Morningside wetland

For the past year, we have worked with the City of Nanaimo to restore the riparian area in reach 2 (read more here).   Between the crushed gravel path and the creek there is a shallow pool with some water flowing through it.  With help from Elke Wind, herpetologist and wetland specialist, we investigated this area for potential wetland enhancement.  The City of Nanaimo generously supplied an excavator and operator (Ryan) to dig test pits so we could examine the underground soil structure and better understand how water moves through this area. 

​Ryan excavated 5 test pits so we could see if the water flowing through the wetland area is surface water or groundwater.  We determined that it is surface water, possibly flowing from the north (ie. Shores Drive access to Neck Point).   

The pits filled up with water, so after filling the holes back up they were very soft (like quicksand).  Ryan placed boulders and logs over top, and we flagged where the pits were.  We did not expect the sandy substrate underneath the shale rock on the surface!  After filling in the test pits, Ryan scraped away a few inches of shale and soil in one large area to create an ephemeral pool that will dry up in August, preventing invasive bullfrogs from hanging around.

As far as wetland enhancement - Elke suggested we could eventually put in a pond liner with wetland plants around the periphery.  But for now we've decided to watch the existing surface water and plan to enhance what's there. 

The wetland area after our investigations.