In this activity, created by the Royal BC Museum in collaboration with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, you will have the opportunity to view and "use" some of the fishing technology used by Songhees and Esquimalt people at the turn of the 19th century near Victoria. 

In addition to the project panels, students were also involved in working with the museum staff in doing a 'makeover' of the 'otter cave' display case. 

Bowker Creek Blueprint: A 100-year action plan to restore the Bowker Creek watershed.

Construction is now finished! Matting is in place to hold riparian soil in place to prevent erosion, allowing the native plant species a chance to grow and provide natural bank stabilization. 

Moving from a straight concrete-lined channel, the new course of Bowker Creek is a meandering water course, more suitable for aquatic invertebrates. 

Prior to the restoration, the section of Bowker Creek passing by Oak Bay High school was a straight concrete-lined channel, with a small and steep riparian area, overgrown with invasive plant species. 

A purposeful part of the restoration was to have Bowker Creek once again mimic a natural water course.  Prior to the restoration, the straight path of the creek created high velocities of water after a rain storm.  With the new creek pathway, the volume of water is slowed, allowing aquatic invertebrates not to be swept away as they once were. 

A key aspect of the restoration project continues to be providing a connection between the students of Oak Bay High School and Bowker Creek.  In the finishing stages of the project, students had the opportunity to participate in the plantings of the native plant species.