Part of creek watershed in Metchosin to become nature reserve
The B.C. Parks Foundation and Metchosin Foundation have acquired a 32-acre piece of land that’s considered a key wildlife corridor for wolves, bear and cougars — and a buffer for creeping development on the West Shore.
The future nature reserve, which won’t be open to the public, is in the heart of the Bilston Creek watershed and contains coastal Douglas fir stands and wetlands.
It was purchased from a private owner, but neither the landowner’s name nor the purchase price were disclosed.
The acquisition is a first step toward protecting ecosystems from the hilltop headwaters of the watershed to the seashore at Witty’s Lagoon, said Valerie Jaeger, president of the Metchosin Foundation.
“We hope this nature reserve is the first in a series of conservation outcomes for the Bilston Creek watershed,” said Jaeger, who noted the Metchosin Foundation has worked for years to foster community support for the Bilston Conservation Corridor project.
About two-thirds of the 7,732acre Bilston Creek watershed lies within Metchosin, with the remainder in Langford and the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area.
The B.C. Parks Foundation will hold the title to the land.
“This is a story about natural spaces and wildlife that are facing big odds, and the great people that are saving them,” said Andy Day, CEO of the B.C. Parks Foundation.
“I love this project because it shows that if you set your mind to making a direct positive impact, you can create a fantastic legacy for people and animals now and far in the future.”
B.C.’s dry coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem along the southern coast is considered endangered due to ongoing development and urbanization. The newly protected land is habitat for keystone mammal species as well as species at risk, such as sharp-tailed snakes.
Additional support for the purchase came from Wilson 5 Foundation, Victoria Foundation and private donors.
The B.C. Parks Foundation said the partnerships hold promise for similar reserves in the future.