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.

Greater Victoria NatureHood

hoodedmerganserELSI, GWI, and several other regional conservation partners collaborated in 2017 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Convention Act. The goals were to improve stewardship of the ecosystems that support birds and other wildlife in our urban centres, and to raise awareness of the 3 sanctuaries in the CRD. A brochure was developed to highlight the unique features of our three local bird sanctuaries:

In 2018 our region was declared a NatureHood, in recognition of the excellent opportunities here for people of all ages and abilities to get out into nature in an urban setting.

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.

Who to contact about spills, pollution, and other issues in the watershed:

EMBC - Emergency Management BC: 1-800-663-3456
     *Ask for a Dangerous Goods Incident Report (DGIR) # and a call back. This is your file number to use on other calls
RAPP - Report All Polluters and Poachers: 1-877-952-7277
DFO - Observe, Record, Report line (Department of Fisheries & Oceans): 1-800-465-4336
FFHPP - Fisheries and Fish Habitat Protection Program: 1-866-845-6776

Dead bats reporting (regarding possible spread of White Nose Syndrome): 1-855-922-2287
Live bats: let Habitat Acquisition Trust know: 250-995-2428

Migratory Bird Sanctuary infractions: 1-888-569-5656 (federal Wildlife Officer)

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