A Saanich nature sanctuary has received grant funding that will help restore its waterways to improve coho and chum salmon habitats.
The Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary will use the Pacific Salmon Foundation funds on a new project focusing on riparian restoration and youth engagement.
https://www.vicnews....abitats-7299875
This is good. I’m hoping to do more salmon fishing this summer at Swan Lake. Last fall I caught a 14-pounder. Fishing off the trestle there. I also dropped in some crab traps but came up pretty empty. A friend got a few decent lobster though.
Anything humans can do to remediate and restore natural riparian habitats - and especially salmon ecosystems, a keystone species for the entire west coast of BC as well as the island - and which have largely degraded due to our activities, is a very good thing IMO.
Historically Swan lake is fed by a large watershed to the north-east which includes Blenkinsop Lake. Water ultimately drains into the Colquitz system from there to Portage inlet and finally it empties into the ocean at Victoria Harbour. Very definitely a worthwhile endeavor and done right will have measurable positive impacts. I remember very well what the Colquitz watershed looked like in the 1970's and 80's - think literally sewer in some sections - before serious efforts were undertaken to rehabilitate it a few years ago. Today it supports a small but recovering and healthy salmon population, including the odd one in the 14 lb range . No reason Swan Lake can't be similarly improved.
Other related waterway restoration projects by District of Saanich staff and moreover by some very dedicated volunteers, include the Todd, Bowker and the aforementioned Colquitz Creeks. Offhand I couldn't support a local endeavor any more than this one.
Edited by AllseeingEye, 23 January 2024 - 11:11 AM.