Bowker Creek Initiative

What is the Bowker Creek Initiative?

The Bowker Creek Initiative (BCI) is a collaborative effort between people, organizations, and local governments to protect and enhance the ecological, social and economic health of the Bowker Creek watershed. The initiative was established because of concerns about flooding, pollution, and the degraded condition of Bowker creek.  

Vision of the Bowker Creek Initiative
The human uses and natural areas in the Bowker Creek watershed are managed to minimize runoff and pollution, making Bowker Creek a healthy stream that supports habitat for native vegetation and wildlife, and provides a connected community greenway.

Bowker Creek Watershed & Stewardship

Today, Bowker Creek Watershed is highly urbanized with buildings and roads. In the past, Bowker Creek was a natural winding stream with cutthroat trout and salmon. Learn more about how you can help restore Bowker Creek.

Projects & Initatives

The Bowker Creek Initiative and partners work on a variety of projects throughout the watershed from plan updates, education and outreach, creek restoration, green infrastructure, water quality and flow monitoring and signage. 

Feature Project: Bowker Creek Blueprint Update

Considerable progress has been achieved in the ten years since the development of the Bowker Creek Blueprint. In addition, new information, studies, and plans have enhanced our understanding of the watershed. In 2023, the BCI began the Bowker Creek Blueprint Update to review and revise actions based on accomplishments, new information and current pressures facing the watershed. The updated blueprint will continue to guide the municipalities, the community, and other land stewards to manage and restore the Bowker Creek watershed and creek corridor into the future. 

With competing priorities for land use; the restoration and daylighting of Bowker Creek and its watershed is vital to multiple priorities to increase climate resiliency, urban heat effects, emergency management, support biodiversity, stormwater management, water quality and improve livability for all residents

A Beacon of Inspiration

In 2021, the Partnership for Water Sustainability published a Watershed Case Profile to document the history and successes of the Bowker Creek Initiative and Bowker Creek Blueprint, which the authors describe as a "beacon of inspiration".

Steering Committee Information

The initiative is governed by a consensus-based multi-stakeholder steering committee with the purpose to assist with and coordinate the efforts of the District of Saanich, City of Victoria, and District of Oak Bay and other agencies and interests in implementing the Bowker Creek Watershed Management Plan.  The initiative is chaired and coordinated by the CRD through a part-time position cost-shared by the three municipal partners. The CRD Coordinator provides coordination and logistical assistance to the initiative and helps to move strategy implementation forward. The steering committee will assist in undertaking a variety of activities, including but not limited to:

  • monitoring goals and objectives
  • prioritizing actions
  • applying for grants
  • reviewing technical documents
  • increasing public awareness
  • and promoting partnerships

Resources

The Bowker Creek Initiative and the partner groups are guided by two main documents: the Bowker Creek Watershed Management Plan [PDF/2.5MB], developed in 2003, and the Bowker Creek Blueprint: A 100-year action plan to restore the Bowker Creek Watershed [PDF/19.1MB], developed in 2011.  The two plans provide the vision for the future of the watershed and an implementation plan to guide the achievement of that vision.

In addition, a variety of plans, studies, reports and outreach materials have been developed to support development and implementation of the two plans. 

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Territorial Acknowledgement

The CRD conducts its business within the Territories of many First Nations, all of whom have a long-standing relationship with the land and waters from time immemorial that continues to this day. Statement of Reconciliation