James Younger was walking his dogs when he noticed something was amiss – the Sea Change building at Tod Inlet in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park was missing.
Not completely missing, but almost completely submerged.
The building, which is less than a year old, tipped over with its pontoon flotation devices exposed to the air, its walls and roof under water.
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“It’s upside down, all you can see are the floats, which are covered in mussels,” said Younger. He added, “It looks like the otters, seals and birds have been having a feast.”
The area around Tod Inlet has been the subject of significant conservation over the last few years, especially in the summer months, with reports of barges being used to ferry sediment and materials.
Younger, who walks in Gowlland Tod Park regularly, thought the building looked unstable during and after it was built.
“I’m no carpenter and it looked pretty, but it had a wicked lean on it,” he said.
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The Sea Change Marine Conservation Society says their aim is to grow in partnership with the local W̱SÁNEĆ communities and to work alongside W̱SÁNEĆ Elders and youth to deliver educational programs, offer cultural-historical tours and restore terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Sea Change also works with First Nations across the Salish Sea to map, monitor and restore eelgrass habitats. The group is largely staffed by community volunteers and they place a strong emphasis on youth engagement with nature.
nick.murray@peninsulanewsreview.com
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