Eco-Awareness & The Great Outdoors

Lynn Valley LINK trail becomes a reality

The hard work of Lynn Valley Community Association volunteers and district parks staff – and the leadership of local residents Suzanne and Gabriel Mazoret – was celebrated at Lynn Canyon on September 16 with the grand opening of the Lynn Valley LINK trail.

The trail links previously existing trail networks such as the Baden-Powell, Princess Park, Lynn Canyon, Inter-River and Kirkstone Park paths to create a pedestrian route that circumnavigates Lynn Valley. New Lynn Valley LINK information kiosks are up and running at the five trailheads that offer parking facilities – Lynn Canyon Park, Inter River Park, Kirkstone Park, Princess Park, and the Fromme Mountain lot at the top of Mountain Highway. Along with the LINK map, each kiosk features historical information and photos specific to the immediate area.

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September 16, 2017 in Blog, Community Events, Current News, Eco-Awareness & The Great Outdoors

Remember watering restrictions when sunny weather comes

Water restrictions probably haven’t been top of mind for most Lynn Valleyites, seeing as Mother Nature has been abundantly generous with water herself. But now that sunny weather is upon us, here’s a reminder of our water-conservation responsibilities. Phase One lawn sprinkling restrictions  are currently in force:

Lawn sprinkling are restricted to three periods a week, mornings only. Outdoor sprinkling of lawns, using hose-connected or automatic in-ground sprinklers, will be permitted only as follows:

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June 22, 2017 in Blog, Current News, Eco-Awareness & The Great Outdoors, Governance and Services

Be a Lynn Valley LINK trail builder!

There’s an exciting new outdoor recreational project afoot in Lynn Valley, and you could be on the ground floor (literally). The Lynn Valley Community Association’s Annual Park Project takes place on Saturday, May 13 and is a key component of the new Lynn Valley LINK, a collaborative project between the LVCA and the District of North Vancouver.   The LINK will connect existing trails within and through Lynn Valley and will feature informational kiosks at key locations around the community.

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May 3, 2017 in Blog, Community Events, Current News, Eco-Awareness & The Great Outdoors, Getting Involved, Governance and Services

Be a Lynn Valley trail blazer!

Thanks to the Lynn Valley Community Association for passing along this information about a Power Line trail party happening on May 13. Do you appreciate the ready access to nature that we enjoy  in this neighbourhood? Then please consider lending a hand to making our public parkland even better!

The Lynn Valley Community Association and the Lynn Valley Seniors Association are working together on the 2017 Lynn Valley Annual Park Project.

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April 19, 2017 in Blog, Current News, Eco-Awareness & The Great Outdoors

Tree-savers sought for Saturday!

It’s weed pull time again! Celebrate the first week of spring by getting your hands dirty with North Shore Streamkeepers.

IMG_0807The group is looking for volunteers to help remove invasive plant species and replant native species in Lynn Canyon Park on Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Some trees in the area are being “girdled” by ivy vines that will ultimately choke off the vessels that supply oxygen throughout the tree, so cutting off those vines is just one of the priorities on the list.

All ages are welcome, and attendees are invited to meet at the bottom of the hill from the trailhead of the Baden Powell, across from End of the Line (4193 Lynn Valley Rd). Bring along your garden gloves, drinking water, a reusable mug and weather-appropriate clothing; snacks, tools and good company are provided!

North Shore Streamkeepers undertake all sorts of studies and activities that protect our local waterways and enhance fish populations. Learn more about their work, and how to get involved, right here.

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March 23, 2017 in Blog, Current News, Eco-Awareness & The Great Outdoors, Getting Involved, Lynn Valley Day

Lynn Valley right to prepare for floods

By guest writer

No one in Lynn Valley needs to be reminded that their neighbourhood sees more rain than anywhere else in the Greater Vancouver region. The area gets about 2,500 mm of precipitation every year while the airport receives about 1,400 mm.

This brings up the question of heavy rains that can lead to flooding, and what to do about it. In November 2014 a heavy rainfall in Lynn Valley caused creeks to overflow their banks and turned quiet streets into rivers. Up to 17 homes were evacuated and at least 20 homes suffered water damage. Mud and water from Hastings Creek also washed into Argyle Secondary, damaging about eight classrooms and shutting the school down.

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February 11, 2017 in Blog, Current News, Eco-Awareness & The Great Outdoors

Hastings Creek kept clean by dedicated crew

By staff writer

If you saw a team of people strolling through the woods wearing muddy boots and toting hockey sticks on a rainy Saturday afternoon in the fall, you might think: “Yes, it’s hockey night in Canada, but these folks have gone too far.” The North Shore Streamkeepers (NSSK) are true Canadians, but they aren’t playing street hockey on the pond. They are cleaning the creek and looking for signs of coho salmon, all the way up to the pond. Donovan’s Pond, that is.

Hastings Creek is one of the six tributaries of Lynn Creek. Considered one of the most important small fish-bearing streams in North Vancouver, Hastings originates on the east slope of Grouse Mountain and flows through Princess Park, Hunter Park, the Lynn Valley commercial area, and various residential areas until it joins Lynn Creek in the Arbour Lynn area.

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December 22, 2016 in Blog, Current News, Eco-Awareness & The Great Outdoors, Notable Neighbours

Headwaters road deterioration prompts closure to vehicles

 

Temporary Closure to Lynn Headwaters Access Road

In the interest of public safety, the District of North Vancouver has closed its access road to Lynn Headwaters Regional Park at the top of Lynn Valley Road to vehicles, effective immediately.

The road, which cuts through steeply sloped terrain, has deteriorated to the extent that portions of the road are at risk of failure, which could result in landslide. At this time, the closure applies to vehicles only; pedestrian and bicycle access is still permitted. Pedestrians may also access the park from Lynn Valley Road via the Varley Trail.

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December 1, 2016 in Blog, Current News, Eco-Awareness & The Great Outdoors, Governance and Services

Bears under threat from continued urban expansion

Black bears and human beings, aside from the occasional unfortunate interaction, have co-existed on the North Shore for over a hundred years. The bears are smart enough to know that human beings are dangerous, and vice versa. There has been an unwritten truce to stay away from each other’s territories, but that truce is starting to crumble as the urban built environment crawls further and further north into the forests on the hill.  At the North Shore Black Bear Society, Christine Miller is starting to worry where all this urban growth may end up.

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November 7, 2016 in Current News, Eco-Awareness & The Great Outdoors

Exploring Lynn Valley forests with the Ecology Centre

Ecology 2Are there really salmon found in Lynn Valley creeks? (Yes.) Are there really bears in Lynn Valley parks? (Of course.) Is it safe to explore Lynn Valley parks. (Yes, if you don’t get lost.)  What’s the best way to learn about Lynn Valley parks?  At the Ecology Centre, right in the centre of the park.

Since their doors opened in 1971, the Ecology programs and interactive exhibits have helped over 80,000 people each year learn more about coastal temperate rainforests and about local and global environmental concerns.

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October 11, 2016 in Blog, Current News, Eco-Awareness & The Great Outdoors