Background
The Bowker Creek Urban Watershed Renewal Initiative (BCI) is a unique multi-jurisdictional effort to improve the health of a highly urbanized watershed. The Initiative was established because of concerns about flooding, pollution, and the degraded condition of Bowker creek. The Bowker Creek watershed is in the Capital Regional District (CRD) and the creek extends from the University of Victoria through the District of Saanich and the City of Victoria, and discharges to the sea through the District of Oak Bay.
Over the last 200 years the watershed has changed from a natural state, to agricultural use, to the current mix of residential, commercial and institutional uses. Over the years much of the original creek channel has either been straightened or enclosed in underground pipes. Today only 2.9 kilometers are still above ground.
In 2003, the municipalities of Saanich, Oak Bay and Victoria, and the CRD Board approved the Bowker Creek Watershed Management Plan. Thanks to the support of staff, community members and elected officials, implementation of the plan has been moving ahead. The BCI was established and a coordinator was hired in 2004. Some key projects have now been completed and more work is planned.
Major projects completed to date include:
- A restoration demonstration site at St. Patrick’s Elementary School;
- Stream bank stabilization through bioengineering (multiple locations);
- Completion of an inter-municipal Master Drainage Plan, which is Phase One of an Integrated Stormwater Management Plan;
- Interpretive and channel marker signs;
- Greenways routing input to municipal councils, and;
- Ongoing outreach to raise awareness.
Major work yet to do includes:
- Integrating environmental and social considerations with the engineering considerations provided by the Master Drainage Plan, to complete an Integrated Stormwater Management Plan;
- Encouraging on-site retention and infiltration of stormwater to reduce effective impervious watershed area;
- Continuing to protect and enhance existing natural areas;
- Improving water quality;
- Ongoing outreach to raise awareness; and,
- Addressing other objectives and actions identified in the Bowker Creek Watershed Management Plan.
More information
Bowker Creek Watershed Management Plan (2.4 Mb) (PDF 
)
Bowker Creek 2006 Annual Report (0.7 Mb) (PDF )
Bowker Creek Watershed Map (orthophoto) (5.3 Mb) (PDF )
Bowker Creek Watershed Assessment (2000) (7 Mb) (PDF )
Bowker Creek Watershed Proposed Greenways Map (8 Mb) (PDF )
