Monthly Archives: February 2009

Restoration Begins on the Race Rocks Lighthouse: February, 2009,

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From the Heritage Protection for Lighthouses Page:

panoramaworkREPAIR PLANS ANNOUNCED: October, 2008…DFO has informed us that they intend to refurbish the tower over the next 6 months: The DFO/CCG project engineer responsible for the Race Rocks Beacon, John Lauder, P.Eng. of Fisheries & Oceans Canada in Vancouver has tended contracts

Click to see this animated gif replay, it was taken by Ryan Murphy of the tower scaffold being removed in early October, 2009

Click to see this animated gif replay, it was taken by Ryan Murphy of the tower scaffold being removed in early October, 2009

based on the recommendations prepared by Mark Byram, their consultant with GOAL Engineering of Victoria. This will involve stripping of existing paint, re-pointing/repairs to masonry, application of new weatherproof coatings and repairs to lantern house glazing. We are pleased with the extent of the proposed repairs, and are grateful to those who worked so hard to get legislation passed that has required this action.

On February 25th of 2009 contractors started the job of restoring the Race Rocks Lighthouse. A team of workmen were ferried to the island by the Pearson college boat Second Nature and the process of stripping the flaking paint from the inside top of the tower, where the top one- third is made of sandstone began. Below, equipment gets transferred to shore for the restoration process.

gazetteWith an enviable view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Chris Tobiassen sands off layers of lead paint outside the lamp house of the aging Race Rocks lighthouse. Together with his father Toby, the pair have been stripping paint from the 149-year-old structure so they can seal and repaint it. Work is expected to wrap up in July.

This article appeared originally at:http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/goldstreamgazette/news/46944072.html

 

Published: June 04, 2009 1:00 PM
Amy Dove/News staff

Published: June 04, 2009 1:00 PM

Tight quarters, gnarly winds and dizzying heights come part and parcel with this remote job site.

For father and son team Toby and Chris Tobiassen with TriCity Finishing, it’s worth it for the views from the top of Race Rocks Lighthouse. The pair have spent a month stripping layers of lead paint from the 149-year-old structure only so they can repaint its iconic red cap.

One particularly blustery morning the wind ripped the goggles right off of Toby’s head. It’s not uncommon for the paint to fly off the brush before even touching the walls. Conditions inside aren’t always easy either — every gallon of paint had to be hauled up more than 100 stairs.

Nothing parallels the view though, Chris said, and despite the island’s population of one, there is no shortage of company. The wildlife is abundant, evident in the elephant seal that greeted them on their first day of work.

The lighthouse sits within a marine ecological reserve on Race Rocks, an island about one nautical mile off Metchosin. Pearson College of the Pacific is the steward of the island, but the lighthouse is maintained by the Canadian Coast Guard. Part of a two-year project, the restoration work was commissioned to combat rust, broken window panes, peeling paint and an overall leaking structure.

The lighthouse was constructed in 1860 after a series of ships went down on the notorious rocks. Built to work in tandem with the Fisgard Lighthouse in Colwood, Race Rocks is the bigger of the two.

“Race Rocks sort of sticks out into the Strait and tells ships where to make the turn. Fisgard guided the ships the last 10 miles (into Esquimalt Harbour),” said Dale Mumford, Parks Canada community relations officer based at Fort Rodd Hill.

Fisgard was completed in November 1860, six weeks before Race Rocks, earning it the title of Canada’s first West Coast lighthouse.

That and the easy access to the site garnered it federal heritage status, something yet to be granted to Race Rocks lighthouse, Mumford said. The lighthouses were the only two built during the colonial period, he added.

NOTE: This is incorrect as Race Rocks was designated a heritage Structure in 1991

The lighthouses were funded by a loan from the British government that the Vancouver Island colony never fully repaid.

There are rumors that the materials used to build Race Rocks were brought over as ballast in ships from Scotland, but that just isn’t true, Mumford said.

“Shipping rocks around the world doesn’t make a lot of sense when you start to think to about it,” he said with a laugh.

Parks Canada has the original contracts for its construction, clearly showing the material was sourced locally. The lower portion is made from granite blasted from the island. When that ran out, sandstone was brought in to complete the top portion.

NOTE: an alternate explanation is provided here and reference is made to the T. Appleton report.

That change in materials would account for the restoration work needed as sandstone doesn’t stand up to the elements as well, Mumford said.

The lighting mechanisms and the metal lantern (a term to describe the metal top portion of the lighthouse) came from England, along with its first lighthouse keeper, George Davies.

Davies lived and worked at the Fisgard lighthouse for the first two months of its operation before moving to Race Rocks with his family. He was keeper there until he died in 1866.

The tradition of keepers on the island continued until 1997 when the Coast Guard automated the light.

Since that time Pearson College has stationed “eco-guardians” on the island to ensure technical systems such as web cameras and solar panels are maintained, as well as to monitor human impact on the marine reserve.

For more information on the history of Race Rocks and its lighthouse, go to www.racerocks.com.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com

 

 

 

Turdus migratorius: American Robin–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Surprisingly we see very few Robins at Race Rocks, probably because it is not an area conducive to nesting, being devoid of trees. Robins do stay year round on Vancouver Island although these ones probably came through from the Olympic Peninsula.

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passerifomis
Suborder: Passeri
Superfamily: Muscicapoidea
Family: Muscicapidae
Subfamily: Turdinae
Genus: Turdus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Species: migratorius
Subspecies: propinquus
Common Name: American Robin
Other Members of the Class Aves at Race Rocks.

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

 

Puget Sound Partnership-Pearson College Participates

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On February 8-11th, 2009, Ryan Murphy, Race Rocks Ecoguardian and resident marine scientist, attended with students Adam Harding and Radu Macovei, the Puget Sound, Georgia Basin Ecosystem Conference in Seattle– Our thanks to Conference Co-Chair Chris Townsend for inviting Lester Pearson College to participate. The following is an excerpt from the conference website.See the Proceedings of the Conference: http://depts.washington.edu/uwconf/psgb/proceedings/table_of_contents.html

“The biennial Puget Sound Georgia Basin Ecosystem Conference is the largest, most comprehensive scientific research and policy conference in the Salish Sea region. The 2009 conference, hosted by the Puget Sound Partnership and Environment Canada, built upon the experience of previous conferences by connecting scientific research and management techniques to priorities for meaningful action. The 2009 conference theme was The Future of the Salish Sea: A Call to Action. Since 2003, the conference has moved from chronicling science research to exploring the science/policy interface. The 2009 conference theme captured this progression from sound science to informed action. Conference participants had the opportunity to apply shared knowledge by developing priorities and a commitment to post-conference engagement.
Conference sub-themes included:
Air Quality & Climate Change
Ecosystem Management Strategies and Techniques
Habitat, Land Use, and Species
Marine & Freshwater Resources “

Adam Harding presented The Pearson College-EnCana-Clean Current Tidal Power Demonstration Project at Race Rocks

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/designer_psp/collections/72157613549032493/
Videos:
http://www.psp.wa.gov/videos/mediaplayer/video_library_psgb.php
Publications:
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/2/10/145023/460http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/2/6/16054/64735

 

adam

A video from the Puget Sound Partnership Conference with Adam Harding presenting the Call to Action in the Day 3 Closing Session. Click to start.
For the complete set of video of the plenary sessions see this link:
http://www.psp.wa.gov/videos/mediaplayer/video_library_psgb.php

 

 

Adam Harding’s Presentation at Puget Sound Georgia Basin Ecosystem Conference, 2009

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ADAM HARDING, LESTER B PEARSON COLLEGE OF THE PACIFIC/RACE ROCKS ECOLOGICAL RESERVE TIDAL ENERGY SESSION: PROCEEDINGS

The Pearson College-EnCana-Clean Current Tidal Power Demonstration Project at Race Rocks

Introduction

“Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific is a unique two year pre-university school for two hundred students selected from around the world based solely on their personal merit, potential and demonstrated commitment to engage actively in creating a better world. All students attend on a full scholarship and live together while studying the International Baccalaureate program and pursuing explicitly the mission of the United World Colleges to make education a ‘force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future’” (Pearson College 2009).

While at the College, students have the unique opportunity to help manage Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, located 15 minutes south of the college by boat, or 22 kilometres (10 nautical miles) southwest of Victoria. Race Rocks contains an amazing diversity of life – terrestrial, avian and marine, benthic and pelagic. The set of islands also have great historical, cultural and anthropological significance. The lighthouse was constructed in 1860 to help mariners navigate the treacherous waters of the Juan de Fuca Strait, and for centuries, First Nations people have used the islands as a rich marine resource. 2000 year old burial cairns on Great Race Rock stand as a testament to this.

Currently, Race Rocks is managed on a 30 year lease from BC Parks by Pearson College. Students and faculty at Pearson College play crucial role, from conservation efforts to research and development, to storing decades long records and raising funding for the Reserve. The College also employs a full time Eco-Guardian who maintains a human presence on the Reserve.

The traditional energy system

Electricity at Race Rocks is, and always has been, and important resource needed for the complex computer system with integrated weather data and remote controlled cameras allowing for all to view the island with no ecological footprint. It is also needed to support the full time Eco-Guardian who maintains a human presence on the Reserve.

Electricity at Race Rocks has traditionally been generated by two fixed, 15kW diesel generators. However, when Pearson College took over management in 1997, operating costs were passed onto the College. These costs were originally CAD $11 000 a year; however, this soon rose to CAD $20 000/year.

Environmental impacts were also great: at about 50 000L/year marine grade diesel combustion, the system contributed 133.5 tonnes/year of CO2 to the atmosphere. This figure does not include the emissions associated with extraction, refinement and transportation. Also, the possibility of an equipment failure during transport, pumping of fuel oil across the island or combustion in the generators could have a significant ecological impact if fuel ever escaped from the system.

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ADAM HARDING, LESTER B PEARSON COLLEGE OF THE PACIFIC/RACE ROCKS ECOLOGICAL RESERVE TIDAL ENERGY SESSION: PROCEEDINGS

Generator noise was also a concern—the impacts of noise on communicative behaviour on animals and birds are not fully known, although it can be speculated that there may be an impact on predator response capability and mating/nesting behaviour. Furthermore, the diesel tanks, although adhering to environmental standards, are vulnerable in an earthquake, and severe weather and tidal currents common to the area would make containment of a spill impossible.

The Pearson College – EnCana-Clean Current Tidal Power Demonstration

Project at Race Rocks

In 2001, A feasibility study conducted by master’s program candidate Taco Niet through the Institute of Integrated Energy Systems at the University of Victoria identified that “sufficient renewable resources (tidal, wind and solar) were available to develop an integrated energy system that was capable of providing a reliable power supply to Race Rocks” and that, “tidal energy would have the least environmental impact due to the size of the system required and would provide the most reliable power source with the least amount of required storage” (Niet and McLean 2001).

In 2005, EnCana Corporation sponsored Clean Current Power Systems Incorporation of Vancouver to build, install, operate and monitor a 65kW free-stream tidal generator in 13 metres of water at Race Rocks. Thus, the Pearson College-EnCana-Clean Current Tidal Power Demonstration Project at Race Rocks was born. From January to September 2006, drilling, piling installation and cable laying for the turbine took place in the water surrounding the Reserve. Then, on September 27, 2006 the turbine was delivered and finally installed at Race Rocks. For the first time, the islands fell silent as the generators ceased operation.

In January 2007, 38 solar panels delivering 6.5kW of electricity in total were installed on the roof of the Integrated Energy Center. They were funded by a grant from the BC Ministry of Mines and Energy.

In April 2007, the turbine removed from the water for upgrades. The generators began operation again. Then, on October 17, 2008, the turbine was reinstalled at Race Rocks. Upgrades included stainless steel bearings, a new lubricating system with environmentally friendly lubricants, a new electrical wire protection system, better blade configuration, reinforced augmenter duct and ring, and reinforced central struts.

This new deployment will enable a further test of the seaworthiness of the turbine. Perfecting the structure and its operation in difficult ocean conditions is the goal of the experimental phase of the project. However, although the turbine is mounted in the water, it is not currently generating electricity. Upgrades are being completed in the land-based system of the project (the starter motor is being replaced). It is hoped that operations should begin soon. The idea will be to start slowly by running the turbine for a few hours each day, then slowly increasing the amount of time it is run for until it is fully operational.

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ADAM HARDING, LESTER B PEARSON COLLEGE OF THE PACIFIC/RACE ROCKS ECOLOGICAL RESERVE TIDAL ENERGY SESSION: PROCEEDINGS

Environmental impacts of the tidal energy program

A report by Archipelago Marine Research Ltd. (AMR) in 2006 identified environmental impacts of the tidal turbine project before construction, during construction and after construction. During construction, AMR notes that “Overall results from these observations suggested that there was very little impact on the wildlife within the Reserve” (Archipelago Marine Research 2006).

After construction (data collected 45 days after drilling), AMR notes that there were some ongoing impacts from dredging that extend 20 metres along the cable route and west along the direction of tidal flow. Also present are some exposed areas of bedrock and clay. Organisms had begun to inhabit the submarine cable exterior. Some evidence is present that the cable anchor block had dislodged giant acorn barnacles, although the impact was very limited and localised. There was no impact to vegetation or other sensitive invertebrate species (Archipelago Marine Research 2006).

It is not fully known at this time what impact the turbine itself has on the organisms, especially cetaceans and pinnipeds. However, Glen Darou, president and CEO of Clean Current Power Systems Inc., and other experts note that the effect is negligible, as “The only things that can swim in fast moving currents are things that can”; that is, they will be able to manoeuvre around it (Dove 2008). At a spin of roughly 60 rpm with no suction, there is little threat to organisms. It is hoped to install a camera on the turbine someday to monitor how animals react to it and the low hum it produces.

The future

Glen Darou, president and CEO of Clean Current Power Systems Inc., notes that “We believe it is highly exportable technology, with strong potential to succeed in international settings” (Skilling 2005). And more recently, “A 200-tonne turbine is being developed for the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia…Some European countries are starting to take interest” (Dove 2008). Clean Current is also working on turbines for shallow tidal areas or rivers that would be able to fit on a flatbed truck and could be plugged in on land.

However, Race Rocks won’t be Clean Current’s laboratory forever. Eventually Pearson College and BC Parks will be responsible for the turbine.

In the meantime, the Race Rocks Tidal Energy Generator has been an immense success. At Race Rocks, we are now able to generate electricity from a renewable source, negating the huge traditional energy system concerns. And for the students of Pearson College, the turbine is a huge learning experience; with students from 100 countries around the world, the turbine serves as a unique demonstration of the potential for alternative energy. Highly committed citizens of the world, Pearson students will take their experiences with the tidal turbine to their home countries when they leave Canada. Hopefully, some will put these ideas into action, developing alternative energy sources in their own countries.

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ADAM HARDING, LESTER B PEARSON COLLEGE OF THE PACIFIC/RACE ROCKS ECOLOGICAL RESERVE TIDAL ENERGY SESSION: PROCEEDINGS

Bibliography

Dove, Amy. “Harnessing power from the ocean.” Goldstream News Gazette, October 22, 2008.
“Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific.” Lester B. Pearson United World College of the

Pacific. http://www.pearsoncollege.ca (accessed 5 March 2009).

Niet, T, McLean, G. “Race Rocks Sustainable Energy Development.” Paper presented at 11th Canadian Hydrographic Conference, Victoria, British Columbia, June 2001.

Skilling, David. EnCana partners to enable Pearson College-EnCana-Clean Current Tidal Power Demonstration Project at Race Rocks, BC. Press release by Lester B. Pearson College, Victoria, British Columbia, February 25, 2005.

“Summary Report on Environmental Monitoring Related to the Pearson College-EnCana-Clean Current Tidal Power Demonstration Project at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve.” Final report by Archipelago Marine Research, Victoria, British Columbia, December 2006.

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You may also access this in the PDF: 1E_Adam Harding

Also available :taken from the website: http://depts.washington.edu/uwconf/psgb/proceedings/papers/p5_hardi.pdf

Barry MacDonald visits Race Rocks

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barryandairchimeBarry MacDonald, President of the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society went out to Race Rocks with Garry today. Barry has been instrumental in getting the Lighthouse Heritage Protection Bill  through parliament and working for the protection of the Atlantic Coast Lighthouses: http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/history/heritagetower.htm#Anchor-Pat-11481 .  In this picture, he tells us about how the Air Chime Fog horns were once used across North America, but are now all discontinued.The one he is examining was removed for the installation of solar panels and has since been replaced, preserving the look of the four air chimes on the energy building.
http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/history/foghorn/foghorn.htm

 

Elephant seals born on Middle Rocks at Race Rocks,2009

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Subject: Possible baby Elly on Middle Rock Also:
Although the Elephant Seal haulout on middle rock is over 500 metres away, from the remote camera5 we have been watching the other females still out there in the last few days… and now finally today ……..
Feb 3 10:02 AM. e-mail Exchange:

From Pam: Morning Garry…..have just been watching the middle rock with Slash and the two females.
I believe there MAY be a baby with them.  I’m attaching  a couple of blurry shots because I could not get a really clear view.  However, if you look to the left of Slash you will see a small dark shape.  In one pic it looks as though it has its mouth open, showing the red inside and in the other shot it had moved.   What do you think?   Could it be that the “injured” ES came up on to the rock to give birth?

Pam 12:22 PM – I’ve been watching for about 20 mins and am pretty sure there is an infant there, suckling from the ES with the scars.

Garry-12:28 PM-Pam I think you’re right.  and there’s a patch of blood on the top of the rock as well.. I have predicted there will be three babies from these three females as all look to be at the same level of maturity.
 
Pam-12:51 PM- Just came back up here to the computer.  Three eagles were fighting over something – most likely the placenta.  I noticed the red patch of possibly blood too.  Attached three more pics I took earlier.  Two of them show the pup feeding and the other (again very blurry) showing its head just popping up in silhouette.
Ryan – 1:08 PM- Yes, from Pam’s photo I’d definitely say that there is another baby out there.  I’ll see if I can get any closer photos later today. Ryan 2:39 PM-Lots of eagles out there for sure, certainly showing more interest over there than when the pup was born here.But Pam’s pics definitely show a new live pup out there, so that makes 2 at least!
In the picture above, an eagle is eating near the elephant seals for a few hours in the afternoon. So we think that there is at least one and maybe two more pups on the Middle Island.. More tomorow..
(click on this image to enlarge)e-mail From: Ryan
Subject: a clear shot on a clear day
Date: February 4, 2009 9:38:36 AM PST (CA)
Beautiful day out here, got this clear shot of the pup between both females.  Hard to say which is the mom, I think both have milk on their muzzles, so….?Ryan
At 4:00 PM of Feb 4. The new pup was doing well here seen on he left. Up to 5 eagles were also close by eating the afterbirth or perhaps another dead pup.. The following are from remote cam5.
And eventually by the end of the day on Feb 4, elephant seal pup 2 was on fine display and the scavenger ravens and bald eagles were still hanging around. Ryan was able to zoom in with his telephoto from Great Race Rocks to get these great shots.
In the next few days, the eagles were eating away at something and the young one shown above had disappeared. It is unfortunate they tried to have pups on this Middle island since there is just not very much room.  It is also possible that easterly winds washed the young off the Middle rocks as they are so exposed. So Ninene ended up as the only surviving pup this year, We believe that three pups were born in all at Race Rocks this year. This is the first record for any births this far north as far as we can determine.See the pups born on Middle Rocks in 2010

See the Elephant seal index Gallery and Taxonomy