Aug 15 - Cleaner coasts, Bigg whales

Good morning !

Without meaning to, our team put together a very aquatic-themed newsletter for you today—I guess that’s what happens when you live on an Island! We’ve got stories on orcas, ocean cleanups, and a mass fish die-off in a North Cowichan lake.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 4 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛅ 21 / 13

Tomorrow: ⛅ 19 / 13

Day after: 🌧️ 18 / 14

7-day forecast

NEWS

Coastal cleanup projects on the Island get provincial funding boost

BC’s shorelines will be looking a little cleaner soon, with 17 coastal cleanup projects receiving $8M in provincial funding. As part of the Clean Coast, Clean Waters (CCCW) initiative, each project, including Island-specific ones, is designed to collect plastic and fishing waste from beaches and water throughout the Salish Sea and farther north. 

Ten Island projects will get a total of $4.4M—over half of the province’s funding. One of the largest grants will go to Ocean Legacy Foundation (OLF), a non-profit that works to remove plastic from Island beaches and marine ecosystems—they also help find creative solutions to give the recovered plastic a second life. 

OLF will receive more than $1M for projects throughout the Island. The North Island Quatsino First Nation will receive the second-largest grant, with $750K helping to fund two projects. Of the 17 BC projects, seven are Indigenous-led.

Living Ocean Society will get $571K for its work near Cape Scott, and Emerald Sea Protection Society will receive $300K+ for its work to remove discarded fishing gear near Bamfield. Rugged Coast Research Society will receive $465K for work near Campbell River.

Environment and Climate Change Minister George Heyman said coastal communities “want and deserve” an environment without “marine debris and plastic pollution.”

“We now know the harms that plastic waste causes to marine life and also how it finds its way into human food sources as it breaks down,” Heyman said in a release.

The province says in addition to cleaning 1,900 km of shoreline, this year’s projects will remove at least 31 derelict vessels and clean at least six derelict aquaculture sites.

Since the CCCW initiative began four years ago, over 2,100 tonnes of marine debris has been removed from more than 6,400 km of shoreline and 215 derelict boats have been removed. It also helped to create 2,400 jobs and is expected to add another 639 this year, the province said.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Salt Spring H2O restriction: Cedar of Tuam water system is in a stage 3 restriction due to low well water. Water can’t be used for car washing, watering the lawn, filling pools or hot tubs, and more.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Bigger experience: Bigg’s killer whale sightings up this year

That’s good news for tourists and local whale-watching companies who have been able to observe orcas in the Salish Sea every day since March 12—a five-month stretch—as seen in this video provided by SpringTide Whale Watching.

“It’s quite the streak,” Erin Gless, executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) said in a release. “Knock on wood, but the season has been very good for viewing killer whales so far.”

According to the Orca Behaviour Institute (OBI), there was a 70% increase in Bigg’s sightings last month—214 unique sightings, compared with 124 last July. OBI defines a “unique sighting” as a sighting of a distinct group of Bigg’s killer whales on a specific day. OBI only counts each group once per day, regardless of multiple sightings.

Bigg’s killer whales feed on marine mammals, primarily seals, sea lions, and porpoises, and have been seen travelling in groups as large as 41 this summer, according to PWWA.

The coastal Bigg’s killer whale population grew by 14 this year, with eight new calves and six born previously but documented this year, bringing the population to roughly 380. 

The endangered Southern Resident orcas, which feed on less-available salmon, are down to 75 individuals. Local whale watch tours say they don’t focus on Southern Residents.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🐦 Cedar waxwing spotted in a tree at Royal Roads. [Photo]

🎤 Special Woodstock 2024: Year 25 in Duncan. [Info]

🐈🌳 Vic firefighters rescue cat from tree. [CHEK video]

🗞️ In Other News

Developer couches old Ricky’s restaurant as furniture showroom
It burned down last June, leaving a prime site on Douglas and Burnside. Victoria-based Continuum Architecture, working for Standard Furniture, has applied with the city to put up a three-level,18K-square-foot store with showroom space and offices. The plan reportedly calls for lots of trees, and a reduction in parking spaces to 16 from the mandatory 46. [Citified.ca]

Mass fish die-off in North Cowichan lake
A lack of oxygen is believed to be the cause of death for thousands of fish found floating in the Somenos Lake Sunday. They were mostly pumpkinseed fish, an invasive species. The fish is considered a hardy species and would only die from very low levels of oxygen, a sign that the lake is in poor condition. Roughly 50 Coho salmon fry died as well. [Times Colonist]

BC wildfire costs hit $387M so far in 2024
While that sounds high, it’s a 17% reduction compared to this time last year. BC spent roughly $1B on fighting wildfires last year. This summer’s hot and dry weather, with multiple lightning storms over the last month, has led to 400 fires burning across the province currently. BC had around the same number last year, but the fires were much larger. In the last week, 256 fires started in BC, most of which are believed to be caused by lightning. [CP/Yahoo]

🗓️ Things to do

🎙️ Lauren Bush Quintet: Catch the Canadian-born, UK-based singer perform contemporary jazz at Hermann’s tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🎶 The Soul Shakers: See the local act at Willows Park in Oak Bay tomorrow. 6pm. [Info]

🎺 Next Generation Jazz Collective: Listen to some of Victoria’s best young musicians as they perform jazz at Hermann’s tomorrow. 7pm [Info]

🎭 Wind in the Willows: Watch this performance of the classic animal tale by Blue Bridge Rep on the patio of the University Club at UVic tomorrow. 6pm. [Info]

🎸 Northcote: See the post-hardcore act at Little Fernwood Gallery tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🎵 The History of Gunpowder: Known for their chaotic wild shows, this group will bring its ever-changing cast of musicians to Yates tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🎥 Free-B Movie Fest: Bring a picnic blanket to the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park to watch Stand By Me tomorrow and the Last Unicorn on Sat. 9pm. [Info]

💃 Latin Night: Join this dance party featuring all Latin music at Victoria Event Centre tomorrow. 10pm. [Info]

😂 Entertainment Village: Head to The Mint for this improv comedy show hosted by OK Dope tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

🚴 Tour de Victoria: Cheer on cyclists of all skill levels this Sat. as rides start and finish in the Inner Harbour. First ride begins at 7am. [Info]

🎈 Mayfair Summer Block Party: Enjoy live performances, check out the market, and bring your kids for face painting and bouncy castles in the Mayfair Mall parking lot. Sat. 12-4pm. [Info]

🍽️ North Saanich Flavour Trails: District of North Saanich and Destination Greater Victoria will celebrate local farmers, fishers, chefs, brewers, and more at McTavish Academy of Art. Sat-Sun. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Wednesday’s headlines: North Saanich council called ‘train wreck’ over pickleball squabble; BC United promises massive tax cut; Vic QB star Nathan Rourke back with BC Lions; And more. [Aug. 14]

BC weather patterns tracked by citizen scientists. [Capital Daily]

New Duncan sign coming: City votes to spend $22K. [MyCowichanValleyNow]

2 Victoria women arrested at UK airport for reportedly trying to smuggle 72 kilos of cannabis. [Victoria Buzz]

Hammer-throw cage at Lambrick Park Secondary slated to be torn down. [Times Colonist]

Greater Victoria Housing Society (GVHS) buys 68 affordable housing units at 430 Michigan and 1500 Chambers. [BC gov’t]

Tracking traffic improvements or other City of Victoria info?  [victoria.ca/signup]

That’s it!

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