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.
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2021 planned in-stream work:

• Remove sediment (road sand) from the creek with a vacuum truck.
• Remove branches and small woody debris.
• Place boulders in the creek that will slow the flow of water during large rain (flushing) events.
• Add gravel to improve salmon spawning habitat.

2021 planned riparian Work:

• Remove invasive plant species - over the long term, blackberries don’t provide enough shade to keep the water cool enough to support aquatic life, especially fish.
• Remove illegal yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, and tree parts).
• Plant trees that will stabilize the bank and provide shade.
• Plant shrubs to improve biodiversity, provide food for adult insects that are part of the food web for aquatic animals, and provide food (berries) and shelter for birds.
• Add large woody debris (logs and stumps) to improve habitat for salamanders and frogs.

Our group was formed when each of us independently contacted the Nanaimo & Area Land Trust wondering if any work was being done to steward Walley Creek in North Nanaimo.  One of our members lives right where Walley Creek reaches the ocean in Hammond Bay; for decades she has watched and tended the stream, concerned by garbage washing downstream and the lack of care for the riparian integrity.  The Executive Director of NALT, Gail Adrienne put us in contact, and we started by asking our local Fisheries and Oceans Community Advisor to help us.  Biologist Dave Clough spent time with us walking the upper watershed, near Springfield Place, and the lowest part of Walley Creek, where it empties into Hammond Bay near Morningside Drive.

We came up with a long list of priorities for further research and restoration activities, including:

• create a Master Plan that documents ecological and recreational values that can stand up to future development proposals
• research the City of Nanaimo plans for park land acquisition in the watershed
• develop a better understanding of how the City of Nanaimo uses Riparian Areas Regulation to manage urban streams
• establish priorities for restoration activities
• survey and map the upper watershed area; would a rain garden improve year round flow and improve water quality?