Bowker Creek Watershed & Stewardship

About Bowker Creek Watershed

Bowker Creek is an urban waterway in the capital region, stretching 3.4 km above ground and 4.5 km underground through pipes in Saanich, Victoria, and Oak Bay. It begins at the University of Victoria, and flows west and then south through Saanich in the Shelbourne Valley, and southeast through Victoria and Oak Bay to the outlet in Oak Bay. There is also a significant tributary that runs through Cedar Hill Golf Course.

In the past, Bowker Creek was a natural, winding stream with small tributaries and wetlands. It was home to fish like cutthroat trout and salmon, and local First Nations people relied on it for food and water. However, as the area developed, much of the creek was buried in pipes, and its natural landscape was changed.

Today, Bowker Creek is highly urbanized and surrounded by buildings and roads, which has led to problems like flooding and poor water quality. About 45% of the watershed is covered by hard impervious surfaces, like roads and roofs, which prevent rainwater from soaking into the ground and instead direct polluted water into the creek. This has made the creek prone to flooding and has harmed the aquatic habitat.

Despite these issues, people still visit and enjoy areas around Bowker Creek, such as Cedar Hill Park, the UVic campus, Browning Park, Oak Bay High School and Bowker Creek Park. 

We All Live in a Watershed

A watershed is the area of land that drains surface water and groundwater to a common water body, such as a creek, stream, lake or the ocean. We all live in a watershed, regardless of how far we are from a body of water. Learn more

Biodiversity in the Watershed

Although development has severely impacted habitat in the Bowker Creek watershed, there remains areas with native plants and wildlife. Learn about the ecosystems in the watershed and their characteristics:

Threats in the Watershed

Help Protect the Watershed - what can we do?

There are many ways you can get involved and learn how to protect and enhance Bowker Creek watershed.  Because the watershed is urban it is covered in impermeable surfaces such as parking lots, buildings, and roads. Rainwater flows quickly across these surfaces, picking up debris and pollution, and draining into storm drains that then lead directly to Bowker Creek.  You can help by limiting the introduction of pollutants (oils, gas, pesticides, fertilizer, chemicals, etc.) as well as allowing rainwater to soak into the ground and by gardening with native plants and removing invasives.

Volunteer with a stewardship group to help restore the Bowker Creek watershed. Check out Friends of Bowker Creek volunteer opportunities or Saanich Pulling Together events

Watershed Stewardship

Learn about the ways you can prevent pollution, manage your rainwater and get involved in restoration activities.
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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