Our Watershed Stewardship Program
We support more than 15 volunteer stewardship groups that operate in over 13 Greater Victoria watersheds, providing professional advice, access to funding and other resources.
While helping to establish stewardship groups, we take a leadership role in teaching best practices in stream care, conservation and restoration. To assist with complex stream restoration and enhancement projects, we conduct site assessments, plan projects and obtain permits.
The objectives of these collaborative partnerships are to:
- educate the public about the importance of watershed resources
- facilitate communication and cooperation in watershed management
- provide volunteers with the training and support required to protect and restore aquatic and riparian habitat
Our dedicated stewards are also the ‘eyes and ears’ of local watershed conservation, monitoring stream conditions, counting salmon and alerting authorities when there are problems with local streams.
These dedicated volunteers donate thousands of hours each year to restore streams, plant native species, remove invasive species, collect water samples, release salmon fry and much more.
Click here if you’re interested in joining one of our stewardship groups.
Our dedicated stewards are also the ‘eyes and ears’ of local watershed conservation
We support the following Stewardship Groups:
Watershed Groups
Beaver Elk Environmental Stewards
The BEES is a dedicated group of families, neighbours and visitors to Beaver and Elk Lakes united with the intent to see the lakes and their environment restored to health.
Friends of Bowker Creek Society
The society is working towards realizing a vision where the varied human uses and natural areas in the Bowker watershed are managed to minimize runoff and pollution. The goal is to make Bowker Creek a healthy stream that supports habitat for native vegetation and wildlife, and provides a community greenway to connect neighbourhoods.
Friends of Chalet Creek
Group of residents caring for Chalet (Tatlow) Creek in North Saanich.
Friends of Maltby Lake Watershed Society
The society conserves the riparian, Garry Oak and coastal Douglas fir ecosystems, and watershed ecosystems draining into and from Maltby Lake. The lake is the headwaters of the 23 square kilometre Tod Creek Watershed, which includes five other lakes, 29 wetlands and dozens of streams.
Friends of Shoal Harbour Sanctuary Society
The society seeks the continued protection of the Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary, which includes all of Tsehum Harbour and Roberts Bay. The sanctuary contains valuable natural habitat and was established in 1931 to protect the more than 50 species of visiting and resident birds found there.
Friends of Tod Creek Watershed
This group was formed to protect and enhance the integrity and biodiversity of the watershed, which lies in a largely rural residential area, mostly in Saanich. The watershed is adjacent to two protected areas, Tod Inlet to the north and Mount Work Regional Park to the west, and contains salmon-bearing streams, lakes and endangered upland habitats.
Gabo Creek stewards
An informal group that is forming to initiate stream restoration projects.
Goldstream Volunteers at Millstream Creek
An offshoot of the Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association, this group has been actively establishing a coho run in Millstream Creek, a previously barren stream. By constructing a series of five fishways, or fish ladders, over 20 years, the volunteers increased the number of returning adult coho to more than 700 in 2016.
Goward Springs Watershed Stewards
Working in the Goward Springs Watershed since 2013 in partnership with the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific and Vancouver Island Technology Park, this group restores riparian habitat and monitors water quality.
Hagan-Graham Creek Watershed Project
A founding member of Peninsula Streams, this stewardship group undertakes stream restoration, stewardship and watershed protection activities in the Hagan-Graham Creek watersheds in Central Saanich.
Residents of Reay Creek
This group was formed to address the historical contamination issues in Reay Creek and Reay Pond, this group is taking a wider interest in issues of this watershed.
Roberts Bay Residents
A relatively new and informal group that values Roberts Bay for wildlife viewing and recreation.
Angler Groups
Victoria Golden Rods and Reels
The fishing and social club is the lead volunteer organization in a joint collaboration with provincial and municipal governments to conduct scientific research into serious water quality issues at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. It has also led an initiative to clean up O’Donnell Creek, a major tributary to the lake.
Sidney Anglers Association (Reay Creek)
This association fosters interest in rod and reel fishing, promotes recreational fishing in the Sidney area, and participates in activities to conserve and protect salmon and their environment. Its members volunteer in numerous watershed and projects ranging from salmon DNA science to herring spawn projects. The association was a founding member of Peninsula Streams.