Nymph Point Park
Nymph Point Park, located in Tsehum Harbour on the Saanich Peninsula, is one of the few remaining beaches in the region that continues to support significant surf smelt spawning. This forage fish species plays a critical role in the coastal food web, providing an essential food source for larger fish, seabirds, and marine mammals. Community-led monitoring efforts have consistently documented high densities of surf smelt eggs along the southwest portion of the beach, where a combination of natural sediment supply, overhanging vegetation, and minimal shoreline armouring has preserved high-quality spawning conditions.
Despite these strongholds, much of the shoreline has been significantly altered over time. Coastal armouring, sediment loss, and changes to natural shoreline processes have degraded spawning habitat, particularly along the northeast section of the beach. Here, fine sediments have been replaced by heavy clay and large cobble, creating conditions unsuitable for surf smelt egg deposition. Without intervention, ongoing erosion and the continued depletion of appropriate sediments threaten to further reduce the availability of viable spawning habitat.
The Nymph Point Park Shoreline Restoration Project is a collaborative initiative aimed at reversing these impacts and restoring ecological function to the site. Led by Peninsula Streams & Shorelines in partnership with Tseycum First Nation, the District of North Saanich, Project Watershed, and others, the project applies Nature-based Solutions to stabilize the shoreline, restore sediment dynamics, and enhance the marine riparian zone.
Set to begin in February 2026, restoration efforts will focus on improving sediment composition and protecting the upper beach environment to support spawning conditions for surf smelt and other coastal species. By rebuilding resilient shoreline processes and incorporating Indigenous knowledge alongside community stewardship, the project seeks to ensure that this rare and productive beach continues to sustain forage fish populations and the broader ecosystem that depends on them for generations to come.
Restoration Work
Restoration at Nymph Point Park will focus on enhancing spawning habitat and stabilizing eroding shorelines. The northeast portion of the beach will be nourished with approximately 1,000 tonnes of clean, alluvial sand and gravel to recreate spawning conditions found in the southwest section. This work will be carried out in late September 2025 to avoid disrupting peak summer spawning periods and nesting bird seasons.
To protect exposed midden deposits and reduce backshore erosion, a series of hand-built wattle fences will be installed using willow and alder materials, reinforced with coir matting and native plantings. These bioengineered structures will follow the natural contour of the eroding shoreline and allow for sediment accumulation while protecting burial cairns and ancestral remains. Cultural monitors from Tseycum Nation will oversee all ground-disturbing activities to ensure the respectful treatment of cultural heritage.
Invasive species—including blackberry, English ivy, and Scotch broom—will be removed, and over 1,000 m² of backshore will be replanted with native shrubs, trees, and dune grasses to provide shade, increase biodiversity, and improve erosion resistance. A derelict creosote log ramp will also be removed to eliminate toxic leaching into the intertidal zone and reduce shoreline contamination. Additionally, a new formalized pedestrian pathway will be constructed on the southwest park property using low-impact materials and post-and-rail fencing to improve beach access while minimizing further damage to the backshore and midden.
Northeast portion of the beach, where the spawning sediment has been reduced to heavy clay and large cobble.
A long-term monitoring and adaptive management plan will be implemented to assess the success of restoration efforts. Monthly forage fish egg surveys at each end of the beach will be conducted before and after beach nourishment to evaluate spawning activity and success, while sediment retention, vegetation survival, and midden stability will be tracked through seasonal site inspections. Wildlife use, including osprey and heron nesting activity, will also be monitored to ensure minimal impact. Additional sediment or plantings may be added as needed based on observed changes.
By combining Indigenous knowledge, community engagement, and nature-based engineering, the Nymph Point Park Shoreline Restoration Project will serve as a model for sustainable shoreline restoration—protecting biodiversity, safeguarding cultural values, and building climate resilience for future generations.