The Saanich News reported today on a severe situation in PKOLS Mt. Douglas nature park. Our park is unique in having a broad range of endangered ecological systems, and the province has designated all the systems in the park as endangered. We are fortunate to have such a South Island jewel within the city limits being preserved by the District of Saanich under a charter that requires its preservation for all future generations.
In the article, the PKOLS—Mount Douglas Conservancy Vice-President highlights what needs to be done to prevent further damage to the nature park and allow its unique ecological system to recover.
On January 18th, 2025, the PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy hosted, as we have done for many years, a Salmon Carcass Transplant to ensure nutrients for the Chum and Coho Salmon that are now beginning to return to the creek. More than 100 enthusiastic people showed up to participate in the process. We want to thank all those who participated and all those volunteers who, over the years, are helping to bring the salmon back to this creek. We would also like to especially thank the GVSEA (Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association) for all their help and the District of Saanich for their unwavering support.
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.
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 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.
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. ]
The federal government is currently advising people not to touch or feed wild birds by hand in order to prevent the spread of H5N1 (a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus) in some wild birds in BC. As a precautionary measure, Saanich has remove signs related to feeding of ducks in Saanich’s parks, which encouraged the feeding of only appropriate food as an educational measure.
As of today, all the duck feeding related signs we have been able to locate have been removed from the following parks:
Bow Pond
Beckwith Pond
CHP – King’s
CHP – Derby
Rithet’s Bog
South Valley Pond
Saanich is exploring additional information sharing measures, likely by using their website and directing people there so they can be nimble as information and advice may change quickly.
An extended split-rail fence has been installed along Norn Trail to protect a rare and fragile wetland ecosystem (Norn Pond). The Saanich Parks Natural Areas crew made this work possible by carrying 50 fence posts from the Churchill/Irvine crossing to the Norn Trail Pond last week—no small feat!
After advocating for this extended fencing for some time now, we deeply appreciate Parks’ hard work and collaboration to ensure this measure is taken to help restore the degradation of this area by people and dogs unaware of its fragility.
The fence will help remind users that PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) contains rare, at-risk ecological systems, including some of the most extensive remaining Camas and Garry Oak meadows in Saanich, which are incredibly fragile. Every ecosystem in the park has been provincially and globally identified as endangered.
This year, there was a significant return of salmon in Douglas Creek due to the extensive restoration. That does not mean there are no ongoing challenges to safeguarding the habitat. Despite the signage and fencing designating the creek as a federally designated fish-bearing stream, there have been disruptions from humans and dogs disturbing the spawning fish. It does seem to indicate that more ongoing community education and protection are needed to sustain the delicate salmon life cycle in the creek.
The District of Saanich has released a statement and a report on how it will mitigate the erosion on the Cordova Bay Shoreline. It outlines how it has attempted to address the erosion in the past and the current plan, given that previous attempts have failed to stop it.
The plan includes a wattle fencing system and live local plants. They feel the addition of the vegetation will improve with time and hopefully stabilize the slope. The wattle fencing should protect the deeper soils of the cliff from water erosion.
Saanich Council approved the PKOLS communication tower to be located at the summit in the vicinity of the existing tower that it will be replacing. This is a win-win: Saanich gets their tower, and the Park is saved. This summit location completely hides the tower as one approaches Churchill Drive, and it is obscured by trees from the summit parking lot and also on the lower sections of the summit trail.
The tower will be installed using a crane based in the summit parking lot. There will also be a new trail with stairs constructed from the parking lot to the summit, improving the safety of the existing route. All installation costs related to this new tower installation will be paid from prior and possibly future tower rental income, not tax dollars. A portion of the monies from the lease are dedicated to improving and preserving the park for future generations.
The current tower will be removed by crane after the new tower is installed and fully operational.
PKOLS - Mount Douglas lies within the traditional territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, 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.
When: Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM
Where: 
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.
