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Four watercourses are on the property, including Craigflower Creek, a salmon bearing stream that runs along the eastern edge of the property.
The project’s Qualified Environmental Professional determined the Streamside Protection and Enhancement areas, or setbacks, for each of the watercourses. Extensive stream restoration is underway to improve the overall ecological function of this highly disturbed site.
One watercourse, a seasonal stream creek flowed across the property and joined Craigflower Creek near the highway. When the Island Highway was built in the 90’s, a large amount of fill was placed on site, including within the riparian zone of the seasonal stream and covering an archaeological site. The stream has been moved at least once, perhaps twice, in the last century. The stream was partly groundwater but mostly transported stormwater from upstream roads and buildings. Water flow was variable, and the stream would go dry in summer. The riparian zone was overgrown with weeds, blackberries and other invasive species providing very little habitat value.
First Salmon-Safe Certified Development on Vancouver Island
In September 2022, the Fraser Basin Council recognized the handyDART centre as the first Salmon-Safe certified development on Vancouver Island. About 30 people attended, including local streamkeepers, neighbourhood working group members, local government agencies and BC Transit. The Fraser Basin Council recognized the contributions of the local community for setting high standards for water conservation, stormwater management and restoration of the stream that runs into Craigflower Creek.
To restore the ecological health of the site, the stream has now been moved to the western and southern edge of the property, creating over an acre of restored and protected streamside habitat. Eagleview Elementary students planted the first plants in the stream in May 2022.
What is Planned
Fill was removed, and the stream was rebuilt to match the water flows that come from the upper watershed. A heritage alteration permit and heritage inspection permit ensure previously identified archaeological sites are safeguarded.
Degraded woodland habitat is being restored, new aquatic habitat introduced, and stormwater will be cleaned, aerated and slowly released into Craigflower Creek.
The realigned stream includes 8000 native plants that provide leaf litter to feed aquatic insects living along the rocks and logs. These insects provides food to the fish and amphibians and shrubs and trees will provide food and shelter for a variety of birds.
A new sediment trap at the top of the stream will remove sediment and pollutants running off buildings and roads, providing cleaner water to Craigflower Creek.
Purposefully placed rocks, logs and weirs break up the water flow and introduce oxygen to the water and reduce stream bank erosion. The stream creates a new wildlife corridor connecting to the forest along Craigflower Creek.
The new stream connects to Craigflower Creek through a gentle transition area to allow the new stream to access its floodplain during periods of high rainfall and provide new amphibian habitat and potential rearing habitat for Coho salmon and other juvenile fish.
There is a 30-metre riparian zone along Craigflower Creek.
First Salmon-Safe Certified Development on Vancouver Island
In September 2022, the Fraser Basin Council recognized the handyDART centre as the first Salmon-Safe certified development on Vancouver Island. About 30 people attended, including local streamkeepers, neighbourhood working group members, local government agencies and BC Transit. The Fraser Basin Council recognized the contributions of the local community for setting high standards for water conservation, stormwater management and restoration of the stream that runs into Craigflower Creek.
