Head-on over to Project Watershed’s Interactive Estuary Map. Click on the Ecosystem and Restoration link. Find your residence on the map, you may need to zoom out and move the map around. Click on the map near or on your house, a pop up should appear with the name and size of your watershed. If it doesn’t, look for the blue line closest to your house and find it’s label. That will be your watershed!

If you need help using the map refer to the How to use the map video.

If you live in one of the following watersheds: Brooklyn Creek, Millard-Piercy, Morrison Creek, Glen Urquhart, Roy Creek, or the Finlay Creek and Area watershed, go to the Maps page of our website and find the map and brochure for your watershed. The brochure will have more details about your watershed including the anthropogenic influences, the intact ecosystems, and how you can support its health. The map will show you where the surface water (i.e. lakes, streams, creeks, rivers, and oceans) is and other important features of the waterway. Take a copy of this (digital or paper) with you as you explore.

If you live in a watershed that is not listed above then you can explore it via our Interactive Estuary Map by clicking on the Ecosystem and Restoration link and locating your residence on the map. You may need to zoom out and move the map around. The left hand list is all the features you can view on the map. On the top right hand corner are links to different themed maps for your area – one is history and recreation and the other water. If you need help using the map refer to the How to use the map video.

Post the name of your watershed on Facebook or Instagram with @cvpws and the hashtag #PWKnowYourWatershed and we will enter you in a draw where you could win a $20 gift card.

Pop on your shoes and exploration gear, and let’s go exploring. Using your map, find a quick route to your waterway. Walk, bicycle, drive or bus and make your way to your stream. Remember not to cross any private property to get to your waterway. If in question, stick to locations in parks or other
public spaces. If you’d like, click on the hiking/walking trails toggle on the left side of the Interactive Estuary Map to find the walking trail closest to your watershed. Walk down to your river, creek or stream. Remember to be water safe and careful. Keep a safe distance from the river, especially if it’s been raining lately.

It’s always great to do a quick little garbage cleanup if you see any garbage. Small actions to help our waterways really do matter!

If you snap a photo of you and your family at the waterway and post it to Facebook or Instagram with the name of the waterway @cvpws and the hashtag #PWKnowYourWatershed, we will enter you in the draw for a $20 gift card.

Look on the map to identify where your stream eventually meets the ocean. This is an estuary. Estuaries can be big or small. The largest estuary in our area is the K’ómoks Estuary. Walk, bicycle, drive or bus and make your way to the estuary/beach where your watershed meets the ocean.

1. What kind of beach is it? A sandy beach (small grains), gravel beach (larger grains and some pebble), pebbled beach (mostly pebbles and large rocks) or a rocky beach. Could forage fish lay eggs here? Forage fish are small schooling fish like herring, Pacific sand lance and surf smelt. Pacific sand lance and surf smelt lay their eggs on sandy and gravel beaches. To find out more visit our Forage Fish page.
2. Try to identify the shells you find on the beach.

Take a photo of the most interesting shell and post it and your guess at what it is to Facebook or Instagram with @cvpws and the hashtag #PWKnowYourWatershed #projectwatershed for a chance to win a $20 gift card.

Make a resolution to use your individual capacity to support the health of your watershed. Maybe it’s using less harsh chemicals in your home? Maybe it’s using your car less or using copper-free break pads? Maybe you’ll plant some trees and volunteer with an organization going forward? All these are great options but there are so many ways you can make small changes to support healthier future ecosystems

We would love to hear the ways that you’ll take action to support healthy watersheds in our communities! If you post it to Facebook or Instagram with @cvpws and the hashtag #PWKnowYourWatershed for a chance to win a $20 gift card.