Two distinct populations of killer whales (Orcinus orca), known as the northern and southern residents, occupy the waters off the west coast of British Columbia. In 2001, COSEWIC designated southern resident killer whales as ‘endangered’, and northern resident killer whales as ‘threatened’. Both populations are listed in Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). These two populations are acoustically, genetically and culturally distinct. Resident killer whale populations in British Columbia are presently considered to be at risk because of their small population size, low reproductive rate, and the existence of a variety of anthropogenic threats that have the potential to prevent recovery or to cause further declines. Principal among these anthropogenic threats are environmental contamination, reductions in the availability or quality of prey, and both physical and acoustic disturbance. Even under the most optimistic scenario (human activities do not increase mortality or decrease reproduction), the species’ low intrinsic growth rate means that the time frame for recovery will be more than one generation (25 years).
Consultation period: 2007-6-21 to 2007-8-20
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PDF - Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada (Proposed)
Text -Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada (Proposed)
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Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
San Juan River Log Jam
VICTORIA (CP) - Authorities say a massive log jam on the San Juan River threatens the safety of the town of Port Renfrew on southwestern Vancouver Island.
A log jam 10 years ago washed out the main bridge, cutting the community in two, but this time the bottleneck is much bigger. Port Renfrew fire chief Dan Tennant warns that if the jam were to break free, the entire town could be in danger of being washed away.
He told Victoria's A-Channel News he fears that "when it breaks loose, and I say when not if, it'll come right down" through the town, in addition to washing out the bridge to the Pacheedaht First Nation.
Some people in the community blame logging that's taking place in the hills above Port Renfrew, noting the number of clearcut logs in the jam.
Public Safety Minister John Les says the real danger would come in the autumn when the heavy rains hit, and the lack of an immediate threat gives emergency officials time to prepare.
"This time of year, the flows on the San Juan River aren't unusually high," Les told A-Channel. "But if we had a very significant rainfall event in the fall or the early winter, like we saw last year, if there was going to be a risk, that's when it would occur."
Canadian Press
A log jam 10 years ago washed out the main bridge, cutting the community in two, but this time the bottleneck is much bigger. Port Renfrew fire chief Dan Tennant warns that if the jam were to break free, the entire town could be in danger of being washed away.
He told Victoria's A-Channel News he fears that "when it breaks loose, and I say when not if, it'll come right down" through the town, in addition to washing out the bridge to the Pacheedaht First Nation.
Some people in the community blame logging that's taking place in the hills above Port Renfrew, noting the number of clearcut logs in the jam.
Public Safety Minister John Les says the real danger would come in the autumn when the heavy rains hit, and the lack of an immediate threat gives emergency officials time to prepare.
"This time of year, the flows on the San Juan River aren't unusually high," Les told A-Channel. "But if we had a very significant rainfall event in the fall or the early winter, like we saw last year, if there was going to be a risk, that's when it would occur."
Canadian Press
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