CONSERVATION AREA MODELLING ( Marxan ) 6 Parks Canada is using a leading-edge decision support tool called Marxan to aid in its NMCA planning. This section of the Atlas not only explains Marxan and its use, but also shows the inputs and a result of the initial analysis. The first map, Representing Biodiversity and Coastal Habitats is the result of the conservation values modelling analysis; the subsequent maps are the data inputs.

WHAT MARXAN IS HOW PARKS CANADA IS If the proposed NMCA Marxan is a globally-recognized USING MARXAN Reserve moves into the Interim spatial decision-support tool that The goal of the Marxan analysis is to Management Planning phase, was developed by researchers at the identify areas of high conservation a second Marxan analysis will University of Queensland in Australia. value that would fully represent the be used to identify areas of Originally created to help in the species and habitats found within the high conservation value that re-zoning of the Great Barrier Reef study area. Using available biological minimize impacts on commercial, Marine Park, Marxan has been used in and physical data, Marxan ensured the recreational and cultural activities. subsequent marine planning initiatives representation of 121 different species To achieve this more challenging around the world. and habitats in a study area comprised goal, Marxan will perform an of approximately 60,000 three-hectare increasingly complex analysis HOW MARXAN WORKS planning units (hexagons). that incorporates the biophysical Marxan uses a complex mathematical data as well as information on method to select different NOTE: Marxan is a tool. Marxan the commercial activities, First combinations of areas that achieve does not provide final answers. Nations’ values and recreational conservation objectives while The conservation area modelling uses in the area. minimizing negative impacts to provides a starting point for more marine users and coastal communities. detailed discussions involving First Marxan can accommodate a wide Nations, government partners, variety of data including ecological, stakeholders and the general public. socio-economic, cultural, and visitor experience information. • an illustration of how Marxan works • Graphic interpretation - Western and Northern Service Centre, Vancouver

61 Representing Biodiversity and Coastal Habitats

WHAT DOES THIS MAP MEAN? High Value This map reveals the relative value of different areas with respect to protecting These areas most efficiently representative examples of the marine biodiversity of the Strait of Georgia. capture a broad range of habitat types, biological features and distinctive areas. WHY ARE THE YELLOW AREAS IMPORTANT? This map identifies a number of key areas (yellow) that efficiently represent a Moderate Value wide range of the marine biodiversity of the Strait of Georgia. The yellow hot These areas capture a moderate amount of habitat types, biological spots of representation are numbered 1 through 16. Highlights of each of the features and distinctive areas. numbered areas are described below:

Low Value 1. The turbid, warm and highly stratified waters of the Fraser River plume These areas do not efficiently characterize this topographically complex area. It captures extensive rocky capture a broad range of habitat types, biological features and reefs off Gabriola and Valdez Islands, marbled murrelet core habitat, herring distinctive areas. spawn areas, kelp beds, harbour seal haul-outs, harbour porpoise habitat, and potential rockfish habitat.

2. High tidal currents characterize 8. Sansum Narrows captures 13. Sidney Channel is home to stratified Dodd Narrows and False muddy substrate, semi-protected quaternary sediments, protected Narrows, which is home to Pacific shorelines, gravel beaches, and semi-protected shorelines, great blue heron habitat, harbour rockweed, intertidal kelp and wetlands, wide sand flats, narrow seal haul-outs, herring spawn Pacific great blue heron habitat. sand beaches, seagrass beds, salt areas and kelp beds. marshes, waterfowl habitat and 9. Very protected shorelines, other important bird areas, harbour 3. Inner Ladysmith Harbour is sedimentary rocks, sand beaches, seal haul-outs and potential subtidal characterized by wetlands, salt wide mudflats and salt marshes, sand lance habitat. marshes, shallow mud flats, characterize the waters around protected shorelines, herring Prevost Island which support 14. High tidal currents, sedimentary spawn areas, seagrass beds, Pacific extensive herring spawn areas, rocky, and semi-protected shorelines great blue heron habitat and a small harbour porpoises, harbour seal characterize this topographically anadromous stream. haul-outs, waterfowl habitat and a complex area that is home to black 4. Characterized by high tidal range of marine plants. oystercatcher nesting sites and other important bird areas, kelp and currents, a mix of hard and muddy 10. Characterized by relatively seagrass beds, rockweed, harbour substrate and semi-protected strong mixing via tidal currents, seal haul-outs, critical killer whale shorelines, the area surrounding sedimentary bedrock, rock cliffs habitat and potential sand lance and and including Porlier Pass is home and ramps, gravel beaches and rockfish habitat. to Pacific great blue herons and semi-exposed shorelines, this other waterfowl, kelp, rockweed, topographically complex area 15. Characterized by the unique blue mussels and a winter Steller captures the newly discovered oceanography and high current sea lion site. glass sponge reefs off of Mayne and areas of Haro Strait, this 5. The Chemainus estuary north Saturna islands, blue mussels, kelp topographically complex area of Crofton captures sedimentary beds, herring spawn areas, a winter captures igneous bedrock, gravel bedrock, protected shorelines, cliffs Steller sea lion site, harbour seal beaches, kelp beds, active nesting with narrow sand beaches, shallow haul-outs, harbour porpoise and sites for black oystercatchers, mud flats, extensive wetlands, critical killer whale habitat and black potential sand lance and rockfish small anadromous streams, oystercatcher active nesting sites. habitat, harbour seal haul-outs and critical habitat for killer whales. seagrass beds, active nesting sites 11. Isolated from strong surface for Pacific great blue heron and freshwater influence, this area 16. The unique fjord-like environment areas of waterfowl use. includes Cowichan Bay, the largest of Saanich Inlet captures distinct 6. The small section of Trincomali estuary on eastern Vancouver sponge communities, protected Channel on the western side of Island, a major anadromous stream, shorezone habitat, potential rockfish Galiano Island captures rockfish sand and gravel beaches, very habitat, areas of high topographic habitat, protected shorelines, gravel protected shorelines, kelp and complexity, sandy substrate and beaches, sedimentary rock, areas of seagrass beds, harbour seal haul- areas of waterfowl use. high topographic complexity and outs, harbour porpoise habitat, pigeon guillemot habitat. marbled murrelet core habitat and other important bird areas. 7. The turbid, warm and highly 12. Areas of high current and dynamic stratified waters of the Fraser River seabed transport characterize plume characterize this area. It Boundary Pass, which contains captures prodelta and basin muds, semi-protected shorelines, cliffs glacial ice streamlined banks, with narrow gravel beaches, semi-protected shorelines, newly extensive sand ridges, harbour seal discovered glass sponge reefs off haul-outs, critical habitat for killer Galiano Island, harbour porpoises, whales and harbour porpoises, kelp, blue mussels, critical habitat potential subtidal sand lance for killer whales and potential habitat, kelp and rockweed. rockfish habitat.

62 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Representing Biodiversity and Coastal Habitats

1 Richmond Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS 2 GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

3 STRAIT OF GEORGIA S S A P R 4 E I Point Roberts L Thetis R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith

STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano 6 Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL 7 Chemainus 5

Crofton E PA IV SS T

C C

A A P

T 9

Ganges A Mayne

I S N 10

A

N P Island S Prevost A

U S

M S S

A

Island W

G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

W N North Tumbo Island 8 Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E L Saturna Island Duncan Fulford Harbour South 12

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island

P

R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby

L P E A N S N Island HA Portland S C A BOUNDARY PASS ITE G 11 TELL E SA Island

S A A N I C H I N L E T Sidney Rum Island Mill Bay

S ID N C 14 E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N High Value E A L Island C 13 H A N N These areas most efficiently capture E L a broad range of habitat types, biological features and distinctive Brentwood D'Arcy areas. Bay Island 15 San Juan Moderate Value Island 16 HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.) These areas capture a moderate amount of habitat types, biological features and distinctive areas.

Low Value These areas do not efficiently capture a broad range of habitat types, biological features and distinctive areas. VICTORIA Data Source: Parks Canada, 2008. Marxan analysis using data provided by Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Province of British Columbia, Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service), Natural Not for navigation. Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. Canada, Living Oceans Society, Bird Studies 0 5 10 15 Canada, Community Mapping Network, km and Expert Opinion. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT

63

• PROPOSED SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREA RESERVE ATLAS – CHAPTER 6 •

coastal habitats and oceanographic features 6a.

It may be difficult to imagine what the seabed actually looks like. A video would show the shape but still would not convey the depth or what it would feel like were you to place your bare feet on the bottom. OCEAN HIGHLIGHTS Above and Below

The best way to understand the In a much smaller geographic area other features form the base for large diversity of what is below the surface are rocky ridges like those found kelp forests that are often referred to is to compare it to what is more easily in the Coastal Mountains, shifting as the rainforests of the sea. observed on land. The prairies, arctic sandy dunes like those in the Sahara tundra and coastal rainforest are all Desert, muddy basins and more. vastly different from each other. The Composed of different materials and MAP SCALE plants and animals found there are subject to different oceanographic Some of the maps in this section cover different, the climate is different, the processes, each area becomes host a larger geographic area than others shape of the land is different, even to characteristic plants and animals. because they capture broad habitat the composition of the ground itself Some habitats are suitable for Pacific features or oceanographic regions. is different. The same can be said sand lance (small fish that bury of what is below the surface in the into the sandy bottom to protect southern Strait of Georgia. themselves from predators) whereas

INTERESTING In the southern Strait of Georgia there are natural and artificial reefs; the Xihwu Reef is a Boeing 737 purposely sunk in Stuart Channel. INFO

Much of the seabed in the southern Strait of Georgia is mud, but in some places strong currents and sediment load from the Fraser River result in extraordinary underwater sand dunes that can be up to 25 m (82 ft) high.

Around 13,000 years ago this region was covered by an immense glacial ice sheet that weighed down the land so that relative sea level was around 90 metres higher than it is today.

65 • PROPOSED SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREA RESERVE ATLAS – CHAPTER 6 •

Supplemental Information

Article References

• http://geoscape.nrcan.gc.ca/victoria/undersea_e.php • http://www.artificialreef.bc.ca/OurReefs/AR-540/index.htm • Dr. Cliff Robinson, Marine Ecosystem Scientist, Parks Canada • Dr. Marlow Pellatt, Coastal Ecologist, Parks Canada

Map Metadata

OCEANOGRAPHIC REGIONS Parks Canada, 2008. Unique oceanographic regions with distinctive Oceanographic Properties in the Strait of Georgia Natural Region. In reality these regions have fuzzy boundaries. The regions were delineated by Dr. Cliff Robinson, Parks Canada. Associated language descriptions can be found in the report by Robinson et al. (2007), “An Assessment of Oceanographic Representivity of the Proposed Southern Strait of Georgia NMCAR in Relation to the Strait of Georgia Natural Marine Region”.

PHOTO CREDITS BENTHIC HABITATS Page 65 and 66 - Parks Canada / Tomas Tomascik Parks Canada, 2008. Benthic habitat model follows the approach used by The Nature Conservancy (Ferdana et al., 2006) and combines three parameters: (i) sea-bottom features, (ii) depth, and (iii) substrate in order to identify areas of similar benthic characteristics. The Benthic Terrain Modeller (BTM) tool developed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Services was used to generate four features that describe the terrain of the seafloor (depressions, slopes, flats and ridges). The four sea-bottom features were then combined with four ecologically-meaningful depth ranges and three types of substrate (Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, 2002). In total, 48 unique benthic habitat classes were delineated.

GEOMORPHIC UNITS Geological Survey of Canada, Pacific Geoscience Center. Units delineated by Kim Conway and Kim Picard as part of an assessment of the geological and geomorphic representivity of the proposed Southern Strait of Georgia NMCA Reserve boundary relative to the Natural Marine Region. Boundaries of the geomorphic units are generalized from many published and unpublished sources to provide a spatially-delimited summary of geological and geomorphic elements.

SHOREZONE SUBSTRATE TYPES Province of British Columbia. Data a combination of two sources: (1) Shorezone Mapping for the Southern Strait of Georgia NMCA 2004/2005 by Coastal and Ocean Resources Inc. and Archipelago Marine Research and (2) Province of British Columbia, Revised Physical Shorezone Mapping System for British Columbia (Howes, Harper and Owens). Physical shorezone substrate types represent repeatable groups of across-shore substrate and are the most easy visualized shoreline information. 35 different shorezone classes have been generalized into major substrate types.

BIOLOGICAL WAVE EXPOSURE Province of British Columbia. Data a combination of two sources: (1) Shorezone Mapping for the Southern Strait of Georgia NMCA 2004/2005 by Coastal and Ocean Resources Inc. and Archipelago Marine Research and (2) Province of British Columbia, Revised Physical Shorezone Mapping System for British Columbia (Howes, Harper and Owens). Shorezone exposure was estimated from observations of biotic assemblages in the intertidal zone.

AREAS OF HIGH RUGOSITY Parks Canada, 2008. Modelled areas of high rugosity or terrain roughness based on a 25m bathymetric grid. Rugosity is defined as the ratio of surface area to planar area and is used as a measure of benthic terrain complexity or “bumpiness”. The Benthic Terrain Modeller (BTM) tool developed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Services was used to generate a rugosity surface. This surface was normalized then classified into four categories. This map represents the top quartile - areas of high rugosity or terrain roughness.

AREAS OF HIGH CURRENT VELOCITY Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Institute of Ocean Sciences. Mike Foreman’s finite element model for eastern Juan de Fuca Strait and southern Strait of Georgia. Areas having a speed greater than or equal to 0.5 meters/second were classified as areas of high current velocity.

66 Proposed Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Oceanographic Regions

¥

Vancouver

! Richmond Nanaimo Gabriola

F AL SE NARR OWS Island

DODD NARRO WS GABRIOLA PASSAGE

PYL ADES CH ANN EL

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

S TRAIT OF GE ORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUA RT CHANNEL Kuper Island Galiano Canada - U.S.A. Border Island TRINCOMA LI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA I V SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A

N P Prevost Island S A

U S

M S Island S A G W N PL UMPER SOU ND

A E A N R

Maple R S

Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H

A Pender

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island

P

R ! E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby P L E A N S Island AN Portland S H A E C BOUNDARY PASS LIT G TE L E SA Island

SA A N C I H T N I L E Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y R C H Sidney D A O N V N A E Island L C H A N N E L

! Brentwood Bay D'Arcy Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.) Central Strait of Georgia

Haro Strait

Interior Gulf Islands VICTORIA

Juan de Fuca Strait

Mainland Fjords

Northern Strait of Georgia JUAN DE FUCA STRA IT

Southern Strait of Georgia

Not for navigation. Data Source: Parks Canada, 2008. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Delineated by Dr. Cliff Robinson, Western km and Northern Service Center. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

67 Proposed Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Benthic Habitats

¥

Vancouver

0-20, Hard, Ridge 50-200, Hard Ridge

0-20 Hard Depression 50-200, Hard Depression

! Richmond Nanaimo Gabriola

F AL SE NARR Island 0-20, Hard Flat 50-200, Hard Flat OWS

DODD NARRO WS GABRIOLA PASSAG E PYL ADES CH ANN EL 0-20, Hard Slope 50-200, Hard Slope

Tsawwassen Valdes 0-20, Sandy Ridge 50-200, Sandy Ridge Island

S TRAIT OF GE ORGIA

S S A 0-20, Sandy Depression 50-200, Sandy Depression P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! 0-20, Sandy Flat 50-200, Sandy Flat STUA RT CHANNEL Kuper Island Galiano Canada - U.S.A. Border Island 0-20, Sandy Slope 50-200, Sandy Slope TRINCOMA LI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

0-20, Muddy Ridge 50-200, Muddy Ridge Crofton ! E PA I V SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A

N P Prevost Island 0-20, Muddy Depression 50-200, Muddy Depression S A

U S

M S Island S A G W N PL UMPER SOU N

A E A N R

Maple R S

Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C D H

A Pender

N 0-20, Muddy Flat 50-200, Muddy Flat N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! 0-20, Muddy Slope 50-200, Muddy Slope South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island

P

R ! E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby P L E A N S Island 20-50, Hard Ridge 200 +, Hard Ridge AN Portland S H A E C BOUNDARY PASS LIT G TE L E SA Island

20-50, Hard Depression 200+, Hard Depresssion

SA A N C I H T N I L E Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID 20-50, Hard Flat 200+, Hard Flat N C E O Y R C H Sidney D A O N V N A E Island L C H A N N E L

20-50, Hard Slope 200+, Hard Slope ! Brentwood Bay D'Arcy Island San Juan 20-50, Sandy Ridge 200+, Sandy Ridge Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

20-50, Sandy Depression 200+, Sandy Depression

20-50, Sandy Flat 200+, Sandy Flat VICTORIA 20-50, Sandy Slope 200+, Sandy Slope

20-50, Muddy Ridge 200+, Muddy Ridge

20-50, Muddy Depression 200+, Muddy Depression JUAN DE FUCA STRA IT 20-50, Muddy Flat 200+, Muddy Flat

20-50, Muddy Slope 200+, Muddy Slope

Not for navigation. Data Source: Parks Canada, 2008. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Derived using benthic terrains, bathymetry classes, km and substrate from the Province of British Columbia. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

68 Proposed Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Geomorphic Units

¥

Vancouver

! Richmond Nanaimo Gabriola

F AL SE NARR OWS Island

DODD NARRO WS GABRIOLA PASSAGE

PYL ADES CH ANN EL

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

S TRAIT OF GE ORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUA RT CHANNEL Kuper Island Galiano Canada - U.S.A. Border Island TRINCOMA LI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA I V SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A

N P Prevost Island S A

U S

M S Island S A G W N PL UMPER SOU ND

A E A N R

Maple R S

Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H

A Pender

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island

P

R ! E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby P L E A N S Island AN Portland S H A E C BOUNDARY PASS LIT G TE L E SA Island Prodelta and Basin Muds

SA A N C I H T N I L E Rum Island Sidney! Tidal Banks and Mudflats Mill Bay ! S ID N C E O Y R C H Sidney D A O N V N A E Island L C H A N N E Delta Channels and Fans L ! Brentwood Bay D'Arcy Island San Juan Dynamic Seabed Transport Areas Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.) Glacial Ice Streamlined Deepwater Banks

Stratified Quaternary Sediments

VICTORIA Fjords

Nanaimo Group Sedimentary Bedrock

Vancouver Island Igneous Bedrock

JUAN DE FUCA STRA IT Bedrock Deepwater Banks and Knolls

Coast Mountain Crystalline Bedrock

Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. Geological Survey of Canada. Data Source: 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Delineated by Pacific Geoscience Center, km Kim Conway and Kim Picard. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

69 Proposed Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Shorezone Substrate Types

¥

Vancouver

! Richmond Nanaimo Gabriola

F AL SE NARR OWS Island

DODD NARRO WS GABRIOLA PASSAG E PYL ADES CH ANN EL

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

S TRAIT OF GE ORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUA RT CHANNEL Kuper Island Galiano Canada - U.S.A. Border Island TRINCOMA LI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA I V SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A

N P Prevost Island S A

U S

M S Island S A G W N PL UMPER SOU N

A E A N R

Maple R S

Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C D H

A Pender

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island

P

R ! E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby P L E A N S Island AN Portland S H A E C BOUNDARY PASS LIT G TE L E SA Island

SA A N C I H T N I L E Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y R C H Sidney D A O N V N A E Island L C H A N N E L

! Brentwood Bay D'Arcy Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

Rock

Rock + Sediment VICTORIA

Sediment

Wetland/Estuaries

Man-Made JUAN DE FUCA STRA IT

Current Dominated

Hanging Lagoon Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 km Province of British Columbia. Data Source: Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

70 Proposed Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Biological Wave Exposure

¥

Vancouver

! Richmond Nanaimo Gabriola

F AL SE NARR OWS Island

DODD NARRO WS GABRIOLA PASSAGE

PYL ADES CH ANN EL

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

S TRAIT OF GE ORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUA RT CHANNEL Kuper Island Galiano Canada - U.S.A. Border Island TRINCOMA LI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA I V SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A

N P Prevost Island S A

U S

M S Island S A G W N PL UMPER SOU ND

A E A N R

Maple R S

Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H

A Pender

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island

P

R ! E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby P L E A N S Island AN Portland S H A E C BOUNDARY PASS LIT G TE L E SA Island

SA A N C I H T N I L E Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y R C H Sidney D A O N V N A E Island L C H A N N E L

! Brentwood Bay D'Arcy Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

Exposed VICTORIA Semi-Exposed

Semi-Protected

Protected JUAN DE FUCA STRA IT Very Protected

Unknown

Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Data Source: Province of British Columbia. km Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

71 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Areas of High Rugosity

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Areas of High Rugosity Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

0 5 10 15 km

Data Source: Parks Canada, 2008. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT

72 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Areas of High Current Velocity

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

Passages VICTORIA

Straits

Not for navigation. Data Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. Based on tidal current velocities greater than or 0 5 10 15 equal to 0.5 metres per second from Mike km

Foreman's model Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT

73

• PROPOSED SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREA RESERVE ATLAS – CHAPTER 6 •

fish species and habitats 6b.

Pacific sand lance are silver in colour and swim with a characteristic eel-like S-motion. They usually only live a few years and may grow to about 20 cm in length.

SPECIES HIGHLIGHT Pacific Sand Lance (Ammodytes hexapterus)

Roughly two hundred fish species bury themselves in the coarse sand. drifting on ocean currents. After are found in the proposed NMCA Partially or entirely covered by the several months, the larvae transform Reserve study area but only a sand, they conserve energy and into juveniles who begin the cycle fraction of them are known to the are protected from most predators. of swimming during the day and general public and few receive any When daylight returns, they rise burying in the sand at night. If they scientific attention. Pacific sand into the water column to feed anew. escape their many predators, Pacific lance are not commonly known sand lance have been known to live because they are not the target of a as long as eight years although three sport or local commercial fishery. LOCATION or four years is a typical lifespan. However, it could be argued that its Pacific sand lance range from role in coastal food webs is as critical southern California to the Bering as herring, a more well-known forage Sea and appear to be common in the IMPORTANCE fish. Scientific research into Pacific Strait of Georgia. Pacific sand lance are considered sand lance is in its early stages but Researchers are beginning to a forage fish – relatively small already Parks Canada scientists understand the habitat needs and abundant fish that are key are revealing the habits of this of Pacific sand lance and have prey sources for a large variety of interesting creature. determined that areas where these marine life. Like herring, Pacific fish can bury at night are critical sand lance swim together in schools that can include thousands CHARACTERISTICS to their survival. The seafloor composition of these burying areas of individuals. Visible from the What differentiates Pacific sand must be just the right constitution. surface, these schools attract the lance from many other fish species is Too silty and the sediment will plug attention of seabirds like the pigeon that they do not have a swim bladder their gills; too hard and these fish guillemot, loons and the threatened – the organ that provides buoyancy. will not be able to bury at all. Ideal marbled murrelet. From below, Without a swim bladder, these fish burying habitat is not common in seals, porpoises, sea lions as well as must constantly move if they wish the southern Strait of Georgia but predatory fish like salmon, rockfish to stay afloat in the water column; if it does exist. Cordova and Sidney and halibut consume them. they stop, they sink to the bottom. Channels are two significant Their numbers are not known, but As a result of this biology, Pacific examples. as demonstrated by the quantity sand lance have developed an of other animals who feed on interesting survival mechanism. them, they are vital to the health During the day, the Pacific sand LIFE CYCLE of the oceans. Dr. Cliff Robinson, lance swim in large schools feeding In British Columbia, spawning Marine Ecosystem Scientist with on micro-organisms called copepods. occurs in December and January. Parks Canada has been studying As night falls, however, Pacific sand When the tide is in, Pacific sand this species since 2002 and is lance can no longer see their food. lance lay their eggs on the sand that working with other scientists in To swim without eating would use gets exposed during low tide. Once a coordinated learning effort to too much energy. Therefore, in order the eggs hatch into transparent better understand and conserve this to survive the night, these silvery larvae, they are taken out to sea keystone species. fish dive to the sea floor where they by the tides and join the plankton

75 • PROPOSED SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREA RESERVE ATLAS – CHAPTER 6 •

Supplemental Information

Article References

Dr. Cliff Robinson, Marine Ecosystem Scientist, Parks Canada

Map Metadata

POTENTIAL SAND LANCE SPAWNING AND BURYING HABITAT Parks Canada, 2008. Two analyses completed. Calculations used data from other maps in the Atlas. Spawning habitat determined by finding areas where the shorezone exposure was protected, eelgrass bioband was present and where the substrate was: sand flats, sand and gravel flats, narrow sand beach or narrow sand or gravel beach. Burying habitats determined by finding areas that had tidal velocity of greater than 0.4 metres/second with underlying 20-50meter deep sand flats.

PACIFIC HERRING SPAWNING AREAS Living Oceans Society, 2003. Herring spawn shorelines from Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Spawn Habitat Index (2002) were ranked by Living Oceans Society. Parks Canada PHOTO CREDITS took Living Oceans Society results to expert Jake Schweigert, Fisheries and Oceans Page 75 - Parks Canada; Page 76 - M. Hiebert Canada who categorized findings into consistent and ephemeral (short-lived or transitory) sites. ILLLUSTRATION CREDITS Page 75 - Parks Canada/Alice Gavin 2008 ANADROMOUS STREAM MOUTHS Living Oceans Society, 2003. Calculated based on rankings of stream magnitude and species richness. Original data from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fisheries Information Summary System datasets, 1920-2004. Data captured all of BC’s nine anadromous species except euchelon. Data classified into 3 categories.

NOTE: Based on expert knowledge gathered since completion of the Marxan analysis, Lyall Creek on Saturna Island should be recorded as a ‘small anadromous stream supporting few species.’

MODELLED ROCKFISH HABITAT Parks Canada, 2008. Calculations used data from other maps in the Atlas. Derived by identifying ridges that were associated with areas of high rugosity. Benthic Terrain Modeller (BTM) used to generate both the rugosity layer and the terrain features layer (depressions, slopes, flats and ridges).

76 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Potential Sand Lance Spawning and Burying Habitat

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA Sand Lance - Intertidal Habitat

Sand Lance - Subtidal Habitat

Not for navigation. Data Source: Park Canada, 2008. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. Modelled data based on shorezone and substrate 0 5 10 15 datasets from the Province of British Columbia and km tidal velocity from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT

77 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Pacific Herring Spawning Areas

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

Ephemeral Spawning Sites VICTORIA Consistent Spawning Sites

Data Source: Living Oceans Society, 2003. Not for navigation. Analysis based on data from Fisheries and Oceans Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

Canada, Spawn Habitat Index, 2002. Analysis 0 5 10 15 results reviewed by Jake Schweigert, Fisheries km and Oceans Canada. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT DÉTROIT DE JUAN DE FUCA

78 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Anadromous Stream Mouths

! Richmond Nanaimo Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

Possibly Anadromous Streams VICTORIA

Small Anadromous Streams Supporting Few Species

Anadromous Streams Likely to Support Significant Numbers of Species

Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

0 5 10 15 Data Source: Living Oceans Society, 2003. km Based on Fisheries and Oceans Canada data, 1920 - 2004. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT

79 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Modelled Rockfish Habitat

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Modelled Rockfish Habitats

Not for navigation. Data Source: Parks Canada, 2008. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. Based on overlaying ridge terrain and areas of 0 5 10 15 km high rugosity from the Benthic Terrain Modeller. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT DÉTROIT DE JUAN DE FUCA

80 • PROPOSED SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREA RESERVE ATLAS – CHAPTER 6 •

bird species and habitats 6c.

The Pacific great blue heron is an iconic year-round resident of the southern Strait of Georgia. These majestic birds stand over one metre tall, have a wingspan of almost two metres and can live up to 23 years. Currently, there are fewer than 5,000 breeding pairs left in Canada and the birds are listed as a “Species of Special Concern” by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. SPECIES The Pacific Great Blue Heron HIGHLIGHT (Ardea herodias fannini)

HABITAT AND FOOD like Tsawwassen that have a long unsuitable for a colony because there Throughout the Gulf Islands, Pacific history of use. There are also many is too much human activity nearby. great blue herons (hereafter referred smaller and intermittent nesting Herons are particularly sensitive to as herons) nest in coastal trees sites on the lands surrounded by to disturbance while nesting and if and forage on rich intertidal flats the proposed NMCA Reserve itself. bothered, the adult herons will leave and estuaries. When breeding, At one time, the largest colony in eggs and nestlings unguarded. Eggs herons typically form colonies the Vancouver Island area was on and fledglings then fall prey to bald in quiet woodlots near foraging Sidney Island. eagles, crows, ravens, other birds of habitats like eelgrass meadows and Herons congregate in their breeding prey and racoons. marshes. During the rest of the year, colonies and lay their eggs in the the birds move seasonally among early Spring. After approximately STATUS feeding grounds around the Strait one month the eggs hatch and of Georgia and can frequently be then at about only 10 weeks old the The reason is not yet known, but viewed around the Chemainus and juveniles leave their nest for good there are indications that larger Cowichan estuaries, extensive tidal (called fledging). heron colonies within the Strait of Georgia may be breaking up and flats and marshes of the Nanaimo On average, two or three herons River estuary, as well as Ganges, dispersing into smaller colonies. will fledge; however, about half of This change in behaviour raises Ladysmith and Sidney Island all nesting attempts produce no harbours. concerns because larger heron young at all. A worrisome trend is colonies seem better able to buffer Many onlookers are captivated by that it now takes double the number themselves from predators and they the herons’ graceful hunting strategy. of nests to produce one adult heron consistently produce more young The regal bird stands perfectly still that lives long enough to breed. In than smaller colonies. until an unsuspecting fish swims by, the 1970s, it only took 2 nests with 8 then it darts its long neck forward eggs to produce one successful adult Parks Canada is working with to catch the animal in its beak. It is heron; today it takes 4 nests. Environment Canada (Canadian a beautiful yet effective tactic – on Wildlife Service) and the BC average, herons can catch one fish Ministry of the Environment about every two minutes! THREATS to monitor the health of the Breeding success is being impacted approximately 1,500 Pacific great by the primary threats of human blue herons present in the Strait BREEDING disturbance, habitat loss and bald of Georgia. A key member of the Herons can breed as an isolated pair eagle predation. team is Ross Vennesland, Species at Risk Recovery Specialist with Parks or in colonies ranging from two to The quiet, forested areas near several hundred pairs. Yet, almost Canada and leading local expert. foraging habitats that are preferred Mr. Vennesland began studying the half of the known population breeds by herons for nesting have been in colonies of over 200 pairs in places birds in 1998 as a part of obtaining either removed entirely or become his Masters of Science degree in biology.

81 • PROPOSED SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREA RESERVE ATLAS – CHAPTER 6 •

Supplemental Information

Article References

Ross Vennesland, Species at Risk Recovery Specialist, Parks Canada

Map Metadata

PACIFIC GREAT BLUE HERON NEST DENSITY AREAS Parks Canada, 2008. Based on Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Environment, Conservation Data Centre, great blue heron database, active population density 1998-2007. Using the x and y coordinates that were in Excel format, data were translated into spatial points. Nest density areas were calculated by using a decaying function with a radius of 15km (the estimated normal usage of great blue heron nesting birds). The results were standardized into a score of 1-4 based on standard deviation and exclude any area beyond 10m off the coastline or waters deeper than 1 metre.

BLACK OYSTERCATCHER ACTIVE NESTING SITES Parks Canada, Coastal BC Field Unit, active sites 2005-2007. The islets on which each PHOTO CREDITS point was located was buffered by 100m. If the point was located on larger islands Page 81: Parks Canada/R. Vennesland; then the point itself was buffered by 100m. Page 82: top left - Parks Canada; top right - Parks Canada / T. Tomascik; MARBLED MURRELET MARINE CORE AREAS bottom left - Parks Canada / P. Shepherd; Parks Canada, 2008. Created based on point locations provided in the following bottom right - Parks Canada / P. Clarkson reference: “Burger, A. 2007. Identification of at-sea aggregations to support regional core area mapping for Marbled Murrelets in BC. Draft report submitted to BC Ministry of Environment and Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team.”

PIGEON GUILLEMOT MARINE USE AREAS Living Oceans Society, 2003. Calculated population density using a decaying function with a radius of 5km. The original data for analysis from Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service).

SUITABLE AREAS FOR DUCKS AND OTHER WATER BIRDS Expert opinion from Rob Butler and Sean Boyd, Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service) 2007 and Living Oceans Society, 2003. Sites were identified on paper maps and then added as points to digital maps. To ensure the areas were accurately covered, at the suggestions of the experts, a 5km buffer was applied to this dataset. Additionally, Living Oceans Society provided datasets on marine use for harlequin ducks and scoters that were merged and used with the expert data.

BIRD STUDIES CANADA IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS Bird Studies Canada, 2004. Represents generalized boundaries that are evaluated and designated on the basis of international criteria. These areas are deemed significant at the national, continental or global level but are not legally recognized entities in Canada. Therefore, they do not have any regulatory status but are nevertheless useful for conservation planning.

82 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Pacific Great Blue Heron Nest Density Areas

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

Low Nest Density Areas

Moderate Nest Density Areas VICTORIA

High Nest Density Areas

Data Source: Parks Canada, 2008. Not for navigation. Based on active population density, 1998-2007, Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

from the Great Blue Heron Database provided by 0 5 10 15 the Province of British Columbia Conservation km Data Centre. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT DÉTROIT DE JUAN DE FUCA

83 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaV Naanticonoaul Mvearrine Conservation Area Reserve Black Oystercatcher Active Nesting Sites

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

D O G D ABRIO D LA PASSAG METRO N E AR PYL

R AD O W ES VANCOUVER S C H AN N EL ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

ST

S R S A A P R I E I T Point Roberts L Thetis R O O P F (U.S.A.) Island Ladysmith G ! EO STUART CHAN R G Kuper IA Island C NEL Galiano a na Island da - ! TRI U NCOMALI .S. Chemainus A. Bo rd CHANNEL er

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A

N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S

A

Island W

G

N PL A A E U

N MPER

R S Maple R Saltspring O O SO

! N W North U Tumbo Island

Bay S N Island C D H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

C Pender Island OW Russell Island IC HAN

BAY P

! R E

V O PASS Cowichan Bay S Y T Moresby

P AR L D E A N N S N Island HA Portland S C A BOU TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N I Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E C H I N L E T O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood Bay D'Arcy Island San Juan Island

(U.S.A.) H AR

O

ST

R AI T

VICTORIA

Black Oystercatcher Active Nesting Sites

Not for navigation. Data Source: Parks Canada. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. Based on active nest sites, 2005 - 2007, from the 0 5 10 15 km Coastal BC Field Unit. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUA N D DÉ E F TRO UC IT A ST DE RAI JUAN T D E F 84 UCA Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Pigeon Guillemot Marine Use Areas

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Pigeon Guillemot Marine Use Areas

Not for navigation. Data Source: Living Oceans Society, 2003. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. Based on data from Environment Canada 0 5 10 15 km (Canadian Wildlife Service). Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT DÉTROIT DE JUAN DE FUCA

85 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Marbled Murrelet Core Marine Areas

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Marbled Murrelet Core Marine Areas

Not for navigation. Data Source: Parks Canada, 2008. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. Location data from report submitted to the Province of 0 5 10 15 British Columbia, Ministry of Environment and the km Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT DÉTROIT DE JUAN DE FUCA

86 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Suitable Areas for Ducks and Other Water Birds

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Suitable Areas for Ducks and Other Waterbirds

Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. Data Source: Expert Opinion from Rob Butler and 0 5 10 15 Sean Boyd, Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife km Service), 2007 and Living Oceans Society, 2003. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT DÉTROIT DE JUAN DE FUCA

87 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Bird Studies Canada Important Bird Areas

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Bird Studies Canada Important Bird Areas Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

0 5 10 15 km Data Source: Bird Studies Canada, 2004. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT DÉTROIT DE JUAN DE FUCA

88 • PROPOSED SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREA RESERVE ATLAS – CHAPTER 6 •

mammal species and habitats 6d.

Male killer whales can be nearly 10 metres in length, weigh more than 6 tonnes, have a dorsal fin almost 2 metres in height and live up to 60 years. They are the largest species of the dolphin family, among the fastest marine mammals, considered the apex of the food chain and yet in 2007, the Southern Resident killer whales were listed as Endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act. SPECIES Killer Whale HIGHLIGHT (Orcinus orca)

PROFILE OF THE This population fluctuates between high levels of accumulated PCB SOUTHERN RESIDENTS about 70 to 100 individuals. In poisoning are among the greatest COMMUNITY October 2008, the annual survey concerns. Southern Residents are commonly revealed that seven individuals found in the waters of the proposed were missing and presumed dead, PROTECTION reducing the known number to 83. Southern Strait of Georgia NMCA Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) But, by March 2009, three young Reserve and consist of three is the lead agency responsible for had been identified, bringing the extended family groups (J, K, and the recovery of the endangered population estimate back to 86. L pods). All three pods are drawn Southern Residents. Parks Canada to these waters during the summer will work closely with DFO on when salmon, their preferred THREATS this task because the waters of the prey, are migrating to their coastal Environmental degradation, proposed Southern Strait of Georgia spawning rivers. During the rest depletion of prey species, conflicts NMCA Reserve are a significant of the year, scientists do not know with fishing activities, pollution and part of these animals’ critical habitat. exactly where these pods travel, but habitat degradation are currently Together with all affected groups, they have been seen as far south as the most significant threats to killer Parks Canada hopes to ensure the California and as far north as Haida whales worldwide. In this region, recovery of this iconic species. Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). declining numbers of salmon and

INTERESTING The “white” patches on newborn killer whales appear to be creamy white to pinkish-orange until the calf reaches about INFO one year of age.

• Killer whales eat on average 227 kg (500 lb) of food each day. • For the Southern Residents, 96% of that daily food intake during the fall and summer is salmon and 65% of those salmon are chinook.

• Killer whales have about 50 teeth. • Killer whales swallow their food whole or tear it into large chunks — they cannot chew.

89 • PROPOSED SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREA RESERVE ATLAS – CHAPTER 6 •

Supplemental Information

Article References Anna Hall, Marine Mammal Research Unit, University of British Columbia.

Map Metadata CRITICAL KILLER WHALE HABITAT Identified by John Ford’s model as presented in the 2008 proposed Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales in Canada.

MODELLED HARBOUR PORPOISE DISTRIBUTION Province of British Columbia, Land Use Coordination Office modelled data of likely distribution of harbour porpoise 1989-2001. Data is based on information acquired through interviews with fisheries officers. Data is displayed based on relative importance (the importance of this site to the species based on the project area). For the mapped area, relative importance values of 1 to 4 (low) were grouped together and 9 (high) is shown individually. There were no values between 5 and 8 for modelled harbour porpoise distribution in this area.

PHOTO CREDITS HARBOUR SEAL HAUL-OUTS AND WINTER STELLER SEA LION SITES Page 89 - Parks Canada/T. Tomascik; Page 90: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Both datasets buffered by 200m in accordance with top left and right, bottom right - D. Gardiner 2008; regulations that restrict haul-out approaches to 200m. Species-specific datasets were bottom left - P. Hamilton merged together. Seal data compiled between 1998-2004, sealions data compiled between 1991-2002.

90 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Critical Killer Whale Habitat

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Critical Killer Whale Habitat

Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. Data Source: Identified by John Ford's model as 0 5 10 15 shown in 2008 Recovery Strategy for the Northern km

and Southern Resident Killer Whales in Canada. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT DÉTROIT DE JUAN DE FUCA

91 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Modelled Harbour Porpoise Distribution

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Low Harbour Porpoise Distribution

High Harbour Porpoise Distribution Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

0 5 10 15 Data Source: Province of British Columbia, km

Land Use Coordination Office, 2001. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT DÉTROIT DE JUAN DE FUCA

92 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Harbour Seal Haul-outs

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Harbour Seal Haul-outs Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

0 5 10 15 km Data Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 1998 - 2004. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT DÉTROIT DE JUAN DE FUCA

93 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Winter Steller Sea Lion Sites

! Richmond Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Winter Steller Sea Lion Sites Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

0 5 10 15 km Data Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 1991 - 2002. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT DÉTROIT DE JUAN DE FUCA

94 • PROPOSED SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREA RESERVE ATLAS – CHAPTER 6 •

nearshore ecosystems 6e.

Walking along the beach at low tide, it is easy to identify the creatures and characteristics of the intertidal zone – the area between low and high tides. What lies beyond? Depending on conditions, there might be eelgrass meadows or kelp forests. Profiled below, these two crucial habitats act as indicators of the health of our oceans and are found in the adjacent area called the nearshore subtidal. As its name implies, this is the underwater zone closest to shore. T A L E O F Eelgrass Meadows TWO HABITATS and Kelp Forests

EELGRASS MEADOWS southern Strait of Georgia appear • Kelp blades or “fronds” can to be in worse health than those in extend up to 3 metres along the Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is not a Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve. surface. seaweed; it is a flowering plant that What remains to be determined, • Sea otters wrap themselves in the lives in the sea. Growing together, however, is if the eelgrass meadows kelp canopy so they can stay in these blankets of long green blades in the southern Strait of Georgia are place while enjoying whatever waving just under the surface are morsel they caught below. indeed in poor health or if this is referred to as eelgrass meadows. their natural state. Annual research When the winter storms arrive, the It has been argued that eelgrass by CHAP and other Parks Canada bull kelp forests disappear. The meadows are as productive as initiatives will ultimately provide the waves become too strong and the tropical rain forests: the roots help answers. algae are ripped from their holds stabilize the shoreline and reduce and thrown against the shore. As it erosion; the blades process nutrients KELP FORESTS decomposes it creates new habitat for small beach critters like periwinkles and are food for various animals; Although it may look like a plant, and sandhoppers. To children and the meadows are both a nursery kelp is the broad term used to beachcombing after a storm, the for juveniles and a lifetime home for describe a type of marine brown stipes make great imaginary whips. many species that conceal themselves algae. Around the southern Strait Its resemblance to bull whips is how among the grasses. of Georgia are several types of kelp this kelp got its common name. but the one that forms the “forests” Dr. Cliff Robinson, Marine Ecosystem along the rocky shores and reefs is STATUS Scientist with Parks Canada, has been the remarkable bull kelp (Nereocystis studying eelgrass since 1999 and in leutkeana). Both the eelgrass meadows and kelp 2004 he launched the Coastal Health forests within the proposed Southern Bull kelp is one of the largest kelps Assessment Program (CHAP). To Strait of Georgia NMCA Reserve and fastest growing algae in the help monitor the health of eelgrass appear to have changed over the last world; it can become 25 m (80 ft) long meadows in the British Columbia few decades. This may be in part due and grow up to 25 cms (2 ft) a day! coastal national parks, each year to natural cycles and fluctuations or Its fast pace of growth is necessary from mid-June to mid-August, Dr. it could be caused by detrimental because it is an “annual,” that in one Robinson and his team venture into human activity. Long-term research short season must grow from minute the field to collect data and assess the and monitoring will help to spore to full-sized giant. Composed health of about 50 eelgrass beds in understand the variations within of three distinct parts – holdfast, Gwaii Haanas, Pacific Rim and the these two habitats upon which so stipe and blades – bull kelp creates Gulf Islands national park reserves. many species depend. complex, layered habitats, each full The research to date appears to of life. indicate that eelgrass meadows in • 150 different species have been more isolated areas are in relatively recorded living among holdfasts. better health than those surrounded • The gas in the floats (tip of by high levels of human activity. the stipe) is up to 10% carbon For example, the meadows in the monoxide.

95 • PROPOSED SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREA RESERVE ATLAS – CHAPTER 6 •

Supplemental Information

Article References Internal Parks Canada documents supplemented with information from

• http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/apps/dss_coastal/html/biophys_shr/biob_defn/ mac.pdf; • http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/AnimalDetails.aspx?enc =Z5SIVkZ+n+XFMoEYfz3FOw=; • http://www.geol.utas.edu.au/kelpwatch//facts_i.html; and • http://www.crd.bc.ca/watersheds/protection/wildlife-plants/kelp.htm

Map Metadata Majority of datasets come from the shorezone mapping done for Parks Canada by Archipelago Marine Research and Coastal & Ocean Resources Inc, 2005 and the revised shorezone mapping data from the Province of British Columbia, Coastal Resource Information System, 2004. The newer data was used where possible. Bioband data represent observed coastal species assemblages based on color and across-shore elevation. The biobands are named for the dominant species or species group and the bioband patterns that are visible from the air. PHOTO CREDITS Page 95: top left and top right - Parks Canada; CANOPY KELP BEDS AND BIOBAND bottom left - M. Hiebert; bottom right - Parks Combination of canopy kelp beds (data provided by Province of British Canada; Page 96: Parks Canada Columbia, Coastal Resource Information System, 2004) and bull kelp bioband. Bull kelp bioband is nearshore canopy-forming bull kelp forests often indicating current-affected areas if growing in areas of low wave energies.

ROCKWEED BIOBAND Area dominated by rockweed that commonly forms in higher exposure where understory algae are absent.

SOFT BROWN KELP AND DARK BROWN KELP BIOBANDS Combination of two biobands. Soft brown kelp bioband is ruffled blades often encrusted with diatoms and bryozoans giving the blades a dusty appearance. Dark brown kelp bioband is stalked large browns with leathery and shiny- smooth blades with a mixture of species at moderate wave exposures.

SEAGRASS BEDS AND BIOBANDS Combination of eelgrass and surfgrass biobands as well as seagrass beds. Eelgrass is meadows of eelgrass rooted in sand or mud of the lower intertidal to shallow subtidal. Surfgrass is a continuous cover attached to bedrock or boulder/cobble and often includes a rich understory of encrusting invertebrates. Seagrass beds are from the Community Mapping Network: Haegele Eelgrass (70s and 80s), Eelgrass (1943-1996), and BC Eelgrass (no dates).

SALT MARSH BIOBANDS Combination of three biobands: dune grasses; sedges; marsh grasses, herbs, and salicornia. These biobands represent an assemblage of salt-tolerant herbaceous plants.

BLUE MUSSEL BIOBAND Dense beds of blue mussels often associated with freshwater stream mouths, estuary flats or in current-dominated channels.

SPONGE REEFS AND SPONGE COMMUNITIES Expert opinion from Bill Austin, Marine Ecology Center - Khoyatan Marine Lab, 2007 and Natural Resources Canada. Dr. Austin identified the sponge community distribution throughout Saanich Inlet by marking a Canadian Hydrographic Service chart. His input was manually digitized by Parks Canada. Natural Resources Canada provided datasets on glass sponge reefs.

96 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Canopy Kelp Beds and Bioband

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Canopy Kelp Bioband

Canopy Kelp Beds Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

0 5 10 15 km

Data Source: Province of British Columbia. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT

97 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Rockweed Bioband

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Rockweed Bioband Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

0 5 10 15 km Province of British Columbia. Data Source: Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT

98 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Soft Brown and Dark Brown Kelp Biobands

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Soft Brown and Dark Brown Kelp Biobands Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

0 5 10 15 km Province of British Columbia. Data Source: Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT

99 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Seagrass Beds and Biobands

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

Patchy Seagrass Biobands VICTORIA

Continuous Seagrass Biobands

Seagrass Beds

Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. Data Source: Combined biobands from Province 0 5 10 15 of British Columbia and beds from Community km Mapping Network. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT

100 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Salt Marsh Biobands

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Salt Marsh Biobands Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

0 5 10 15 km

Data Source: Province of British Columbia. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT

101 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Blue Mussel Bioband

Richmond

Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

VICTORIA

Blue Mussel Bioband Not for navigation. Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada.

0 5 10 15 km

Data Source: Province of British Columbia. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT

102 Proposed Southern Strait of GeorgiaVancouver National Marine Conservation Area Reserve Sponge Communities and Sponge Reefs

! Richmond Gabriola

FALSE NARROWS Island

DODD NARROWS GABRIOLA PASSAGE METRO PYLADES CHANNEL VANCOUVER ¥

Tsawwassen Valdes Island

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

S S A P R E I Point Roberts Thetis L R

O Island P (U.S.A.) Ladysmith ! STUART CHANNEL

Kuper Island Canada - U.S.A. Border Galiano Island TRINCOMALI CHANNEL Chemainus !!!

Crofton ! E PA IV SS T

C C

A A

! P Ganges T A Mayne

I

S N

A N P Island

S Prevost A

U S

M S S A

Island W G

N PLUMPER SOUND A

A E N

R S Maple R Saltspring O O

! N W North Tumbo Island Bay S Island C H Pender A

N N Island E Saturna L Island ! Duncan Fulford Harbour ! South

COWICHAN BAY Russell Island Pender Island P

! R E

V

O

Cowichan Bay S T Moresby L P E A N S N A Portland S Island CH A BOUNDARY PASS TE G LLI E SATE Island

S A A N CI H I N L E T Rum Island Sidney! Mill Bay !

S ID N C E O Y C R H D A Sidney O N V N A E L Island C H A N N E L ! Brentwood D'Arcy Bay Island San Juan Island HARO STRAIT (U.S.A.)

Sponge Communities VICTORIA

Glass Sponge Reefs

Data Source: Sponge Communities from Bill Austin, Not for navigation. Marine Ecology Center - Khoyatan Marine Lab, Produced in the Western and Northern Service Centre, Parks Canada. 2007 and Glass Sponge Reefs from Natural 0 5 10 15 km Resources Canada. Projection: BC Environment Albers Horizontal Datum: NAD 83

JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT

103