In November 2022 we planted over 250 plants from Streamside Native Plants over several days with the help of over 20 volunteers recruited through NALT, as well as a group of students from Ecole Hammond Bay. In February 2023 a small group got the last few plants in the ground!
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First, our thanks to Milner Group for their donation of logs and stumps, to the Snuneymuxw First Nation and City of Nanaimo for help developing and carrying out this project, and to the Pacific Salmon Foundation for their support. The pamphlet below was developed to inform neighbors and other interested community members of the work plan. ![]()
This was our first "big" project, requiring temporary diversion of the creek to install two large woody debris structures. Previously, boulders were hand placed and brush bundles were installed along the bank to prevent erosion. These were mostly washed out during extreme rainfall events. For this project, volunteers filled sandbags and helped set up coffer dams to temporarily exclude fish access to the creek. Biologists carried out electro-fishing to move any fish in the work area to a safe location (none were found at this site). Two pumps were set up to remove water and make sure water with stirred up sediment didn't re-enter the creek. A small excavator installed logs and stumps in the banks of the creek. These are just touching the surface of the water now (at very low flow) so that as the water rises the space under the large woody debris will be protected from the scouring effect of high flows, and offer sanctuary to fish. Large boulders were added to the streambed to force the water to meander downstream, creating smaller pools that slow flow and improve habitat. Logs and stumps installed at the Morningside CWMN location, to create a pool and prevent bank erosion during high flows. Huge stump and boulders installed between the Morningside CWMN location and the culvert under Morningside drive.
After a 2 year hiatus due to Covid restrictions, we again organized a work party in the park adjacent to École Hammond Bay. This event started in 2017 and makes a tremendous positive impact on the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the park. It gives graduating elementary school students an opportunity to give back to an area they enjoyed playing and learning in.
On June 21, 2022 a hard working group of grade 7 students and their families removed invasive plants in Morningside Park. This year we were also joined by the school principal and other community volunteers. We reflected on our commitment to understanding how human activities have impacted the stream ecosystem in the same way that settler activities have impacted indigenous communities. Spending time tending and appreciating this place is an act of reconciliation as much as environmental healing. We targeted blackberry bushes that are crowding out native plants in the riparian area, and Bur chervil that's growing along the gravel path to the tennis courts. We also continue to carefully pull ivy and bag it for safe disposal. We watch the maples grow taller and provide shade for native plants like Salal, Orgeon grape and ferns. We continue to reflect on how we can educate the children who enjoy this space about how to prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing the animals that live in and around the creek. 2021 planned riparian Work (fall):
Members of the Dover Bay High School Eco-club Can you see how steep those banks are? Plants have a hard time getting established here, and as a result rains cause erosion and sediment buildup in the creek. Our 2019 attempt at steep slope stabilization used rebar and landscape ties to create "shelves" for planting. This year we tried a new method based on suggestions from landscape designer Lindsay Haist of Alder Enviro - Restorative Landscaping. We used rubber mallets to pound 1" x 1" wooden stakes into the ground, and placed logs above the stakes to create a shelf where ferns and Oregon grape could be planted. One of the greatest benefits of these projects is the inter-generational reciprocity. Elders bring wisdom and guidance, youth bring energy and enthusiasm. This project is a wonderful example of collaboration between our stewardship group, City staff, and community members. We gratefully acknowledge the Pacific Salmon Foundation for supporting this project.
The Walley Creek Streamkeepers, in partnership with the City of Nanaimo, Snuneymuxw First Nation, and Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), are undertaking a restoration project this summer to make the creek healthier for the fish and other animals that live there. Walley Creek has resident cutthroat trout, and has the possibility to support Coho salmon. In-stream work can only happen during the window of August 15 to September 15. This is to prevent damage to sensitive fish habitat. In-stream work requires a permit from the Provincial Government, and is done with the greatest amount of care possible, with the goal to leave the fish habitat better. Outside of this time, nothing should ever enter or block the water – not humans, animals, or tree parts. If branches and other “small woody debris” incidentally enter the water (through storms or getting flushed downstream) volunteers must remove blockages, with permission from DFO, the City and the Province. This work is supervised by Dave Clough, R.P.Bio. 2021 planned in-stream work (summer):
A team of hard working volunteers worked to improve fish access to the culvert under Morningside Drive. This work had been done in (year?) but time and heavy rains had washed it out. Volunteers under the direction of Dave Clough carried boulders down to the stream and placed them in a gradual slop up to the culvert. The project stood up to torrential rains that came in early October. We gratefully acknowledge the Pacific Salmon Foundation for supporting this project.
While Walley Creek is open to the surface along its whole length, it is fed by storm drain inputs from the developed areas of the watershed, as well as groundwater seepage. To see a map of the storm drains in the Walley Creek Watershed, visit the interactive Nanaimo map - http://maps.nanaimo.ca/nanaimomap/. Click on Themes and choose Utilities. On the left side, check the box that says Storm. (The photo below is an example.) You can also turn on the air photos, and select different attributes that you want to see as you zoom in. Since 2019 our group has been dismayed see the creek go dry in the lower reaches (Shores Drive to the ocean) during the summer. We are desperately trying to sleuth out why this is happening, since we know it's fatal for the fish and invertebrates that depend on the creek being wet. In August and September 2019 and 2021, creek water has been present only in isolated pools in Reaches 1 and 2, if at all. There is one pipe just south of Shores Drive that we found during our (2016/2017) stream assessment that isn't on the City utilities map. Water used to trickle out of it that we assumed was groundwater because it was so cold (<12 degrees C). In fall 2018 we walked that area to plan for some restoration work and noticed it's not providing water to the creek anymore. We're wondering if that has something to do with why the creek is dry. In August 2021 we decided to walk the creek again from Morningside Park north, mapping storm drain inputs. ![]()
Pipers Pub monitoring site, SUMMER 2019 - 2021 Pipers Pub monitoring site, FALL 2019 - 2021 GNPCC monitoring site, SUMMER 2019 and 2021 GNPCC monitoring site, FALL 2019 Morningside Park monitoring site, SUMMER 2019 - 2021 Morningside Park monitoring site, FALL 2019 - 2021 Walley Creek at Hammond Bay (Footbridges) monitoring site, SUMMER 2019 - 2021 Morningside Park monitoring site, FALL 2019 - 2021 Map of Monitoring Sites ![]()
2020 Results SummaryOn June 4 the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Drinking Water & Watershed Protection Program (DWWP) released the 2020 report summarizing data collected by Streamkeepers groups through their Community Watershed Monitoring Program. This was the Walley Creek Streamkeeper's fifth year participating in this program! We use the data to better understand anthropogenic affects on the water quality, and to guide restoration efforts. We look at the results to see where the water quality readings are exceeding standard guidelines for temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, and turbidity. Temperature Walley Creek had the potential to exceed the aquatic life guideline (17 degrees Celsius) in the summer of 2019 and 2020. This parameter is influenced by air temperature, upstream influence and physical stream attributes, however, it was noted that summer 2020 was wetter and cooler than previous years (see pg. 24 of the report). The report suggested restoration efforts to mediate the effects of high temperature include: groundwater conservation and riparian enhancement and restoration. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) The guidelines state that the average dissolved oxygen should be above 8 mg/L, and should not drop below 5 mg/L (instantaneous minimum). Dissolved oxygen is influenced by several factors, but low DO is commensurate with high temperatures. Walley Creek was below the average in the 2020 summer monitoring period, and at Morningside Park dropped below the instantaneous minimum for the first time since we began monitoring (pg. 33). *Check 2016 and 2017 reports to make sure this is true; the report states that it was above 5 mg/L in 2018, and 2019. This was most likely due to low flow. Specific Conductivity (SpC) Walley Creek is typically well above the guideline of 80 microsiemens(uS)/mL of SpC, the measure of dissolved ions in the water. We believe this to be due to significant groundwater influence, as well as road runoff from the many storm drains that feed Walley Creek from adjacent residential areas. The report states that Walley Creek was above 130 uS/cm on all 10 sampling dates (pg. 49). I don't see our data values on the graph, so I'll inquire whether there was a big difference between our summer and fall readings. We are curious whether mitigating/absorbing road runoff would bring the SpC down, and if this would be a worthwhile activity to improve the overall water quality of Walley Creek. Turbidity Measurement of suspended particles in the water exceeded parameters three times in the summer (pg. 57) and twice in the fall (pg. 58). The fall turbidity readings correlate with significant rain events October 13 (67.3 mm) and November 3 (46.2 mm). The report states that increased turbidity can increase temperature (pg. 51), and thereby lower dissolved oxygen. High summer turbidity can be a result of contaminants, storm water, and erosion. All of these are potentially true in Walley Creek. 2011 - 2020 Data Analysis ReportTEMPERATURE DISSOLVED OXYGEN CONDUCTIVITY RECOMMENDATIONS: ![]() Broader Recommendations, pages 28 - 30 of Community Watershed Monitoring Network Data Analysis (2011 - 2020) prepared by Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd. 2021
Several of these recommendations were provided by Plewes et al. (2018) (2011 - 2017 CWMN trend report), but are included again, as they remain relevant and are important to properly document water quality conditions and to ensure watershed health.
Since this watershed has very gradual elevation change, there are several important wetlands associated with Walley Creek. In the past this land was considered poor for development, or at least costly to develop. With increased development pressure in Nanaimo, and the north end in particular, we are worried that the integrity of the wetlands could be compromised. They are important buffers during significant rain storms, and provide slow release of ground water over dry summer months. In addition, their ecological value as habitat for plants and animals, plus the benefit to human health of green space and fresh air is beyond measure. Our group came together partly over a development on Hammond Bay Road north of Entwhistle Drive that was allowed to encroach on the wetland at the headwaters of Walley Creek, where the picture above was taken in June 2016. The Nanaimo & Area Land Trust hosted Wetlandkeepers training on June 13, 2021 and part of the workshop was held in the marsh behind Piper's Pub in the Walley Creek watershed. The reason the water is so high right now is the activity of a busy beaver damming the flow! We were concerned to notice flagging tape in this area noting the high water mark, and have since seen the property put up for sale. The blue polygons on the map below represent wetlands in the Walley Creek watershed. The City of Nanaimo outlines its watercourse protection measures here. |
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