This property comprises a variety of ecozones providing habitat for Western screech owls, pygmy owls, night hawks, blue-grey taildropper slugs, Northern red-legged frogs, newts, salamanders, Mexican free-tailed bats, threaded vertigo snails, and Pacific sideband snails.

A mature Western Red Cedar and Coastal Douglas Fir forest can hold 375 tonnes of carbon per hectare, and sequester about 4 tonnes annually. When the neighbouring 45 acres were cut, 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide were released into the atmosphere — about the same amount as that released by all ferry travel to and from our island in a year. It takes at least 60 years for any newly planted forest to be a net sequester of carbon.

When several protected areas form a larger conservation area, the health and function of an ecosystem is enhanced. Several adjacent lots have conservation covenants; with Lots H and then F protected, 46 acres (about 18.5 hectares) of unbroken natural habitat have been created.

(Drawing by Usha Rautenbach. Most “proposed” areas are now protected).

Forested wetlands are natural sponges that clean and hold water, releasing it slowly to maintain water levels in creeks and groundwater aquifers. Natural filtration benefits groundwater in wells, critical sources of potable water for local residents. In this particular wetland, mature coastal Douglas fir and groves of Western red cedar help reduce peak flows along slopes, thus reducing erosion. Healthy, moist forests are fire resistant and moderate storm damage.

Mike Larmour was one of WPS’s five co-founders. He dedicated his life to preserving and protecting water resources and the healthy watersheds that make them possible. By purchasing his land, we continue his work.

St. Mary Lake is the island’s largest source of drinking water, providing for people in the North Salt Spring and Highland-Fernwood Water Districts and on lakefront properties. Keeping the forest intact within the watershed helps control erosion and thus reduce the amount of sediment and phosphorus entering this important water resource.

Our conservation covenant protects the forested slopes on the west side of the lake, providing habitat for plants and wildlife, maintaining the natural hydrological cycle, and mitigating climate change by drawing carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Trails within the watershed reserve are integrated with the extensive Channel Rite trail system. Hikers can enjoy views of St. Mary Lake, Stuart Channel, and Trincomali Channel. All visitors are asked to respect the sensitive ecology of the land by staying on the path, keepings dogs leashed, and packing out all garbage.

Historic activities associated with logging, ditching and the draining of wetlands continue to affect water quality and water availability. CARL is monitoring the creek flows to help NSSWD understand the hydrology and identify actions to enhance water storage and water quality.

Across the Southern Gulf Islands, the legacies of industrial logging, exclusion of Indigenous land stewardship, and a reliance on fire suppression have significantly changed the forest ecologies. These modified ecosystems are highly vulnerable to catastrophic wildfire.  CARL is engaging regional expertise to identify risk and develop techniques to reduce the movement of fire through the watershed (More info here, here, and here).

The work in the watershed is a collaborative activity that builds on local knowledge – from Salt Spring’s permaculture community, native and invasive plant experts (Native Plant Stewardship Group), biologists, research scientists, foresters, hydrologists and wetland restoration practitioners – and engages students and the community in stewardship action (Gulf Island and UVic Restoration of Natural Systems & Wildhaven Ecoliteracy).

Maxwell Lake is the second-largest water source for Salt Spring Island residents. Preserving the natural ecosystem around the lake ensures the supply and quality of this water.