Bilston Watershed Habitat Protection Association — Presentation

About BWHPA

Bilston Watershed stewards since 1991

• Early multi-year project at Martin Brook along Sooke Rd

  

• Two-year restoration project on Firehall Creek to remove invasive species, get native plants established in riparian area and build riffles to aid spawning trout

  

  

• Bilston Creek enhancements off Winter Road to stop erosion and protect spawning beds

  

Bilston Watershed totals

• 3129 hectares

Bilston Watershed covers an area of 3129 hectares in Langford, Metchosin, Colwood, and the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area

Biodiversity

There’s a rich biodiversity of species in Bilston Watershed. Our watershed is home to red- and blue-listed species including Coastal Cutthroat Trout (CCT), Blue-Grey Taildropper Slugs, Northern Red-Legged Frogs & tiny Sharp-tailed Snakes.

• Western water shrew

  

• Northern Red-Legged Frog

  

• Fairy shrimp need vernal pools and ephemeral wetlands to survive.

  

• Freshwater sponges filter and clean the creek water.

  

• Blue-grey taildropper slug

  

• Coastal Cutthroat Trout (CCT) and observations

CCT are an indicator species. If conditions are good for CCT, we know many other species can survive. In 2023, we found young CCT in Bilston, Metchosin, Pritchard and Hewitt Creeks, although drier, hotter summers, reduced baseflow, sediment and other contamination are severely challenging the population.

Community engagement and activities

• Joined Langford’s 2023 Earth Day celebrations at Willing Park to remove invasive plants near Bilston Creek

  

• Provincial biologists & volunteers survey and sample Coastal Cutthroat Trout

  

• Propagation workshop

  

• Streamkeepers course

  

• Ongoing surveying and sampling of aquatic life in our waterways

Partners and collaborators

A few of the agencies, organizations and groups we’re working with now:

• Peninsula Streams Society
• Pacific Streamkeepers Federation
• Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC
• Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
• World Fisheries Trust/Coastal Collaborative Sciences
• BC Wildlife Federation
• UVic Community-Engaged Learning Office
• UVic Community Research Partnerships Office
• SFU Action on Climate Team
• BC Ministry of Environment
• BC Ministry of Transportation
• City of Langford
• District of Metchosin
• Capital Regional District
• Power to Be Victoria
• The Land Sharing Network
• Metchosin 4-H

Wetlands and their functions

Wetlands remove pollutants, prevent flooding, and provide thermal regulation and water storage when allowed to act as sponges. On top of all that, they provide vital habitat for animals and plants.

The incalculable wealth of healthy wetlands and aquifers.
Wetlands are sometimes referred to as “nurseries” because so many animals begin their lives within them.

Aquifers underlying Bilston

There are 3 different aquifers underlying Bilston Watershed. Aquifer 606 is the source of water for over 1550 wells in the Langford, Metchosin and Sooke area. It’s ranked as “highly vulnerable to contamination”. Recharging an aquifer can take days, years, centuries or even millennia, and we need to ensure that sufficient clean water gets absorbed into the ground for recharge.

Aquifers:

• Aquifer 683
• Aquifer 682
• Aquifer 606

Rainwater as a resource and green infrastructure

We need to think of rainwater as a resource, not a waste product.

• Green infrastructure requires less maintenance over time, saving costs.

  

• Peninsula Streams project

  

• Urban landscapes can be designed to filter, absorb, clean and store water through the use of green infrastructure, low impact development, and integrated stormwater management plans.

  

  

Bioswales and road runoff

Streams and creeks close to roadways are particularly vulnerable to pollutants such as 6PPD-Q and other contaminants from tire wear particles, hydrocarbons, heavy metals and road salt.

Bioswales are designed to both remove rainwater accumulating on roadways (making the roads safer to drive on) and filter runoff contaminants.

Bioswale diagram by Andrew Mack, Washington State University

Runoff from roads filtered by engineered soil mixes and plants reduces pollutants from entering stormwater infrastructure and receiving waters.

Flooding events and green infrastructure benefits

Extensive flooding in Happy Valley and Walfred Road areas in the fall of 2021

The use of green infrastructure and preservation of wetlands can effectively reduce storm damage.

Watershed-scale planning

Planning at the watershed scale integrates decisions about land use planning, water & ecosystem protection, economic development, climate mitigation and climate adaptation. Watershed planning initiatives are underway across BC. With the emphasis on increasing density and climate change bringing more frequent droughts and more likely flooding, it’s more important than ever to design a watershed protection plan that supports all life in the watershed.

Thank you / Credits

Bilston Watershed Habitat Protection Association
Thank you for your time!
Visit us at bilstonwatershed.org.

Our thanks for providing photos, videos, diagrams and maps to:

• The Capital Regional District
• Peninsula Streams Society
• Washington State Department of Ecology
• Government of British Columbia
• Dylan Simpson
• Bev Hall
• Scott Harris
• Gary Schroyen
• Ian McKenzie
• Washington State University Extension