PKOLS - Mount Douglas Conservancy

Salmon Carcass Transplant
2024-03-16 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Vancouver) | Douglas Creek Bridge, FMV8+28R Saanich, British Columbia
Please join us for our annual salmon carcass transplant.
Saturday, 16 March 2024, at 10:00 am at the Outdoor Classroom / Douglas Creek Bridge.
The Howard English Hatchery at Goldstream has previously provided us with chum carcasses. This year, they will be bringing Coho salmon. An explanation for the switch will be included in the presentations. The event proceeds rain or shine (the salmon don’t care!). Also, with the warmer weather, the carcasses should be nice and slimy, so leave that lovely new winter coat at home!

This is a combination of educational and fun events with environmental benefits. It’s a family event, and children are most welcome, but for safety reasons, each child must be accompanied/supervised by a responsible parent or guardian.
See you on Saturday!

Salmon Carcass Transplant, Sat Jan. 18, 2025
2025-01-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Douglas Creek Bridge, FMV8+28R Saanich, British Columbia
Join the PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy to help restore the ecological balance of Douglas Creek by transplanting salmon carcasses back into the ecosystem. This hands-on activity supports the recovery of this important salmon habitat and provides an educational experience for all ages.
When: Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM
Where: Douglas Creek Bridge and Outdoor Classroom
PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) lies within the territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ (represented by the W̱JOȽEȽP, BOḰEĆEN, SȾÁUTW̱, W̱SIḴEM and MÁLEXEȽ Nations) as well as the the lək ̓wəŋən peoples, represented by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. The W̱SÁNEĆ and lək ̓wəŋən peoples have been here since time immemorial, and their relationship with the land and water is long and rich.
Enjoy speakers, educational displays, hot beverages, and learn more about our efforts at the Conservancy’s membership table.
The event will happen rain or shine (the salmon don’t care). Please dress for the outdoors, but leave your favourite winter coat at home — this can be slimy but rewarding experience!
This is a family-friendly event. Children are most welcome, but for safety reasons, each child must be accompanied/supervised by a responsible parent or guardian.
We can’t wait to see you there!
—
How transplanting salmon carcasses helps bridge the gap between marine and terrestrial ecosystems:
Transplanting salmon carcasses into Douglas Creek simulates the ecological process that would naturally occur in a healthy stream ecosystem when salmon return to their natal creeks to spawn en masse, complete their life cycle and die, leaving behind carcasses that are incredibly nutrient-rich. This natural process is how marine nutrients find their way back into terrestrial ecosystems, through the breakdown of these returning salmon carcasses that have spent years feeding in the Pacific Ocean.
Although Douglas Creek has seen returns of salmon each year since restoration work began, including a record-breaking return in the Fall of 2024, the numbers have not (yet!) reached their full potential, so the annual Douglas Creek Salmon Carcass Transplant continues. The transplanted carcasses also attract scavengers like river otters, racoons, eagles, and ravens, who help distribute the nutrients deeper into PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park), enriching the ecosystem further.
A remarkable study* published last year by researchers at Simon Fraser University looked at the impact that nutrients from salmon carcasses had on the growth of native coastal plants. The research showed that wildflowers (including Douglas’ aster, Common red paintbrush, Common yarrow, and Silverweed) in areas where salmon carcasses had been dispersed grew larger leaves and bigger flowers, directly benefiting the pollinators dependent on these plant species.
Salmon (SĆÁÁNEW̱ in SENĆOŦEN / kʷáyəx̣ in lək̓ʷəŋiʔnəŋ) are sacred. Western science is beginning to recognize the insights of Traditional Ecological Knowledge that Coast Salish Nations have held for millennia. These findings underscore the vital connection between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, reminding us that salmon are a keystone species working to bridge the gap between land and sea even after death.
*[Dennert, A.M., Elle, E. and Reynolds, J.D. (2023) ‘Experimental addition of marine-derived nutrients affects wildflower traits in a coastal meta-ecosystem’, Royal Society Open Science, 10(1). doi:10.1098/rsos.221008. ]

Wild Salmon Day in PKOLS
2025-06-01 09:00 - 12:00 | PKOLS (Mount Douglas) Parking Lot (Churchill Dr), PKOLS (Mount Douglas) Parking Lot, Victoria, BC, V8N 3G4, Canada
Join the PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy on BC Wild Salmon Day!
Discover how salmon habitat is being restored in Douglas Creek and learn about the Conservancy’s ongoing efforts to protect this vital ecosystem. Enjoy educational displays, connect with others who care about the future of wild salmon, and learn how you can get involved!
Look for our information tent set up at the lower Churchill Drive Parking Lot.

24th Annual Carcass Transplant
2026-01-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Douglas Creek Bridge, FMV8+28R Saanich, British Columbia
Join the PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy to help restore the ecological balance of Douglas Creek by transplanting salmon carcasses back into the ecosystem. This hands-on activity supports the recovery of this important salmon habitat and provides an educational experience for all ages.
When: Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM Where: Douglas Creek Bridge and Outdoor Classroom (https://maps.app.goo.gl/5y5XbXykrDKcv1TS7)

PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) and Douglas Creek lies within the territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ (represented by the W̱JOȽEȽP, BOḰEĆEN, SȾÁUTW̱, W̱SIḴEM and MÁLEXEȽ Nations) as well as the the lək ̓wəŋən peoples, represented by the Songhees and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations. The W̱SÁNEĆ and lək ̓wəŋən peoples have been here since time immemorial, and their relationship with the land and water is long and rich.
Enjoy speakers, educational displays, hot beverages, and learn more about our efforts at the Conservancy’s membership table.
The event will happen rain or shine (the salmon don’t care). Please dress for the outdoors, but leave your favourite winter coat at home — this can be slimy but rewarding experience!
This is a family-friendly event. Children are most welcome, but for safety reasons, each child must be accompanied/supervised by a responsible parent or guardian.
We can’t wait to see you there!

This event is made possible by our good friends at the Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association. To learn more about the incredible work that GVSEA does, please visit: www.goldstreamhatchery.ca

How transplanting salmon carcasses helps bridge the gap between marine and terrestrial ecosystems:
Transplanting salmon carcasses into Douglas Creek simulates the ecological process that would naturally occur in a healthy stream ecosystem when salmon return to their natal creeks to spawn en masse, complete their life cycle and die, leaving behind carcasses that are incredibly nutrient-rich. This natural process is how marine nutrients find their way back into terrestrial ecosystems, through the breakdown of these returning salmon carcasses that have spent years feeding in the Pacific Ocean.
Although Douglas Creek has seen returns of salmon each year since restoration work began, including record-breaking return in the fall of 2024, the numbers have not (yet!) reached their full potential, so the annual Douglas Creek Salmon Carcass Transplant continues. The transplanted carcasses also attract scavengers like river otters, racoons, eagles, and ravens, who help distribute the nutrients deeper into PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park), enriching the ecosystem further.
A remarkable study* published in 2023 by researchers at Simon Fraser University looked at the impact that nutrients from salmon carcasses had on the growth of native coastal plants. The research showed that wildflowers (including Douglas’ aster, Common red paintbrush, Common yarrow, and Silverweed) in areas where salmon carcasses had been dispersed grew larger leaves and bigger flowers, directly benefiting the pollinators dependent on these plant species.
Salmon (SĆÁÁNEW̱ in SENĆOŦEN / kʷáyəx̣ in lək̓ʷəŋiʔnəŋ) are sacred.
Western science is beginning to recognize the insights of Traditional Ecological Knowledge that Coast Salish First Nations have held for millennia. These findings underscore the vital connection between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, reminding us that salmon are a keystone species working to bridge the gap between land and sea even after death.
*[Dennert, A.M., Elle, E. and Reynolds, J.D. (2023) ‘Experimental addition of marine-derived nutrients affects wildflower traits in a coastal meta-ecosystem’, Royal Society Open Science, 10(1). doi:10.1098/rsos.221008.
