Portage Inlet

• Size (total area): 70 ha 
• Length of shoreline: 14,472m (including Gorge Waterway to Selkirk Trestle) 
• Depth of harbour (average): < 2m (relative to chart datum) 
• Number of stormwater discharges: 49 
• Protected areas: Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary 
• Species at risk: Olympia oysters and great blue heron 

The Kosampson people, whose descendants are part of the Esquimalt Nation, lived in a village on the east bank of the Gorge, near Portage Inlet. Shell middens near Gorge Bridge confirm the area has been used for over 4,000 years. Portage Inlet continues to be culturally significant areas for the Esquimalt and Songhees peoples. 

The Craigflower schoolhouse was built on the former Kosampson village site in 1854, and it still stands today as part of the Craigflower Manor and Schoolhouse National Historic Site, representing the last remaining sections of one of the oldest farms on Vancouver Island. Craigflower Farm was eventually owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company, and at the height of its operation the farm had dozens of people living there operating the sawmill, flour mill, blacksmith’s shop and other associated enterprises. Other farms were soon established in the surrounding areas.

Eelgrass 

One of the most important biological features of Portage Inlet is its approximately 50 hectares of eelgrass meadows. Eelgrass provides valuable habitat for fish (including juvenile salmon) and marine invertebrates, and feeding grounds for birds. Together, the waters of Gorge and Portage Inlet support 80% of the total eelgrass in the CRD harbours. 

Intertidal Mudflats and Salt Marshes 

Intertidal mudflats and salt marshes in Portage Inlet support rich ecosystems where marine invertebrates such as clams, snails, worms and crustaceans find refuge. These organisms in turn provide an important food source for birds and other wildlife. 

Oyster Beds 

Native Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) are found in abundance in Portage Inlet. This species is listed as “Special Concern” under the Species at Risk Act, due to its vulnerability to natural and human-caused disturbance. Olympia oysters were a food and trading staple for First Nations, and were sold to early Victoria residents. Olympia oysters tend to occur in clusters, providing a substrate for a variety of other animals and plants to attach to. Empty oyster shells also provide valuable habitat for other creatures.