Welcome!

birdwatching-at-lagoonFind out more about this unique ecosystem and how you can help protect it.

Are you a Bird Watcher? Check out the eBird Canada listing for Esquimalt Lagoon.

Urban Sanctuary Project

hoodedmerganserELSI, GWI, the Robert Bateman Centre and other regional conservation partners are collaborating to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Convention Act, enacted by Canada in 1917. The Project goals are to improve stewardship of the upland and marine ecosystems that support birds and other wildlife in our urban centres, and to raise awareness of the 3 sanctuaries in the CRD:

The Urban Sanctuary Project is a collaborative effort of local conservation partners to increase awareness of the three federally-designated Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in the capital region.

Coburg Peninsula on Shaw TV

In February 2016, Lorraine Scollan of Shaw TV did a piece on some of the issues at Esquimalt Lagoon and Coburg Peninsula.

Featured Projects:

Dune Restoration

ELSI volunteers have been working since 2006 on Dune Habitat Restoration project on the Coburg Peninsula. The goals of the project are to:

  • restore native dune habitats through the establishment of demonstration restoration plots
  • realign beach access points and benches to reduce trampling across sensitive dune habitat
  • monitor the effectiveness of restoration
  • raise public awareness of dune habitats and engage residents and visitors in stewardship of the dunes.  

Read more >>


What is ELSI?

The Esquimalt Lagoon Stewardship Initiative is a broad coalition of community and environmental groups, institutions, the business community, recreational user groups and government (federal, First Nations, provincial and municipal) working together to protect, enhance and restore Esquimalt Lagoon and the Coburg Peninsula. ELSI focuses on environmental issues in Esquimalt Lagoon, on adjacent lands within the Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary and in surrounding watersheds. ELSI conducts outreach to residents, businesses and institutions in the Esquimalt Lagoon watershed.

Read the latest ELSI Annual Report

Regional Invasive Species Website

Check out the CRISP (Capital Region Invasive Species Partnership) website.

Report invasive species, learn about high priority species, download fact sheets and more.

ELSI Steering Committee meeting schedule 2020

Meetings are held quarterly, usually on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 2 - 4pm. Meetings are open to the public.

  • January 21: Royal Roads University, Grant Rm 314
  • April 28: Colwood Municipal Hall committee room
  • July 28: Colwood Municipal Hall committee room
  • October 27: Colwood Municipal Hall committee room