Environment

The slide swamped the Southgate River, around 13 km downhill from the initial incident. Photo supplied by Hakai Institute.

VIDEO: Investigators probe Bute Inlet landslide in bid to understand glacial retreat

Hakai Institute looks into long-term effects of massive landslide on B.C.’s central coast

The slide swamped the Southgate River, around 13 km downhill from the initial incident. Photo supplied by Hakai Institute.
Saanich staff are reviewing a court decision that casts doubt on the municipality’s ban of single use plastic bag. Coun. Susan Brice has been among its leading voices. (Black Press File). Coun. Susan Brice says it is a matter of time until Saanich bans single-use plastic bags. Wolf Depner/News Staff

Saanich prepares to implement bylaw banning plastic checkout bags in April

District aligns with Victoria bylaw timeline for consistency across region

Saanich staff are reviewing a court decision that casts doubt on the municipality’s ban of single use plastic bag. Coun. Susan Brice has been among its leading voices. (Black Press File). Coun. Susan Brice says it is a matter of time until Saanich bans single-use plastic bags. Wolf Depner/News Staff
A salmon stream is restored to its natural course by Parks Canada and the Ditidaht First Nation in the Cheewaht watershed in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. (Photo supplied by Parks Canada)

Salmon-bearing streams restored in B.C.’s Pacific Rim National Park

Recovered fishing grounds ends decades-long endeavor for Ditidaht First Nation

A salmon stream is restored to its natural course by Parks Canada and the Ditidaht First Nation in the Cheewaht watershed in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. (Photo supplied by Parks Canada)
Seagulls prey on fishermen’s catches during 2018 annual herring run in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area. (Michael Briones photo)

Special seagull research project slated to begin next month in Parksville

Birds to be trapped and released, fitted with GPS tracking devices

Seagulls prey on fishermen’s catches during 2018 annual herring run in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area. (Michael Briones photo)
Former Saanich South Green candidate Kate O’Connor was named one of Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 for 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich teen among Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25

Former B.C. Green candidate Kate O’Connor recognized for environmental, political work

Former Saanich South Green candidate Kate O’Connor was named one of Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 for 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)
The on-site team deploys a boom curtain to contain the oil spill near Nootka Island. (Unified Command)

Sea otter, heron treated as team battles active oil slick near Nootka Sound

Animals found covered in oil, response team looking at rehabilitation options

The on-site team deploys a boom curtain to contain the oil spill near Nootka Island. (Unified Command)
A University of Toronto study has found the environmental DNA of pathogens harmful to fish are 2.7 times more likely to be detected near active salmon farms versus inactive sites. (Kenny Regan photo)

Clements: The salmon just keep swimming

When life’s fights seem too impossible to win, think of the perseverance of these fish

  • Dec 16, 2020
A University of Toronto study has found the environmental DNA of pathogens harmful to fish are 2.7 times more likely to be detected near active salmon farms versus inactive sites. (Kenny Regan photo)
The province is investing $9.5 million into clearing B.C.’s coastal areas of marine debris and derelict vessels. (NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Project/contributed photo.)

Cleanup program targets B.C. marine debris and derelict vessels

Province offering $9.5 million to projects that improve the coastline

The province is investing $9.5 million into clearing B.C.’s coastal areas of marine debris and derelict vessels. (NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Project/contributed photo.)
An aerial shot of the landslide, captured by 49 North Helicopter pilot Bastian Fleury. Photo 49 North Helicopters/Facebook

VIDEO: 100-metre wave causes massive washout in Bute Inlet

Landslide causes wave in glacial lake, washes out river on B.C. Central Coast

An aerial shot of the landslide, captured by 49 North Helicopter pilot Bastian Fleury. Photo 49 North Helicopters/Facebook
An aerial view of the marine oil-spill near Bligh Island in Nootka sound that the Canadian Coast Guard posted in a live social media feed. ( Canadian Coast Guard/Facebook)

Active marine oil slick near Nootka Sound tied to historic 1968 Bligh Island shipwreck

Coast Guard, First Nations, province responding to a slick off northwestern Vancouver Island

An aerial view of the marine oil-spill near Bligh Island in Nootka sound that the Canadian Coast Guard posted in a live social media feed. ( Canadian Coast Guard/Facebook)
Project Watershed hopes to purchase and restore the former Field Sawmill site on the Courtenay River. Rick Ward photo

Abandoned sawmill purchase moving ahead after cash injection by B.C. government

Kus-kus-sum project awarded $650,000

Project Watershed hopes to purchase and restore the former Field Sawmill site on the Courtenay River. Rick Ward photo
The Carihi Fly Fishing Club is touted as an example of incorporating the outdoors into the education curriculum in SD72. Photo submitted.

Vancouver Island educators embrace outdoor education and learning outdoors

SD72 schools taking students outside to learn what is normally taught in an indoor classroom

The Carihi Fly Fishing Club is touted as an example of incorporating the outdoors into the education curriculum in SD72. Photo submitted.
Great blue heron nesting areas are one step closer to being protected in Campbell River, as council gives first and second reading to a bylaw amendment that would see them added to the current eagle nest tree bylaw. Photo by Carla Hunt Photography

Campbell River’s great blue heron habitat protection process moves forward

Heron nesting zones could be mapped and added to eagle nesting tree protection bylaw

Great blue heron nesting areas are one step closer to being protected in Campbell River, as council gives first and second reading to a bylaw amendment that would see them added to the current eagle nest tree bylaw. Photo by Carla Hunt Photography
Divers gear up at Kin Beach for venture to extract large industrial tires from the waters of Chemainus Bay. (Photo by Kathleen Fenner)

Fleet Diving Unit members remove large tires submerged in Island bay for years

Environmental concerns and deadly hazard for crabs finally alleviated

Divers gear up at Kin Beach for venture to extract large industrial tires from the waters of Chemainus Bay. (Photo by Kathleen Fenner)
The landfill, to be located next to the square-shaped structure in the photo, needs to be approved by the ALC and the city. Photo courtesy Google Maps

Residents concerned about north Campbell River landfill project

Application needs ALC and city approval

The landfill, to be located next to the square-shaped structure in the photo, needs to be approved by the ALC and the city. Photo courtesy Google Maps
Thetis Island’s Katia Bannister is always willing to answer the call of the wild for our environment. (Photo submitted)

Thetis Island youth devoted to important environmental causes

Cleaning up sensitive ecosystems brings issues to the forefront

Thetis Island’s Katia Bannister is always willing to answer the call of the wild for our environment. (Photo submitted)
The City of Duncan is hoping for a grant to help pay for a solar-energy project, similar to the one pictured that GreenCoast installed on the roof of the Hilltop Building in Duncan last year, that is planned for the roof of the Duncan fire hall. (File photo)

City of Duncan wants to put solar panels on fire hall

Application made for grant to help fund project

The City of Duncan is hoping for a grant to help pay for a solar-energy project, similar to the one pictured that GreenCoast installed on the roof of the Hilltop Building in Duncan last year, that is planned for the roof of the Duncan fire hall. (File photo)
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau plants a tree with sons Xavier and Hadrien (left) during a campaign event in Plainfield, Ont. on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. Trudeau’s massive tree-planting promise from the 2019 election has yet to be allocated a budget. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

No budget yet for Liberals’ promise to plant two billion trees by 2030

Alberta Conservative MP Rachael Harder said called the lack of a budget for tree planting ‘shameful’

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau plants a tree with sons Xavier and Hadrien (left) during a campaign event in Plainfield, Ont. on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. Trudeau’s massive tree-planting promise from the 2019 election has yet to be allocated a budget. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
All eyes on mini doughnuts during the Fair at the PNE, which gets going for another year on Saturday, Aug. 17, in East Vancouver. (submitted photo)

Why the doughnut economy is good for business and sustainability

Vancouver Island Economic Alliance: produce to survive, but within boundaries of what the Earth has

All eyes on mini doughnuts during the Fair at the PNE, which gets going for another year on Saturday, Aug. 17, in East Vancouver. (submitted photo)
View Royal Coun. John Rogers stands next to an unearthed home heating oil tank. As a way to prevent environmental disasters, he is lobbying for a provincial registration system and mandatory inspection for all above-ground tanks, as well as a requirement to remove any underground tanks not used for a prescribed period of time. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Efforts to regulate Greater Victoria home heating oil tanks continues

View Royal councillor part of movement to identify old tanks, prevent catastrophic leaks

View Royal Coun. John Rogers stands next to an unearthed home heating oil tank. As a way to prevent environmental disasters, he is lobbying for a provincial registration system and mandatory inspection for all above-ground tanks, as well as a requirement to remove any underground tanks not used for a prescribed period of time. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)