Creek enhancements off Winter Road

Immediately south of the Winter Road bridge in south Langford, BWHPA took on a project intended to stop the erosion of the creek banks and prevent loose material from making its way downstream to disrupt spawning areas.  The area was overgrown with canary grass, an invasive plant which prevents the establishment of more suitable deep-rooting plants.  During the winter floods, the creek banks would erode and release loose sand and silt downstream to clog the gravel spawning beds.  A flood control project initiated by the Ministry of Highways to dredge down and straighten the creek at this location had the unintended consequence of exposing the loose sand. 

The project started with an excavator removing the loose sand for approximately 20 feet from the stream channel.  Large cedar logs, about 20 feet in length, were placed into the excavation in a continuous row.  Every 8 to 10 feet, a single 20-foot log with its entire root mass attached was placed to provide refuge holes for fish and to add complexity to the underwater profile.

The logs were then partially covered with rocks ranging in size from gravel to 2-feet in diameter, leaving an overhang of approximately 3 to 4 feet to provide shade.  Soil was laid on the upper bank and a number of larger shrubs were planted.  The area was seeded with grass and some portions covered with a protective woven straw mat to reduce predation from birds.

A variety of water and marsh plants were replaced in the stream channel, and plants salvaged from the excavation and from other areas of the stream were replanted on the creek sides along with new native shrubs and small trees. 

The work done by BWHPA on this site continues to allow the free flow of water while protecting the important spawning gravel beds downstream.