We took the time to analyse the water quality of Bowker creek as of late November.

   

Bowker creek is old creek in Oak Bay and some parts of Victoria from around UVIC and flows into the ocean at willows beach. It once meandered through forests, meadows, and grasslands. As well salmon used to spawn in the creek and it provided food for the First Nations people in the area

Although now the creek is heavily controlled where about 70% of the creek is in pipes. In recent years, there have been efforts to restore and bring back a cleaner creek. The limits of the restoration are visible alongside Oak Bay Secondary School

Bowker creek is old creek in Oak Bay and some parts of Victoria from around UVIC and flows into the ocean at willows beach. It once meandered through forests, meadows, and grasslands. As well salmon used to spawn in the creek and it provided food for the First Nations people in the area.

Part of the 100-year plan is to restore native vegetation on much of the creek corridor. The aim is to recreate the original creekside with as little influence from native plant species as possible. This will help create a better envrionment for food sources. Here is a stetch that has been made of possible  creek bed conditions on Shelbourne Road. 

 Restoring the vegetation on the creek bank would contribute to the creek’s marine biodiversity and provide more food supply to help support salmon populations. This is because the decaying plant matter that ends up in the creek could be consumed by the stream invertebrates which act as food for juvenile salmon (alevins.)

When in freshwater, coho salmon feed on plankton, insects, and larval invertabrates, but swtich to a diet of small fish upon entering the ocean. To regain these fish, Bowker Creek needs to have conditions to support populations of plankton, invertabrates and insects - such as stable water quality and ample food. Here are examples of such sources.