Environment Club in the Community
A devastating windstorm rocked the Cowichan Valley a couple of days prior to the students' return from Spring Break. Hardest hit was likely the Mill Bay Marina where a number of moored boats were sunk, many more were badly damaged, and the wharf structure of the marina was largely torn apart. A few concerned citizens took to the beaches to help collect the massive amount of foam strewn about on the local beaches. Last Saturday, the E-Club answered the call of one of these citizens and helped with this task. This foam, originating from the destroyed wharves, was in blocks ranging in size from bigger than a large suit case to that of a die. The environmental impact of this material can be significant. It is a particular problem to shore birds and other marine organisms as it becomes an inadvertent part of their food chain. A couple of hours of combing and collecting by the students resulted in a number of bags of the small stuff being packed out. In addition, a large number of the large blocks were stacked at key spots above the tide line for eventual retrieval by boat. The group's efforts were certainly appreciated and they headed back to campus sharing in the knowledge that they made a difference. Good job, crew!
– Scott Noble, Environment Club