Could salmon spawn in Bowker Creek

by OB B

Could salmon spawn in Bowker Creek? In this playlist we will look at the facts and find out!


Why Didn’t Salmon Come Back?
By OB B
Salmon most likely didn’t come back, because of their habitat being destroyed. The creek is no longer suitable for a spawn which caused the most likely caused the salmon to find another place to spawn.

Fish ladders
By OB B
Parts of Bowker creek, such as the section adjacent to oak bay fire hall, would require a fish ladder since there is concrete barriers. Without a fish ladder salmon would not be able to swim down the creek.

If we introduced fry to the creek would salmon return?
By OB B
No, the creek has been developed, modified and covered. Bowker creek is no longer a natural creek, the majority of it is in pipes and a lot of the creek is now concrete. Bowker creek has a lot less natural filtration since it goes through culverts. Unless Bowker creek was restored, it will most likely never support a salmon spawn again as the CRD website explains.

What work has been done to restore Bowker Creek?
By OB B
Quite a bit of work has been done to restore Bowker Creek including many restorations such as: Oak Bay High School, Monteith street, St. patrick's school and more. A bowker creek 100 year restoration  plan has been created, called the Bowker creek blueprint.