Completed Initiatives & Projects
Master Drainage Plan
The Master Drainage Plan – Phase One of the Bowker Integrated Stormwater Management Plan – was a major undertaking. It took some time to develop the terms of reference, gather the necessary background data, and raise the funds required. The plan was finally completed in late 2007 and provides information on flooding and erosion problems and potential solutions. This plan takes into account the projected effects of climate change, making it a useful document for planning into the future.
Bowker Creek Master Drainage Plan report (31 MB) (PDF
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Bowker Creek Master Drainage Plan report without figures (4 MB) (PDF
Flooding problems in the Bowker Creek watershed are one reason the Bowker Creek Initiative was launched - the management of flood flows like these are a multi-jurisdictional issue. The Master Drainage Plan investigated these flooding problems.
St. Patrick’s school demonstration restoration project
In summer 2005, the Bowker Creek Initiative teamed up with the CRD Engineering Department to improve a 45-metre section of Bowker Creek. The project was part of the Northeast Trunk sewer upgrade beside St. Patrick’s Elementary School, and this major construction project involved installing a new pipeline. This provided an opportunity to improve the creek at the same time.
The section of the creek alongside the school had steep eroding banks causing poor water quality and poor habitat values. The creek channel and banks were reshaped using heavy machinery, and native vegetation was planted. This major project involved many organizations and individuals who worked tirelessly to bring this project to completion. St. Patrick’s elementary students were also involved in planting the native shrubs. The plantings have survived very well and have almost outgrown the weeds, thanks to dedicated volunteers helping to maintain the site.
Before work commenced at the St. Patrick’s Elementary site the stream banks were steep and eroding and had a minimum of native vegetation
During construction work the channel was realigned and the banks were reshaped.
Bioengineering was done to convert the new slope into two terraces, which were planted with native shrubs. The bioengineering was done with willow wattles which sprouted and are now healthy trees.
The channel section one year later, showing the healthy native plants. Subsequent to this picture, the plants have grown so much the channel is partly obscured.
Proper Functioning Condition Assessment
A proper functioning condition assessment was done for the creek in 2006. This assessment process is useful for describing and prioritizing creek restoration and management options, and will inform Phase 2 of the Integrated Stormwater Management Plan.
Download the Bowker Creek Watershed Proper Functioning Condition Assessment (23.4 MB) (PDF )
Bioengineering
Bioengineering has been conducted on different segments of the creek at different times. This technique is a cheap, effective and biologically sound way to control erosion and increase bank stability, while increasing native species. Bioengineering is typically done using willow cuttings, but cottonwood and dogwood cuttings can also be used. Starting in 2004, the District of Saanich has addressed erosion and stability issues in two different areas using this approach. A section of eroding bank in Oak Bay has also been stabilized by community volunteers using a similar technique.
Photo: Ian Graeme
Completed Bioengineering at Monteith Street in Oak Bay
Greenways
The Bowker Creek Watershed Management Plan includes an objective to create a multi-use greenway corridor from the headwaters (University of Victoria) to the ocean, in accordance with a regional greenway system. A greenway that follows Bowker Creek could provide riparian and aquatic habitat as well as providing an alternative transportation route that links parks, neighbourhoods, commercial centres and public facilities. In 2006, the BCI Greenways Subcommittee developed recommendations for potential greenways routes in preparation for municipal greenways planning processes.
Download the Bowker Creek Proposed Greenways Map (8 MB) (PDF )
Outreach Activities
Interpretive and channel marker signs
In 2005, four large educational interpretive signs were installed, one for each municipality and one at the University of Victoria. Unveiling events were held at Bowker Creek Park in Oak Bay and Mount Tolmie in Saanich. In 2006, channel marker signs were produced to mark the open sections of Bowker Creek. The educational and channel markers raise awareness of the watershed and the initiative.
Building the watershed model
In 2006, the Stream Team Society worked with the Visions Environmental Club from Oak Bay High School to build the Bowker watershed model. This model is a very popular interactive outreach tool that demonstrates how a watershed works.
Photo: David Lock
In 2006, Oak Bay High School students made a very popular model of the Bowker watershed, with the help of the Stream Team Society.
Launch party
The Bowker Creek Initiative launch party was held April 2, 2005 in the Spirit Garden in Victoria. Approximately 100 people came out to this community event to see the new interpretive signs, make fish on sticks, learn about watershed and paint fish on catchbasins.
Implementation Strategy
In 2004, an Implementation Strategy was developed to lay out a road map for the BCI and to determine where resources should be directed. Short term priority actiosn were to:
- conduct outreach activities to raise awareness in the watershed
- develop a Master Drainage Plan
- implement restoration and monitoring actions as funding and partnerships arise