![Removal of Invasive Species on the Riverbed](https://learning.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/wp-content/themes/learning-portal/img/entry-placeholder.jpg)
By OB23
To begin the restoration, the existing plants needed to be removed. Many invasive species of bramble and blackberry bushes were destroyed, leaving a barren riverbed.
![native plant 6](https://learning.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/wp-content/themes/learning-portal/img/entry-placeholder.jpg)
Native plants help use less pesticides. It is said that over 70 million pounds of pesticides are applied to lawns in a year. These chemicals run off into rivers and lakes, causing a big problem with clean water and aquatic life. ![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/MTM76bM56XiznGItz_2x0rKulKLao3Akw7oftmn0zw3d9YtYzZ3h0dlOXwcCcebntSDip9rDKJ1OzXoqRrPwZhRShLfMiAYX7_AoLMa2ycx1e1WzOx0m-qeK1pqSTjawWaIMLyD5H7w)
![native plant 5](https://learning.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/wp-content/themes/learning-portal/img/entry-placeholder.jpg)
many people chose to plant native plants when starting a garden because of the benefits they provide. Native plants develop their own defensive systems, driving away pests, diseases as well as invasive plants. This is why people choose to plant native. ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kxT9N3OEX29OAHl8sIfmVRBUjMti3JhZgOIErZqx3SDaSLNkbuLLSd-vmoGPSE8iD2QIud1_DiWMugfxQnXLKspDBEnmJ1NMY4oFEFAP3nDVhDLdX7sulRtG7LIAd8cCeCyLpVk6LRs)
![native plant 4](https://learning.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/wp-content/themes/learning-portal/img/entry-placeholder.jpg)
Native plants, as well as being low maintenance, can provide many benefits to the ecosystem. It creates vital habitat for important wildlife. Plants like the ocean spray (grown in victoria) gives us beautiful scenery which we value and protect. ![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tEh3fZydJPIb5YLEPn4kE_euIZjlsmhIV_3fmirid_AH01A0_sXmHjkR5rP1QWyj_aXkEPPbIoJ-UEqUqFd7XFnWyyDhPUtKmk3m4-_gV5zc6zuCyxtRScBWzigtGb2VVk5UvDnJctc)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/XwYw9_NEoFnbT4yqLCWDn0cvUIEevzWLq5T-IKF76gsR4WG7XtOktSYaYH_J2mPd_JXv4OSerYxz1weIbygBmGO1jCfGjmJ_5b8rCjR6CruLyAImldMkhfHpNvp2y3hTnh78wMJKbMA)
![Humanity’s key to success](https://learning.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/wp-content/themes/learning-portal/img/entry-placeholder.jpg)
1In 1 playlists
![native plants 1](https://learning.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/wp-content/themes/learning-portal/img/entry-placeholder.jpg)
1In 1 playlists
What if society did not have the habitat that the native plants provide for our wildlife? The animals depending on these plants for food and habitat would struggle to survive. This would knock the food chain out of place, resulting in decreasing populations of the native plant depending animals. ![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/I5859TtLwHdvcrIj1dNskrxdZH0CmY5QJ_0f_KaQHJLxOoKfNRBjoRHr5cEUTflqOhgTfVQT9Dwe7MPmCQ43uyh0B3OYS_r-S0b1-gn69Zk-WOFaaCKJGDiFM7JE_i22yI0wqiBelVo)
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pIsv1JsRAqMQGqp_LV8aofpHbmWPHMxvSWmBqE9BK4YCAfN6JwL-Wtf4jzUlKZKqdEaX4M9B0lwsK7Tdu47uxEWMZKovJPuN_ykR6X9-Q4cOwwlu9og_6JFgfyjj6DIAnXgtszisyaE)
![Excavation and shaping of the riverbed](https://learning.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/BowkerCreekExcavation-480x360.jpg)
By OB23
Once the plant life was removed, excavation began to create the slope that exists, as well as the shaping of the curves in the new river.
![Water Quality Issues](https://learning.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/salmon-480x360.jpg)
By OB24
There is too much nitrate and not enough dissolved oxygen for salmon. The abundance of nitrate contributes to the lack of D.O. One of the reasons for all the nitrate is probably fertilizers from road runoff and gardens, which is full of nitrate. If the nitrate levels could be decreased, the D.O. would increase, and maybe be able to support salmon.