off Mines Rd. Eagle Heights Grasslands Eves Provincial Park Little Mountain Rd.

Á Protected Habitat

These are special places under active stewardship by conservation agencies such as Cowichan Land Trust covenants, The Land Conservancy, Nature Trust of BC, Nature Conservancy, BC Parks Ecological Reserves.

380 Cowichan River Estuary Properties The Nature Trust of BC, off Cowichan Bay Rd. vÀÈ{ The estuary is an important coastal habitat as the Cowichan River is

the largest salmon bearing river in the region. The Cowichan River Dyke trail is an excellent, family-friendly walk into the estuary, and includes a viewing platform, to watch the birds and wildlife in this ecosystem.

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240 Butter Church end of Lemo Rd. 241 McGee Creek Trestle access off trail at West Shawnigan Lake Rd. 242 Kinsol Trestle access off trail at end of Glen Eagles Rd. 243 Holt Creek Trestle access off trail at Glenora Trailhead 244 Cowichan Station Village Koksilah Rd. near Bench Rd.



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230 Evergreen Independent School 3515 Watson Ave. 250-743-2433 231 Sunrise Waldorf School 4344 Peters Rd. 250-743-7253

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Cowichan Valley

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Hul’qumi’num placenames point to just some of the thousands of locations known to First Peoples of the Cowichan Valley, demonstrating their historic and ongoing relationship to the land and sea. Herb Rice, a local Coast Salish artist, generously provided the First Nations illustrations of the Wolf, the Hummingbird, the Salmon and the Orca. His work has also been featured in the book Islands in the Salish Sea. www.coastsalishjourney.com

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What you told us

The Cowichan Valley Green Map is the first "Green Map" of the Cowichan Valley bioregion. With funding from the Canada-B.C. Labour Market Development Agreement, the Cowichan Land Hwlumelhtsu Trust conducted community mapping workshops around the Valley asking residents to map their local knowledge about ecological features, wildlife habitat, important land uses and special places in the Valley.

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Flowing from Cowichan Lake to Cowichan Bay, the 47 km Cowichan River is recognized as both a British Columbia Heritage River and a Canadian Heritage River. The Cowichan River watershed provides habitat for many native wildlife species, including salmon and trout spawning. It is a recreational treasure with a 20 km footpath in the Cowichan River Provincial Park. Also enjoyed are fishing, camping, swimming, tubing and canoeing.

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Beaver dam Bush Creek INDIAN RESERVES ABANDONED RAILWAY Beaver Matthew Creek Wildlife Tree- Eagles Nests off Saunders Rd Heron Rookery Cowichan Bay Wildlife Tree- Eagles Nest Cowichan Bay Osprey Nesting Platform off Dock Rd { Elk Habitat Cowichan Station Purple Martin colony Ladysmith Maritime Society Marina Sources: Hul'qum'inum Place Names from Hul'qum'inum Dictionary 2007, Place-Names of the Island Halkomelem Indian People 1985 D. Rozen. Elk Habitat Sahtlam Base data for the map was generously supplied by the Cowichan Valley Regional District, the Municipality of North Cowichan, Town of Ladysmith, and Elk winter grazing Youbou Cowichan Tribes. Green Mapping Icons are from the Green Map System (a registered trade mark) and are used with permission. Pictures and art work provided by: S. Bent, A. Hiscock, C. Hiscock, J. Morgen, J. Nygaard, S. Paridaen-VanVeen, H. Rice, J. Scull, J. Williams, S. Willmott. Marshy Island Quamichan Lake

The Community Green Map of the Cowichan Valley © Cowichan Land Trust

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Old growth Garry oak tree, Cowichan Bay Rd. Biggest arbutus tree in Canada Foster Point Rd.

This is also an excellent site for bird and wildlife viewing, as American Dippers have been sighted in the pools below the waterfalls.

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 Salmon Habitat

Many streams have histories of fish spawning, but due to development and negative impacts, are in need of restoration and rehabilitation. Stewards, such as the Cowichan Land Trust Streamkeeper volunteers, do stream restoration, cleanup and monitoring to restore the ecological health of streams.

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oaks. It is also a refuge for birds and wildlife, and has spectacular views of the region.

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386 Honeymoon Bay Ecological Reserve BC Parks gv{ 387 Mt. Tzouhalem Ecological Reserve BC Parks, parking at end of Kaspa Rd gvÀQ This site is home to many species of native plants, including Garry

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as it is home to several species of rare birds, amphibians and other animals. Restoration works have occurred along Bings Creek, and a boardwalk was built (2008) out into the marsh to a platform for bird and wildlife viewing.



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382 Pearson College & Lot 31 The Land Conservancy of BC, Riverbottom Rd. Àg 383 Belvedere Property The Land Conservancy of BC Riverbottom Rd. Àg 384 Oswald Bass Conservation Area The Nature Trust of BC, in Cowichan River Provincial Park ÀgÈ 385 Somenos Marsh The Nature Trust of BC, Trans Canada Hwy Àªvl{ The Somenos Marsh is an important wetland in the Duncan region,

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This map is for illustrative purposes only and may not be suitable for navigation. Produced September 2009.

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