Bowker Creek Watershed

Bowker Creek, near Browning Park

Bowker Creek once meandered through forests, meadows and wetlands, before spilling into the ocean in Oak Bay. Salmon spawned in the stream and provided food for First Nations. Early European residents dubbed the stream “The Thames” as it was the largest in the area

As agriculture and urban development expanded in the watershed, the stream channel was excavated, straightened and enclosed in pipes in order to facilitate drainage and reduce the risk of flooding surrounding areas. These objectives were accomplished for the most part (although some areas do still flood), but at the expense of a properly functioning creek.

Today, Bowker Creek begins at a wetland on the University of Victoria campus. At a culvert under Gordon Head Road, it enters an underground storm drain network and flows parallel to MacKenzie St., and then along Shelbourne Ave. It then flows southeastward through the vicinity of Fort St., Foul Bay Rd. and Richmond Ave., before discharging into the ocean near Glenlyon-Norfolk school. Only about 2.5 km of the channel are still open, while the majority of the stream is now contained in pipes and culverts. (See Figure 1 below).

Bowker Creek will probably never be restored to its original condition, and is not likely to support salmon spawning in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, many people are working to improve the condition of the stream, as it provides public greenspace and educational opportunities for the community, as well as habitat for terrestrial wildlife.

The Bowker Creek Watershed Management Forum, consisting of community members, nongovernmental organization representatives and government officials, developed a vision statement for the watershed in 2002.

The varied human uses and natural areas in the Bowker 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 community greenway to connect neighbourhoods.