Watershed-specific Projects and Programs

Other Current Projects

Pumpty-Dumpty and Shorekeepers

The Saanich Inlet Protection Society (SIPS) and Seachange Marine Society operate “Pumpty-Dumpty”, a sewage pump-out vessel that recovers effluent from vessel holding tanks in Saanich Inlet for discharge into the municipal sewage treatment system. In the first year of operation over 1200 gallons of raw sewage were collected from vessel holding tanks.

To learn more about this program or to make a donation please visit www.seachangelife.net. SIPS also leads the Shorekeepers program. This program engages community volunteers in mapping & monitoring marine habitat in the intertidal zone.

Ivy Control Program

Ivy continues to be a menace across the Peninsula and presents a huge threat to trees that support stream habitat. Peninsula Streams continues to organize invasive species removal work parties with community groups around the Saanich Peninsula.

Keating Industrial Park - Pollution Prevention Stewardship

In a partnership with the District of Central Saanich and the Georgia Basin Action Plan, we were able to expand on our stewardship activities in the Hagan/Graham watershed with a pollution prevention initiative. Our goal was to work with businesses in the Keating industrial area to address storm-water pollution issues. Learn more

Keating Industrial Park - Water Quality Monitoring

Thanks to funding from the District of Central Saanich we were able to expand on our water quality monitoring in the Keating Kirkpatrick outlet or “Stinky Ditch”, as well as take some sediment samples. Learn More

Planned Projects

Patricia Bay Information Kiosk

The Friends of Pat Bay have received approval for a display on the vacant side of the Patricia Bay kiosk. They have collaborated with several local First Nations and the District of North Saanich on the creation of the information kiosk. The display will feature the history and ecology of the area around Patricia Bay.

Blue Heron Park Creek Restoration

Peninsula Streams hopes to partner with Memorial Park Society, Peninsula Soccer, Parkland Secondary School, North Saanich Middle School and local landowners to undertake habitat restoration in Blue Heron Park and hopefully on surrounding private property. The long term vision for this project includes the restoration of Blue Heron Creek for salmonids.

Pacific Sand Lance and Surf Smelt

Pacific Sand Lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) and Surf Smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) are an important food source for many marine organisms including sea birds, seals and salmon. Future plans of Peninsula Streams Society include undertaking a Peninsula Beach Inventory project.

Peninsula Streams Society will work with Shorekeepers and interested community groups to identify Pacific Sand Lance and Surf Smelt spawning areas, and where appropriate undertake habitat restoration and implement conservation measures.

Past Projects

Graham Creek/Centennial Park

The Hagan/Kennes Watershed Project, in partnership with the District of Central Saanich, began riparian planting, fence construction, trail relocation, stream enhancement and bank protection in 1998. These projects have improved water quality and habitat for the resident trout population and have built community awareness around the presence and importance of local streams. This work continues to this day. Learn more

Peninsula-wide Stormwater Initiative

Stormwater pollution on the Peninsula causes a host of problems for salmon, trout and general stream health. The Peninsula Stormwater Round table brought together a multi-jurisdictional group consisting of municipal, regional, provincial and federal government and Peninsula Streams representatives that addressed water quality problems and initiated a pilot project for the Tseycum Watershed.

For a detailed look at the Peninsula, your neighborhood and watershed, visit the Capital Regional District's
Natural Areas Atlas