Crusader for Wild Salmon in Financial Straits Following Channel Clean-up
Broughton Archipelago & Knight Inlet - September 2007
In a summer of oil spills, disappointing salmon returns and slack fishing lines, there is some good news for salmon on the West Coast. The Glendale River, a major pink salmon stream on the B.C. mainland, is in tiptop shape thanks to the determination of Blake Covernton of Pro Plan Services in Nelson, and his crack team of spawning channel gravel cleaners, who worked closely with dedicated fisheries guardians from local First Nations to restore the Glendale spawning channel. The only downside to the story is that Covernton is now left holding most of the tab - about $76,000 - and is looking for help.
"The Glendale was on the verge
of serious trouble," says Covernton, who was previously a
commercial fisherman and is now a project scheduler with
big oil clients in Alberta's booming tar sands. "I knew the
DFO wouldn't be able to deal with it before the salmon
returned this August and by next year it might be too late.
I knew I could do something about it, so I put the team
together and we went to work".
The Glendale River has of late been the only significant
producer of pink salmon throughout the Broughton
Archipelago and Knight Inlet area, situated between N.E.
Vancouver Island and the BC mainland. In 1988, Fisheries
and Oceans Canada built a spawning channel to help augment
salmon runs near where the river runs into Knight Inlet.
Wild salmon coming from the Glendale River provide a major
food source for grizzly bears that frequent the area,
drawing thousands of tourists each year. With local bear
viewing operations and local First Nations concerned about
the state of the spawning channel, it seemed crucial to
conduct a survey of the Glendale Channel and to act on the
expected results. Victor Ewert, a former DFO employee and
now a fisheries consultant with Redfish Services (Hedley)
was hired to do an assessment in June.
"[Spawning channels] cannot remain productive without a
certain degree of maintenance and management," Ewert says.
The spawning gravel was clogged with brown organic matter,
which chokes salmon eggs. During the assessment, Ewert says
he observed massive amounts of dead eggs in the muck
covered gravel.
"Merely walking on the gravel created large plumes of brown
organic matter," he wrote in his report. "Based on my
assessment of the current gravel bed conditions in the
Glendale Channel, I highly recommend that a cleaning
operation take place."
That was on June 27th, and pink salmon were going to start
entering the river in mid-August. The DFO was unable to
take any immediate action, but Covernton did. He pulled
together a crew comprised of Vic Ewert at Redfish Services
(Hedley), Pacific Erosion Control Systems Ltd. (Sointula)
as the general contractor and Alfred Coon and James Speck
Jr. from DMT Fisheries Society (Alert Bay).
"I've had a vision now for over a decade that all people
who rely on wild salmon will work together to ensure
healthy wild salmon stocks in BC," states Covernton (see
www.wildbcsalmon.ca). With permission granted in record
time from local DFO officials, the Da'naxda'xw First Nation
and BC government, the clean up operation was mobilized
immediately to get to work during a narrow window of
opportunity dictated by tides and the arrival of adult
spawners.
With controlled water flows, the channel gravel was cleaned
and mixed prior to the arrival of spawning salmon. "This
project will help ensure the survival of not only the
Glendale River pink salmon run, but could also serve as the
seed stock for other Mainland pink runs that are now
severely depressed," Coverton says. The project was
completed ahead of schedule by July 15 and came in slightly
under budget.
The Glendale River is in the Da'naxda'xw First Nation's
traditional territory. Their resource manager is Fred
Glendale, who toured the project site with Tim McGrady,
Operations Manager of Knight Inlet Lodge.
"Initially we were very concerned about this gang rushing
in here without much communication," comments Fred, "but we
very quickly realized the intent of this Covernton fellow.
I went up to the site and witnessed the importance and the
quality of the work being performed on a project that is
well overdue. Our people give this team praise and we have
asked them to discuss further salmon restoration work at a
meeting this fall with our Chief and Council."
In total, the clean up operation cost $163,927. With
virtually no time in which to raise funds, Covernton paid
most of the invoices out of his own pocket. Responding
quickly to Blake's requests for financial assistance were
the BC Wilderness Tourism Association, (an organization
comprised of tourism operators) and the BC government's
Pacific Salmon Forum, who contributed $11,500 and $50,000,
respectively. Covernton covered the shortfall of $102,427
himself, with a combination of his own cash and loans from
friends.
Covernton remains passionate about the project. "Essential
efforts are now aimed at fundraising as I can't afford to
carry this financial burden myself, and I am very hopeful
that other people will share my concern and contribute to
these actions taken to reverse the reduction in wild salmon
populations."
When will we see the results of Covernton's selfless act?
It won't be until next spring. "No matter what happens with
the financing, I am confident I contributed to the survival
of pink salmon on the BC coast." And he adds, "that means a
lot to me. I will never regret the decisions I made this
summer. If we are going to make a difference we have to get
on with the work, perhaps thinking a bit more like salmon
than like people! "
For Covernton, the future is all about bringing industries,
governments and concerned groups together to ensure the
health of a precious resource.... Wild Salmon!
If you wish to contribute please send to:
Watershed Watch Salmon Society
1037 Madore Ave.
Coquitlam, BC V3K 3B7
Tax receipts are issued for all donations. Charitable
registration # : 86948 9476 RR0001
Please Mark Your Donations for the Glendale Channel Project
Lori McQuid
WWSS Administrative Coordinator
604-936-9474
For more information contact:
Blake Coverton: 250-354-9054 email: proplan@shaw.ca
Brian Gunn of the Wilderness Tourism Association of BC
(250) 286-4080