Tod Creek Watershed

2014 Good Neighbours Program

Habitat Acquisition Trust is working in the Tod Creek Watershed to help residents understand and care for streams, wetlands, and natural areas in the watershed. “Residents of the Tod Creek Watershed love the rural setting and natural areas that make this place special,” says HAT’s Land Care Coordinator Todd Carnahan, “but few are aware of the natural values that are disappearing despite our protections for waterways and the many parks in the Watershed.”

Ecosystems rarely follow property and park boundary lines. Streams, creeks, and parks and protected areas. Typically creeks, streams, watersheds, and ecosystems across private land and parks, through residential development, farmland, and backyards. The integrity of the entire ecosystem can be harmed by activity on neighbouring private land – conversely, good land stewardship on privately owned land adjacent to protected areas can enhance habitat protection.

About Tod Creek Watershed

• Tod Creek supports cutthroat trout, otter, Mergansers, and many other wildlife species.

• The Creek flushes into Tod Inlet, a rich marine ecosystem that relies on clean, unpolluted water from the creek to support crabs, young salmon, and near-shore fishes in eelgrass beds.

• Past agricultural and land care practices and development have resulted in excessively high levels of nutrients and other pollutants to contaminant the Creek.

• Prospect Lake continues to have poor water quality for swimming and for wildlife.

• Friends of Tod Creek, Peninsula Streams, Seachange Marine Conservation Society, and the District of Saanich have worked with farmers and volunteers to restore much of Tod Creek and greatly improve water quality and wildlife habitat.