Unlimited also contributed to this effors with their construction
of internal dikes and dams to control water levels. Ag mentioned
above, our current membership (nine at present) has been on the
island for seven years and we continue to put —n considerable time,
effort and money to maintain the investment made to date. This
involves numerous work parties throughout the year to slash brush
and various types of vegetation in the paddies. This must be done
regularly, using mechanized brush-cutters and significant labour.
The cost of neglect is to see the entire marsh become overgrown. In
addition to keeping Mother Nature at bay we are continuously
repairing the dikea which are under attack by the beaver population
who seek to reunite the contained marsh with the river surrounding
it. The wood duck population on the island and surrounding area
has been a gignificant beneficiary of our nesting enhancement
efforts. We maintain approximately 150-175 wood duck nesting boxes
around the marsh which are mounted on trees and are cleaned and
filled with fresh nesting material each spring. We make a conscious
effort to avoid shooting these birds which are very distinctive and
whose declining population has been restored in recent years.

Another caretaking role we play on Douglas Island is achieved
simply by keeping a presence on the igland. While the island

is private property, it is none the less easily accessed by a
variety of trespassers. Recent newspaper articles have done a
disservice to the owners and our club by describing the island and
the bu.idings as "abandoned". Comments such as these, along with
the increased newspaper coverage the island has received, have
resulted in an increase of uninvited visitors who have occasionally
left with property that did not belong to them. For the first time
since we began leasing the island, we have been forced to lock our
lodge. The caretaker’s cottage remains unlocked in case over~turned
boaters need shelter. This has happened several times over the
years. Our use of the island also acts as a deterrent to squatting
and partying which could be a significant problem for police,
particularly in the summer.

As we mentioned on a previous occasion, the acts of conservation
and waterfowling can be exercised in tandem. In fact, without the
financial and human effort of hunters through organizations such as
Ducks Unlimited and on a micro scale, clubs such as ours, waterfowl
populations throughout Canada and the United States would have
difficulty sustaining themselves. As to the future of Douglas
Island, the Sturgeon Slough Game Club remains neutral on matters of
zoning and development. We strongly believe however, that until the
future of the island is determined our continued presence there is