Community Watershed Monitoring Stewardship Group Profiles

This group of residents formed after each individually expressing concern for the health of their neighbourhood stream, Walley Creek. Draining a watershed of about 120 ha within the City of Nanaimo, this beautiful, urban waterway is home to a few species of fish and supports local recreation with a meandering trail, wetlands, and City parks. Like many waterways, Walley Creek is susceptible to illegal dumping, urban development, and invasive plants that out-compete the native species. Luckily, over the past few years, there has been immense support from students at the local schools and other volunteer organizations that have worked with the streamkeepers to restore riparian areas and support bank stabilization through invasive species removal, planting native species, completing routine clean-ups, and educating streamside landowners on this rich and valuable ecosystem. As a registered streamkeeper group (under NALT), they have worked closely with D.R. Clough Consulting to assess and prioritize the needs of the creek, with Fisheries and Oceans and the RDN to collect and submit essential water quality data, and with the province to collect flow data on the creek. Future projects include continuing riparian restoration projects along the 2.5 km length of the stream and enhancing wetlands in this watershed to reduce the alternating flood/drought conditions amplified by storm drain inputs. Restoring the creek and maintaining the health of the entire watershed for all living creatures – aquatic, animal, plant, and human. This group maintains an up-to-date blog and is always looking for volunteers. If you or someone you know are interested in helping out, share and visit walleycreeknanaimo.org to contact them!