“I have felt my inner child being let loose everytime I go out into the field.”
Teresa Melchior, 2020
Volunteering with the Somenoes Marsh has been a ton of fun and also inspiring. I have felt my inner child being let loose everytime I go out into the field. Specially while ankle deep in mud while it's raining buckets! My time with them has expanded my appreciation for nature and has inspired me to take up biology in my future studies. I get so excited whenever it's my turn to go out and monitor the lake and ever person who askes me "what have you been up to lately?" gets to listen to me talk non-stop about the society and what we've been doing.
Stacey McDonald, 2020
I have had the pleasure of being a volunteer working with the SMWS on several Community Stewardship Projects.
I am writing in support of the work being done in North Cowichan by the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society. I have lived in the area for over 16 years and have seen much degradation of the natural environment -particularly in habitat loss and damage to riparian areas. As a result, there has been significant changes around the waterways with invasive species such as Himalayan blackberry taking over because of lack of native species and tree cover and parrots feather choking out the streams that leave from Somenos Marsh and Quamichan Lake. It has been rapidly having a negative impact on the area. Unnatural runoff of fertilizers has led to deadly blue green algae blooms in Quamichan Lake which have killed local dogs that have wandered into the lake. Given this is site chosen for training for the Canadian Olympic Rowing Team, there is added need to improve on the water quality. The work the SMWS is doing is helping to turn this around.
This group of dedicated and knowledgeable individuals working on the community stewardship projects including the Clean Action Water Project and restoration projects in Cowichan are amazing individuals who are working tirelessly to protect our community waterways and native species. They are also working to educate community members like myself to take notice and become involved and to work with property owners to be aware of the challenges facing the waterways and to empower them to learn what to do to salvage and further protect the native environment that their property is part of . There is so much value in this work and I hope that it will continue and expand in its scope. Our community is fortunate to have the SMWS’s forward thinking into the future of this area. There have already been visible improvements and much more work needs to be done. Please continue to fund this important endeavour.
George Anderson, 2020
I have been volunteering at these projects for many years now and I take pleasure and satisfaction in seeing the natural world being given a chance to restore itself with our help. Putting your hands in the soil and handling plants (either planting the good ones or removing the harmful, invasive ones) creates a closeness to nature that is very strong and personal. I hope to carry on with this work as long as I am able to.
Nicolette Pearce, 2020
Dear Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society, This is a note to thank you for your efforts in the Clean Water Project in the attempt to improve the health of our beautiful lake and wildlife refuge. I would encourage continued funding and efforts to maintain this work!
Alison and Craig Meredith, 2020
We just wanted to pass along our appreciation for the excellent work of the SMWS staff. We have had many interactions with Elodie and Emma especially and have always appreciated their energy, their knowledge and their willingness to work with us. It is so refreshing and so motivating. We have learned a lot from them and look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship. Onwards with the pond liner! It adds a whole new look to our view and hopefully suppresses the dratted YFI.