ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS identified by the PARKS AND CONSERVATION COMMITTEE of the VICTORIA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY The Victoria Natural History Society has identified the following list of locations, from Albert Head Lagoon to Wolf Island, as “Ecologically Sensitive Areas” (ESA). Have a look at the locations on the list and see how many you know or have visited. A map of Greater Victoria below this introduction identifies by site number the ESA areas. You will see that the summary information available for most of the Ecologically Sensitive Areas is scant with the information being collected in the early and mid 1990’s. We would like your help to update the information provided for each of the ESA locations. It would be valuable, if you know some of listed ESA sites, to offer updated information for the summary tables. We will review and check the new information with you and will post the new text in the table. In order to ensure the privacy of the people who originally collected the information found in the published tables below, we have removed their names and contact information. This information is still held by the Victoria Natural History Society. If you are an original information source for sites in this list and would prefer to have your name re-entered in the table please contact us. If you submit new information we will discuss with you if you wish to have your name included with the published information. Possibly there are other sites that should be added to this list. Please let us know of new sites that you would propose as ecologically sensitive and offer a brief summary of the location using the table headings. If you have a question about the ESA sites or new information to contribute please send it to John Henigman at [email protected] . Thanks for your help. Figure 1. Numbered locations of the Environmentally Sensitive Areas 1 ALBERT HEAD LAGOON AREA NAME: Albert Head Lagoon MUNICIPALITY: Metchosin TRIM MAP No.: 92B033 SPECIAL FEATURES OF SIGNIFICANCE: shoreline Area. CRD Park VEGETATION TYPE: estuary. sparsely vegetated-beach/spit WILDLIFE VALUES: waterfowl, terrestrial birds, reptiles, mammals HABITAT: full range CONCERNS: pollution, shoreline encroachment, No boundary survey posts INFORMATION SOURCES: VNHS CONTACT: PHONE No.: INFORMATION AS OF: November 21, 1994 2 ANDERSON COVE AREA NAME: Anderson Cove MUNICIPALITY: East Sooke TRIM MAP No.: Butts up to Sec. 92 SPECIAL FEATURES OF SIGNIFICANCE: This basin offers refuge and sustenance to a diverse body of sea life and wildlife and sensitive shoreline. VEGETATION TYPE: surrounded by freshwater wetland, estuary, coastal bluff, beach/spit WILDLIFE VALUES: waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, raptors, mammals HABITAT: year round breeding, foraging, migratory, over-wintering, fish spawning CONCERNS: pollution, upland use INFORMATION SOURCES: VNHS CONTACT: PHONE No.: INFORMATION AS OF: January 23, 1995 3 ARBUTUS COVE AREA NAME: Arbutus Cove MUNICIPALITY: Saanich TRIM MAP No.: SPECIAL FEATURES OF SIGNIFICANCE: Half-mile wide sand beach, log strewn below a steep, unstable cliff clad mainly with Red Alders. Rocky outcrops at each end of the beach. Beach can be reached by means of a long stairway from Arbutus Cove park at north end. At south end there is access from east end of Haro Road. VEGETATION TYPE: Red Alders on cliff. A few Douglas-fir, shrubby under story, Salmonberry, Indian Plum. WILDLIFE VALUES: Water habitat for Red Breasted Mergansers, Horned Grebes, Bufflehead, Winter Wrens on cliff side. Probably Alders provide seeds for Siskins. Marine life on gravel beach. HABITAT: Suitable for over wintering marine birds, probably for migratory shore birds, also for otters and mink; tide pools. CONCERNS: Cliff side is very unstable with severe slippage and runnels of water (in winter). Attempts have been made in the past to shore up the cliff with log and concrete supports. These are in a state of deterioration. INFORMATION SOURCES: VNHS CONTACT: PHONE No.: INFORMATION AS OF: January 1997 4 BASSO SWAMP AREA NAME: Basso Swamp MUNICIPALITY: East Sooke. Located TRIM MAP No.: below the junction of East Sooke and Gillespie Roads SPECIAL FEATURES OF SIGNIFICANCE: vegetation, Merganser habitat, Bog Cranberries. Water flows out in east and west directions. VEGETATION TYPE: Pine forest, grassland, freshwater wetland WILDLIFE VALUES: waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, raptors, amphibians, mammals, reptiles. HABITAT: year round breeding, foraging migratory CONCERNS: development, logging/clearing, pollution, grazing INFORMATION SOURCES: VNHS CONTACT: PHONE No.: INFORMATION AS OF: January 23, 1995 5 BAZAN BAY AREA NAME: Bazan Bay MUNICIPALITY: North Saanich TRIM MAP No.: SPECIAL FEATURES OF SIGNIFICANCE: Eel Grass (Zostera spp) beds provide feeding grounds for spring migrating Brant (Branta bernicla). Reay Creek empties into Bazan Bay improving feeding habitat for ducks and gulls. Loafing area for many species of seabirds, waterfowl and small numbers of shore birds VEGETATION TYPE: Eel Grass in shallow Bay waters, native and non native beach and bank vegetation, beach and mini spit WILDLIFE VALUES: Feeding grounds for migrating Brant gees in the spring from mid-March to mid-May. Winter loafing area for several Waterfowl Species notably Mallard (Anas platyrhynachos), American Widgeon (A. americana), Eurasian Widgeon (A. penelope), Greater Scaup (Aythya marila),Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus), Surf Scoter (Melanitta, perspicillata), white-winged Scoter (M. fusca), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Buffle head (B. albeola), Red –breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator),. Winter feeding are for common Loon (Gavia immer), Horned grebe (Podiceps auritus), Red-necked Grebe (P. grisegena), Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca). Feeding and loafing area in season for Bonaparts Gull (Larus philadelphia), Heermann’s Gull (L. heermanni), Mew Gull (L.canus), California Gull (L. californicus), Glaucus-winged Gull (L. glaucescens). Year round use by Double –crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), Pelagic Cormorant (P. pelagicus), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus luecocephalus) and Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani). The above are more commonly seen bird species seen in season. In over five years of monthly Beached Bird Survey conducted between Reay Creek and the Amity Drive beach access, from May 1990 to Dec. 1995, by Barbara Begg, 74 other bird species were noted on the bay, on the beach, or utilizing bank vegetation. (Total bird species recorded 99). Harbour Seals, Mink, Canada Otters also use the area. Two Grey Whales, most unusual, were in the bay for a few days in 1995. During the Beached Bird Surveys a list of bird species and sometimes total numbers of individuals was kept and in available from Barbara Begg. The purpose of the BBS is to determine the average number of dead, oiled or injured seabirds found on the beach, to create a baseline of data in case of an oil spill or other catastrophic event. A low number of dead or oiled seabirds were found, 24 during 67 surveys. There was seldom any evidence of oiling. HABITAT: It is used by birds and mammals for over wintering, a migrating stop, foraging, nesting and loafing. The bank area and upper beach are utilized by land birds for breeding and foraging year round. CONCERNS: Bank loss due to seepage and storms: disturbance of wildlife by dogs and people. There is a small sewage treatment plant operation north of Bazan Bay Park and another near Tulista Park, both off Lockside Drive. INFORMATION SOURCES: VNHS CONTACT: PHONE No.: INFORMATION AS OF: March 1997 6 BEACON HILL PARK AREA NAME: Beacon Hill Park MUNICIPALITY: Victoria TRIM MAP No.: 92B044 SPECIAL FEATURES OF SIGNIFICANCE: Rare plant species, Garry Oak Meadows VEGETATION TYPE: 60-100 year old forest, Oak woodland, rock outcrop, grassland, coastal bluffs WILDLIFE VALUES: waterfowl, songbirds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals HABITAT: full range CONCERNS: recreation, invasive species, (Broom) INFORMATION SOURCES: VNHS CONTACT: PHONE No.: INFORMATION AS OF: 24 BEAVER LAKE see ELK / BEAVER LAKE REGIONAL PARK 7 BENVENUTO HILL AREA NAME: Benvenuto Hill MUNICIPALITY: Central Saanich TRIM MAP No.: SPECIAL FEATURES OF SIGNIFICANCE: Garry Oak hilltop, mixed habitat, excellent dry and wet Garry Oak Meadows VEGETATION TYPE: Garry Oak, Dry Douglas-fir, Second growth lower down, some old orchard trees. WILDLIFE VALUES: important plant species and communities. Two Species of Dodecatheon and two of Camas. Other typical of a Garry Oak meadow. HABITAT: CONCERNS: Top 10+ hectares set aside as a park, the balance is being developed by a farmer. Should be monitored re: runoff concerns, septic systems. May be a candidate for covenants on private land. INFORMATION SOURCES: VNHS CONTACT: PHONE No.: INFORMATION AS OF: June, 19. 1996 8 BREAKWATER, OGDEN POINT AREA NAME: Breakwater, Ogden Point MUNICIPALITY: Victoria TRIM MAP No.: 53B SPECIAL FEATURES OF SIGNIFICANCE: noted for Palm Warblers VEGETATION TYPE: marine WILDLIFE VALUES: marine birds, songbirds HABITAT: full range CONCERNS: possible spills, industrial and marine development INFORMATION SOURCES: VNHS CONTACT: PHONE No.: INFORMATION AS OF: December 15, 1994 9 BLINKHORN LAKE AREA NAME: Blinkhorn Lake MUNICIPALITY: Metchosin TRIM MAP No.: 92B033 SPECIAL FEATURES OF SIGNIFICANCE: local significance as a wetland VEGETATION TYPE: freshwater wetland WILDLIFE VALUES: waterfowl, terrestrial birds, amphibians HABITAT: full range CONCERNS: pollution, invasive species INFORMATION SOURCES: VNHS