August 1, 2005 – Will the protection of a series of small pocket areas be enough? No. The south coast ecosystem functions as one unit of land, with seeping soil moisture levels and so on depending on complete protection from large-scale disturbances such as development. It also requires a wide inland setback to maintain the ecological integrity of the whole system.

Progress towards the conservation of Cape Roger Curtis has been made during the past few months, including:

• The developer has stated that he is ready to welcome discussion and input to the planning process.

• Some candidates in this fall’s municipal election support the protection of these special lands.

• Our current councilors have agreed to open discussions with GVRD Parks, so that the Cape will be on their list later in the process when and if any gap in the conservation plan remains to be filled.

Major challenges remain, however. Consider this:

• Initial development plans made public by the developer so far contain only tiny fragments of park and narrow public beach access corridors.

• A development permit for a road into Cape Roger Curtis from Whitesails Drive has been issued.

• The developer has not endorsed a community-led process for discussion and input into the planning process.

Natural Area
On July 27, the developer’s consultants confirmed the environmental significance and sensitivity of the coastal fringe along the south shore. Some of the unique plant communities were so rare and vulnerable that the consultants did not mark their locations on maps that the public could see. This wild coast is indeed an ecological treasure.

Will the protection of a series of small pocket areas be enough? No. The south coast ecosystem functions as one unit of land, with seeping soil moisture levels and so on depending on complete protection from large-scale disturbances such as development. It also requires a wide inland setback to maintain the ecological integrity of the whole system. The natural area required would be at least half of the land base.

Coastal Trail
Walkers and riders treasure the natural beauty and sense of wilderness they feel at Cape Roger Curtis, along with the restorative contemplation and healthful exercise. A trail along the entire coastline is part of our conservation vision, inspiring respect and stewardship among trail users and providing protective eyes and ears. The Coastal Trail Zone marked on the map would contain one section, while the southern trails would ramble through the natural area. The most sensitive coastal areas can be protecting by keeping trails higher on the slope, where there are some fabulous views down to the glittering sea. Coastal trails will link up with the island’s greenway trail network.

Green Line
Islanders love the small beach on the west coast, often called Pebble Beach or Pirate’s Cove. One end of the green line embraces this beach. The other end curves up to connect with the proposed Fairy Fen Nature Reserve and the rest of the Cove to Cape Greenway, reflecting the ecological need to maintain connectivity across the Cape’s natural area and the island.

This conservation plan map reflects the input of many members of Bowen’s conservation community. It has remained well-supported with very few adjustments through the abandoned neighbourhood concept planning process, discussions at the CRCTS AGM and in other meetings earlier this year.

At the July 27, 2005 information meeting the developer’s consultant, Catherine Berris surprised the audience by claiming that she was unaware of the public’s support for a park on the CRC lands. On behalf of the CRCTS. Director Jean Jamieson drafted a detailed letter to Ms Berris documenting the strong public support for CRC parkland dating all the way back to 1921. Read the letter >

August 22, 2005

Catherine Berris
Catherine Berris Associates Inc.
420-1639 West 2nd Street
Vancouver BC V6J 1H3

Dear Catherine Berris:
Re: A Large Park at Cape Roger Curtis

At the meeting of July 27th at Cates Hill Chapel, we learned that you were not aware of the strong community and regional desire to create a park on the Cape Roger Curtis lands. Evidence of this desire is hereby provided in the attached package for your consideration in the planning process. The binder contains copies of 67 letters and articles from individuals and organizations in support of a park at Cape Roger Curtis printed in the Undercurrent, our weekly Bowen newspaper, as well as 8 staff articles and one letter from Mr. Duntz. It is roughly in chronological order from December 13 2002 up to last week’s August 19 2005 issue. Also included are supportive articles published by other organizations and a few letters of support. We encourage you to read the material.
This letter also provides a brief historical summary highlighting other evidence of community and regional support for a park at Cape Roger Curtis.
As early as 1921 the Vancouver Natural History Society was recommending the preservation of the Cape. In 1991, “A submission on need for preservation of Cape Roger Curtis” by Beltz and Brink (quoted in the Environmental Task Force Report 1993 – prepared for the OCP Review) says of the Cape “A unique, surviving natural shoreline ecosystem” quite likely the only one within the GVRD, possibly in the whole southern Gulf Islands” (page 37 of the ETF). This document goes on to list the number of bird, plant, reptile, amphibian, insect and forest species to be found in this rich environment. Terry Taylor’s unpublished list of plants of Cape Roger Curtis was one source.
An example of an important plant in the alder forest, slightly inland, is the stinging nettle. The medicinal use of this plant has been well known to First Nations for generations (Jamieson 1981) and is now considered “one of the most applicable plants we have” (Holistic Herbal, 1993). West Coast Painted Lady and Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterflies use nettles as nurseries for their larvae. Black Tailed Deer have their main winter habitat in the uplands above Cape Roger Curtis (Galindo, Leal and Domenici, 1992) and the Cape is an important part of the wildlife corridor between the uplands and the south shore.
A point that the Environmental Task Force makes is that it is important “to protect the scenic and natural values of the coastline as seen from shore, beach or boat” (p. 52). Boaters and kayakers will agree with this (see a letter from Martin Clarke, Oct.3/03, in binder).
In 1973, an International Joint Commission recognized the significance of the islands and waterways off the BC and Washington coasts; it advised that this area be protected as an international park. There was a marine park formed around the Gulf Islands but, unfortunately, Howe Sound was not included. As you know, the concern of the Joint Commission, and of many others, resulted in the formation of the Islands Trust, “to preserve and protect the Trust Area and its unique amenities and environment” (Trust Policy Statement, 1993). When Bowen Island wrote its OCP, it stated in the Parks Plan of Schedule C “at least one more large passive park is needed at the south end of the island.” Cape Roger Curtis is now the only large undeveloped parcel of land on the South Shore. The Bowen Island Green Zone Report (1992) calls for a marine sanctuary along this shore to protect habitat and species. There have been concerns voiced recently about the kelp beds and especially eel grass beds along the coast.
The Cape Roger Curtis Trust Society was formed in 2002. Since its inception, its members and Directors have worked tirelessly to try to save at least a part of the Cape as parkland. Usually, there have been meetings once a month but often bi-weekly. There have been fund-raisers, picnics, workshops, guest speakers and many, many letters. In fact, since 2003, a rough count of Undercurrent letters and poems, often passionately calling for the preservation of this area that is unique and valued, comes to at least fifty. This is a very high number for any issue on Bowen.
Local organizations which have supported the Society are:
• Bowen Island Arts Council
• Bowen Island Conservancy
• Bowen Island Eco-Alliance
• Bowen Island Forest and Water Management
• Bowen Island Heritage Preservation Association
• Bowen Island Horse Owners and Riders Association
• Bowen Island Nature Club
• Bowen Island Sea Kayaking
• Bowen Island Trail Builders Association, Trails Committee
• Centre for Spirituality and Sustainability
• Seniors Keeping Young
• The Land Conservancy
• Xenia Creative Development Centre
In its first year, CRCTS raised $17,000 in donations and $12,000 in pledges, high for a
community of under 3,000 people.
In March, 2004, Bowen Municipal Council passed a motion “That Council reaffirm its support for renewed efforts to acquire some or all of the Cape Roger Curtis lands for park; and that Council confirm their support for the Greenway / Island of Walks concept and Cape Roger Curtis as a key element in it.”
Besides the letters from the community, many letters of support have been received from: Save Our Parkland Society, the North Shore Hikers, the Vancouver Natural History Society and individuals who have memories of weddings, engagements and spiritual experiences at the Cape. Mel Turner, retired BC Parks’ Planning Manager for the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, considers the whole area important and of high park values. Tom Bell, current Senior Planner for BC Provincial Parks, visited the land in October, 2004. He too recognized the uniqueness of this property and stated his department’s interest in seeing it saved from development. Terry Taylor, Botanist, supports its preservation. David Suzuki encourages the CRCTS in its efforts to preserve and protect.
Articles have been published in the following well-known nature magazines:
• Discovery (a journal of natural history and conservation for British Columbia, published by the Vancouver Natural History Society) – article in the Spring issue “The Plants and Birds of Cape Roger Curtis”;
• Kingfisher (published by the Land Trust Alliance of BC) – article in the Winter, 2005 edition entitled “The Cape Crusaders Fight On”; and
• Wingspan (published by the Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia) – feature article in the 2005 Winter/Spring edition “Onward Cape Crusaders”.
The above offers more evidence of the widespread interest in the Cape.
A petition in support of a park at Cape Roger Curtis was circulated in August of 2002, and close to 1,000 names were gathered and sent to national parks. In August 27, 2004, after the property was sold, CRCTS wrote to the new owners to advise them of the community’s support for the creation of a park on the Cape Roger Curtis lands. The owners were also encouraged to reconsider an $8 million conservation donor offer, made by Mr. Doug Hooper and Mr. Ross McDonald, for the purchase of a portion of their property. This letter included a petition with 700 signatures endorsing the purchase, including several municipal Councillors.
Youth Literary Awards were recently given to winners of the contest “Cape Roger Curtis – So What?”, sponsored by the Bowen Island Arts Council and the CRCTS. This was to give our young people a chance to voice their concerns about losing a favourite area of the Island. To read their eloquent submissions, see the Undercurrent article of August 19, 2005 (in binder).
Community and regional interest has been and continues to be high. We hope that this package gives you some background, some evidence, and a clear impression of our continuing resolve to create a park at Cape Roger Curtis.
Yours sincerely,
Jean Jamieson on behalf of The Directors of the Cape Roger Curtis Trust Society:
Sue Ellen Fast, President, Ted Bentley, Marion Moore, Jan Wells, Peter Drake, Pam Dicer, Alison Roberts, Sharon Proske, Jean Jamieson
Cc: Mayor Lisa Barrett and Council, Bowen Island Municipality
Bowen Island Parks and Recreation Commission
Mr. Wolfgang Duntz, Cape Roger Curtis Joint Venture
Attach.

Trevor Cox – Diamond Head Consulting – 2005
Read PDF of Memo regarding follow-up to the 2005 Klinka Ecological Assessment and Considerations in Developing the Cape Roger Curtis Property

Karel Klinka – May 2005
Read PDF of report proposing several recommendations for consideration in developing the property in an environnmentally sensible manner so that the most sensitive and valuable areas remain undeveloped or marginally developed.

The following is a list of birds observed at Cape Roger Curtis on Bowen Island from 1988 to March, 2005. The list has been compiled from archival data collected by members of the Bowen Nature Club during Christmas and breeding bird counts, monthly coastal waterbird surveys, unstructured forest surveys, documented incidental observations and avian rescue records and does not represent a comprehensive species account.

by Billie Gowans and Alan Shatwell
published in Discovery Magazine, Spring 2005

Status abbreviations

NON-PASSERINES

Loons: Gaviidae

• Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica
• Common Loon Gavia immer

Grebes: Podicipedidae

• Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus
• Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
• Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena
• Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis R

Cormorants: Phalacrocoracidae

• Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus NAR, R
• Brandt’s Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus R
• Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus

Herons: Ardeidae

• Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias SC, B

Swans, Geese and Ducks: Anatidae

• Canada Goose Branta canadensis B*
• Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
• American Wigeon Anas americana
• Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
• Black Scoter Melanitta nigra
• White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca
• Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicilatta B
• Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus
• Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis B
• Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica
• Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
• Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
• Common Merganser Mergus merganser
• Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
• Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus

* occidentalis subspecies only

Vultures: Cathartidae

• Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Hawks, Kites, Falcons and Eagles: Accipitridae

• Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
• Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii
• Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

Partridges, Grouse and Turkeys: Phasianidae

• Blue Grouse Dendragapus obscurus

Lapwings and Plovers: Charadriidae

• Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Oystercatchers: Haematopodidae

• Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani

Sandpipers and Phalaropes: Scolopacidae

• Black Turnstone Arenaria melanocephala
• Surfbird Aphriza virgata

Skuas, Gulls, Terns and Skimmers: Laridae

• Heermann’s Gull Larus heermanni
• Bonaparte’s Gull Larus philadelphia
• Mew Gull Larus canus
• Herring Gull Larus argentatus
• Thayer’s Gull Larus thayeri
• Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens
• Glaucous-winged X Western Gull Larus glaucescens x L. occidentalis
• Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

Auks, Murres and Puffins: Alcidae

• Common Murre Uria aalge R
• Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba
• Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus T, R
• Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata

Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae

• Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata B

Typical Owls: Strigidae

• Barred Owl Strix varia
• Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus

Hummingbirds: Trochilidae

• Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus sasin

Kingfishers: Alcedinidae

• Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon

Woodpeckers: Picidae

• Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
• Red-breasted Sapsucker Sphyrapicus ruber
• Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
• Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
• Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus

PASSERINES

Flycatchers: Tyrannidae

• Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi
• Western Wood Pewee Contopus sordidulus
• Hammond’s Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii
• Pacific Slope Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis

Vireos: Vireonidae

• Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
• Hutton’s Vireo Vireo huttoni
• Cassin’s Vireo Vireo cassinii

Crows and Jays: Corvidae

• Steller’s Jay Cyanocitta stelleri
• Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus
• Common Raven Corvus corax

Swallows: Hirundinidae

• Violet-Green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina
• Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Chickadees and Titmice: Paridae

• Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapilla
• Chestnut-backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens

Creepers: Certhiidae

• Brown Creeper Certhia americana

Nuthatches: Sittidae

• Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis

Wrens: Troglodytidae

• Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
• Bewick’s Wren Thryomanes bewickii

Kinglets: Regulidae

• Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula

Thrushes: Turdidae

• Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi
• Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus
• Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius
• American Robin Turdus migratorius

Waxwings: Bombycillidae

• Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

Wood Warblers: Parulidae

• Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata
• Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
• Black-throated Gray Warbler Dendroica nigrescens
• Townsend’s Warbler Dendroica townsendi
• MacGillivray’s Warbler Oporornis tolmiei
• Wilson’s Warbler Wilsonia pusilla

Tanagers: Thraupidae

• Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana

Sparrows and Towhees: Emberizidae

• Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus
• Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca
• Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
• Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
• White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
• Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis

Cardinals and Grosbeaks: Cardinalidae

• Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus

Blackbirds: Icteridae

• Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater

Finches: Fringillidae

• House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus
• Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
• Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus

Billie Gowans is a Registered Professional Biologist with expertise in bird ecology. Current research interests include bird-habitat relationships, wildlife/bodiversity conservation, impacts of urban development on wildlife habitats and local nature studies. She has lived and studied birds on Bowen Island for 20 years, and is the president of the Bowen Nature Club.

Alan Shatwell is an architect and has lived on Bowen Island for 22 years. A local naturalist, he was a founding member of the Bowen Nature Club to which he has belonged for 20 years, and is the Chair of the Bowen Island Parks and Recreation Commission. His interests are bird-watching and conservation, camping and hiking.

Billie Gowans and Alan Shatwell, Discovery Magazine – Spring 2005
Cape Roger Curtis provides winter feeding grounds to approximately 85% of all species recorded in annual island Christmas Bird Counts. Of these species, 60% are aquatic and mainly frequent the most sheltered western bays. Overlooking these waters, one may have clear observations of foraging Harlequin Ducks, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, Marbled Murrelets and occasionally Rhinoceros Auklets. by Billie Gowans and Alan Shatwell
Published in Discovery Magazine, Spring 2005

At the south-western tip of Bowen Island lies a large tract of private property encompassing 263 hectares of some of the most valuable and relatively untouched land in the lower mainland region. Established trails and old logging roads provide easy access to view several kilometres of unique coastal landscape. The diversity of continuous forest and riparian habitat, ecologically sensitive coastal bluffs and rocky marine coastline, combine to make Cape Roger Curtis rich in bird life. Approximately 99 species of birds spend some portion of the year foraging or nesting there. The Cape’s large size and diverse interior terrain provide both coniferous and deciduous habitat areas to meet a variety of ecological needs for wide-ranging raptors through to small passerines. Patches of older mature forest on the south side are critical habitat for some species. The gently sloping western hemlock and Douglas-fir forests on the west side are bounded by beaches, arbutus-clad headlands and moss-covered bluffs which provide frequent vantage points for viewing with binoculars or a spotting scope. Southern areas are steep and rocky with exposed bluffs.

Cape Roger Curtis provides winter feeding grounds to approximately 85% of all species recorded in annual island Christmas Bird Counts. Of these species, 60% are aquatic and mainly frequent the most sheltered western bays. Overlooking these waters, one may have clear observations of foraging Harlequin Ducks, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, Marbled Murrelets and occasionally Rhinoceros Auklets. Many Double-crested as well as Pelagic and Brandt’s Cormorants hug the shoreline and there are distant views of Western and Red-necked Grebes in Collingwood Channel. Great Blue Herons and a variety of shorebirds forage in the intertidal zones. Large rafts of Surf Scoters mixed with Barrow’s Goldeneyes and Black Scoters are common. A lone Long-tailed Duck was also seen feeding on these mussel-rich shores early this winter. A minimum of seven gull species demand practice in advanced identification skills.

In summer there is a diverse complement of resident and migrant breeding birds. Bald Eagles, once nesting along the western shoreline, now nest along the more remote southern coast. The moss and grass covered bluffs provide foraging habitat for many ground-feeders and are occasionally visited by Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. Canada Geese nest along the rocky outcrops. Inland, the mixed tree canopy is frequented by large flocks of Pine Siskin, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadees interspersed with Red-breasted Nuthatch and Brown Creepers. Red Crossbills are often seen in the conifers and the arbutus are alive in the fall with feeding Band-tailed Pigeons, American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, Steller’s Jays and Black-headed Grosbeaks. Many species of warblers, vireos, flycatchers and thrush provide an orchestra of territorial breeding songs. In addition, the abundance of snags is important feeding and nesting habitat for at least five species of woodpeckers, including Pileated Woodpeckers. The dense vine maple and red huckleberry understory provide habitat for towhees, sparrows and wrens. Blue Grouse can be heard giving their subtle hooting display. Barred and Saw-whet Owls are often observed in the late evening light.

The accompanying bird list has been compiled from archival data collected by members of the Bowen Nature Club during Christmas and Breeding Bird Counts, monthly coastal waterbird surveys, unstructured forest surveys, documented incidental observations and avian rescue records. Structured inventories are needed to provide a comprehensive record and assure documentation of rarer species. Although the list is not extensive it is sufficient to demonstrate the critical importance of this area to a wealth of resident and migratory birds including several red and blue-listed species.

April 2, 2005 – From Cape Roger Curtis to 11⁄2 kilometres east, plants and trees were observed and recorded on May 19th, 1991 and May 24th, 1993. Names given within parentheses are alternatives. The “*” indicates plants of special significance, rare in this zone or any zone, and rare so close to the mainland.

by Terry Taylor as published in Discovery Magazine, Spring 2005

CONIFIRS

* Abies grandis grand fir
* Juniperus communis common juniper
* Juniperus scopulorum * Rocky Mountain juniper
* Pinus contorta var. contorta shore pine
* Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas-fir
* Thuja plicata western redcedar

DICOTYLEDONS

Trees

* Alnus rubra red alder
* Arbutus menziesii arbutus

Shrubs

* Amelanchier alnifolia saskatoon
* Arctostaphylos ura-ursi kinnikinnick
* Cotoneaster horizontalis rock cotoneaster
* Gaultheria shallon salal
* Holodiscus discolor ocean spray
* Lonicera ciliosa orange (western trumpet) honeysuckle
* Lonicera hispidula hairy (purple) honeysuckle
* Mahonia aquifolium * tall Oregon-grape
* Mahonia nervosa dull Oregon-grape
* Philadelphus lewisii * mock-orange
* Physocarpus capitatus Pacific ninebark
* Rosa nutkana Nootka rose
* Rubus ursinus ssp. macropetalus trailing blackberry
* Spiraea douglasii hardhack
* Symphoricarpos albus common snowberry (waxberry)

Herbs

* Achillea millefolium yarrow
* Aphanes arvensis (A. occidentalis) field (western) parsley-piert
* Barbarea orthoceras winter cress
* Callitriche sp. water starwort
* Campanula rotundifolia common harebell
* Cerastium arvense field chickweed
* Collinsia parviflora small-flowered blue-eyed Mary
* Delphinium menziesii * Menzies’ larkspur
* Eriophyllum lanatum woolly sunflower
* Fragaria virginiana wild (blueleaf) strawberry
* Galium aparine bedstraw (cleavers)
* Geranium molle dovefoot geranium
* Gnaphalium sp. cudweed
* Grindelia integrifolia Puget Sound (entire-leaved) gumweed
* Hieracium albiflorum white-flowered hawkweed
* Linaria canadensis var. texana * blue toadflax
* Lotus micranthus small-flowered lotus (deervetch)
* Mimulus alsinoides chickweed (annual) monkey-flower
* Mimulus guttatus yellow monkey-flower
* Minuartia tenella (Arenaria stricta) * slender sandwort
* Montia parvifolia small-leaved montia (miner’s lettuce)
* Myosotis discolor common (yellow and blue) forget-me-not
* Orthocarpus pusillus (Triphysaria pusilla) dwarf owl-clover
* Plantago elongata * slender plantain
* Plectritis congesta sea blush
* Polygonum douglasii (P. spergulariiforme) Spurry knotweed
* Prunella vulgaris self-heal
* Satureja douglasii * yerba buena
* Saxifraga ferruginea Alaska (rusty) saxifrage
* Sedum oreganum Oregon stonecrop
* Sedum spathulifolium broad-leaved stonecrop
* Trientalis latifolia (T. boreaelis ssp.latifolia) broad-leaved starflower
* Trifolium variegatum * white-tipped clover
* Trifolium willdenowii (T. tridentatum) tomcat clover
* Veronica arvensis wall speedwell
* Veronica peregrina var. xalapensis purslane Speedwell
* Vicia sp. vetch

MONOCOTYLEDONS

Grasses and Sedges

* Aira caryophyllea silver hairgrass
* Aira praecox early hairgrass
* Bromus tectorum cheatgrass
* Danthonia spicata poverty oatgrass
* Festuca idahoensis Idaho fescue
* Festuca (Vulpia) myuros rattail fescue
* Panicum occidentale (Dianthelium acuminatum) western witchgrass (panic grass)

Other Monocots

* Allium cernuum nodding onion
* Camassia leichtlinii * great camas
* Carex lyngbyei Lyngbye’s sedge
* Carex obnupta * slough (basket) sedge
* Goodyera oblongifolia large-leaved rattlesnake (plantain) orchid
* Luzula parviflora small-lowered wood-rush
* Platanthera sp. rein orchid
* Zygadenus venenosus death camas

FERNS AND FERN ALLIES

* Aspidotis densa * Indian’s-dream fern
* Asplenium trichomanes maidenhair spleenwort
* Polypodium glycyrrhiza licorice fern
* Pteridium aquilinum bracken fern
* Selaginella wallacei Wallace’s spikemoss

MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS

* Aulacomnium palustre *
* Bryum miniatum
* Dicranoweisia cirrata
* Dicranum scoparium birdbeak (broom) moss
* Kindbergia oregana (Eurhynchium oreganum)
* Hylocomium splendens step moss
* Isopterygium (Pseudotaxiphyllum) elegans
* Isothecium stoloniferum
* Plagiothecium sp.
* Polytrichum commune common haircap moss
* Polytrichum juniperinum haircap moss
* Polytrichum piliferum haircap moss
* Rhacomitrium canescens
* Rhacomitrium occidentale
* Rhizomnium glabrescens
* Calypogeia sp. liverwort

LICHENS

* Cladina portentosa
* Cladina rangiferina reindeer lichen
* Cladonia chlorophaea
* Cladonia gracilis
* Cladonia macilenta
* Coelocaulon aculeatum
* Hypogymnia physodes
* Parmelia saxatilis
* Parmelia sulcata
* Peltigera aphthosa
* Peltigera membranacea dog lichen
* Umbilicaria sp.
* Verrucaria maura marine lichen
* Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia
* Xanthoria sp.

FUNGI

* Entoloma sp. mushroom
* Inocybe sp. mushroom
* Laccaria laccata waxy laccaria mushroom
* Omphalina ericetorum mushroom

The Society was approached by John Beltz in 1990 to record the flora of the Cape, and Terry’s 1991 survey was the result of that request. Two years later, with his wife Rosemary and two friends, he returned to the Cape for pleasure, and added plants seen that second visit to the unpublished list from 1991.

Cape Roger Curtis, the south-western tip of Bowen Island, probably contains the richest coastal bluff habitat on the east coast of Georgia Strait.

by Terry Taylor

Published in Discovery Magazine, Spring 2005

The narrow strip of land along the island’s shore is an eastward extension of the rainshadow created by the Vancouver Island mountains. Although the rainshadow is less pronounced than on the Gulf Islands and eastern Vancouver Island, the flora is similar, but with less diversity. There are, however, a few sites where seepage, soil nutrient levels, and southern exposure produce conditions approaching those of Vancouver Island. This is true to such an extent that the south coast of Bowen Island is the best example of that environment on this side of the strait. At the same time, its vegetation is also partly that of the Vancouver area. The Cape is the place where all these factors come together to create the richest coastal site in the Lower Mainland.

Cape Roger Curtis by kind permission of the Cape Roger Curtis Trust Society

The shoreline here is transitional between two ecological zones. The drier sites around Victoria and its environs are classified by ecologists as the Coastal Douglas-fir Biogeoclimatic Zone (CDF). It is dry and sunny enough in this zone for Garry oak (Quercus garryana) to flourish, and for Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings to grow under a canopy of mature Douglas-fir trees. Above the CDF and along most of the mainland coast is the Coastal Western Hemlock Biogeoclimatic Zone (CWH). This is the zone which occupies the lower slopes of our North Shore mountains. In this habitat Douglas-firs actually grow larger than they do in the zone which bears their name, but the shade and humidity is too great to allow their seedlings to grow under the parent trees. Western hemlocks (Tsuga heterophylla), however, grow quite readily under such conditions. If no disturbance occurs to remove the original forest, the hemlocks take over. That is why most of our conifer forests are dominated by hemlock.

Cape Roger Curtis lies between these two ecological zones, within what is referred to as the Very Dry Subzone of the CWH (CWHxm). It is enriched by species from both Douglas-fir and western hemlock sites. These steep, rocky slopes receive ample moisture during the winter, but rapidly dry out during the summer, and the thin soil is not able to retain this moisture for very long. A few places, however, receive seepage from the wetter uplands, and it is in these moist spots that most of the rare plants are found. All of these factors have come together to produce this very special place, but it is also a very fragile place. Since few people come here it is relatively free of the weed species which have been introduced to many similar sites such as Lighthouse Park. Extensive trampling or disruption of the early season seepage sources could rapidly destroy this unique ecology.

Herbaceous plants in Mediterranean-type habitats use two basic methods of survival. The first is to grow as a perennial, but possess a large bulb or corm big enough to supply the nutrients required to take the plant through the rest of the year, until it can renew itself next spring. Daffodils do this. Camas uses this strategy, and those at Cape Roger Curtis may be the only native population still surviving on this side of Georgia Strait. The other method is to grow as an annual – germinate and flower very rapidly while there is still sufficient soil moisture, then produce seeds which wait until the spring of next year. The blue-eyed Mary is a familiar member of this group. These types of annuals are sometimes called ephemerals. The seeds germinate about March, and the plants shrivel and die in June!

There is also a special tree at the Cape, even more special than the arbutus trees that also cling to these rocks. This is the Rocky Mountain juniper which, as its name implies, grows in the Rockies. It is also found at the coast, but not usually on this side of our inland sea. Other species observed at Cape Roger Curtis that are common on Vancouver Island, but very rare over here are: blue toadflax, hairy honeysuckle, yerba buena, slender plantain, slender sandwort, Menzies’ larkspur, Indian’s-dream fern, and dwarf owl-clover.

The botanical diversity of Cape Roger Curtis is actually much greater than indicated by this list. Only a cursory investigation was made of mosses, lichens and fungi. Also, the plants shown are those which were observed on just two survey days, both of which were in May, one in 1991, the other in 1993. More extensive studies, including non-vascular plants and fungi, carried out at other times of the year, are required to actually show the true diversity of the site.

Both surveys were conducted in May, and although this is when most of the rare and ephemeral species are evident, obviously the list of plants is only preliminary. But it is an inventory sufficient to show that this is indeed a unique and ecologically significant area. If the wildflowers and special ecology of Cape Roger Curtis are lost they will be lost forever. The decisions made in the near future will decree whether this will or will not be the case.

March 31, 2005 – Planners Michael Rosen and Gina Mackay have prepared a draft of the terms of reference for the Neighbourhood Concept Plan for the Cape Roger Curtis lands. This draft will be presented by Michael and Gina to Council at the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting on Monday, November 15 (7:00 pm). Please review this draft and bring your comments/questions/concerns to the COW meeting. Areas of concern already noted by some CRCTS members include the following.

• The proposed Steering Committee only includes representatives of the owners and municipal planning staff. Should there be elected or appointed representatives from the community on the Steering Committee?
• The preamble in the Planning Issues section (B) refers to a number of issues that “have already emerged” related to the CRC lands, but makes no mention of the well demonstrated and documented community interest in preserving a significant portion of these lands as parkland. Should it?
• Section C of the draft provides the “Property Owner’s Expectations” for the planning process, but there is no corresponding section giving the “Bowen Island Municipality’s Expectations”. Should there be?

March 15, 2005 – At the March 14 Council meeting planner Michael Rosen formally announced that the owners of the Cape Roger Curtis property were withdrawing from the Neighbourhood Concept Plan (NCP). In his report to Council Michael indicated that the property owners (CRC Joint Venture) was unwilling to accept the the modified terms of reference that had been drafted collaboratively by community members (including every chair plus additional members) from all of the committees (CRCTS, APC, Sustainability, Parks and Rec, Trails, Nature Club) that ultimately would have been represented in the NCP.

The apparent reasons for the withdrawal are outlined in a March 7 letter to Council written by Wolfgang Duntz for the CRC Joint Venture. In the letter Wolfgang identified “uncertainty concerning the Terms of Reference and its effect on the agreed to time schedule” as the reason for the withdrawal. He further states “To ‘front load’ such a planning process with a non-representatives group’s ‘community expectations’ which are biased against CRC Joint Venture is unacceptable to us. We do not accept the opinions of a small private group of unelected and unappointed people as a credible voice to represent ‘community expectations’.” Quite a remarkable statement given the composition of the community group that met on February 3 to draft modifications to the terms of reference.

The owner’s withdrawal is even more puzzling given the following facts:
1. The NCP process was initiated by the owners
2. Council and staff made every effort to expedite the process.
3. None of the proposed amendments to the terms of reference invalidated or caused delay to any part of the process that had occurred to date.
4. Given that Council at its Jan. 24 meeting authorized staff to hold a meeting with community members to review the terms of reference, the Feb. 3 meeting of representatives from the various community committees occurred remarkably quickly and consensus was reached on modifications to the terms of reference.
5. The modified terms of reference allowed for all possible land uses (i.e. no preconceived restrictions on development) and included the clause that “the financial return from the ultimate development should be equal to or greater than would be the case under the existing land use regulatory framework”.
6. The process was proceeding somewhat more slowly than the owners had proposed in their timelines, but not significantly so given the completion date of March 2006 proposed by the owners.

How to proceed from here? Should the process continue? The CRCTS believes that it should.