Glen Urquhart Update – Spring 2024
Volunteers at Glen Urquhart ~ L. Stewart
Gary Oak experiment ~ J. Baker French
Glen Urquhart Creek ~ L. Stewart
Fish habitat enhancement
We have some funding from the Pacific Salmon Foundation to draw up plans for additional fish habitat enhancement work at Glen Urquhart Creek. We are reviewing our options and currently the top candidate is to reconnect Len’s Pond to the creek. This pond is currently mostly disconnected from the creek and therefore doesn’t provide much habitat value to the stream. Instead it is serving as habitat for invasive American bullfrogs. Reconnecting it to the stream will increase flushing and discourage bullfrog use. We will pursue both juvenile fish and bullfrog sampling in the pond to understand the ecology better before moving forward with restoration work.
Garry oak meadow status
We are learning from our first pilot year (2023) and will be developing a more comprehensive plan for the Garry Oak meadow project. Both Marika Ai-Li and Jeff Skinner, our new restoration managers, have experience with Garry Oak restoration, so we will be putting our heads together to plan out the next steps. Look out for Camas and Garry Oak planting events scheduled for the fall!
Hedgerow maintenance
Our 700-foot long hedgerow was planted in 2023. This year we will install irrigation to get the plants through their establishment phase and work on weed management. We will be mulching and carrying out some good old weed whacking to help the plants get a foothold.
Coming soon this season
Keep an eye out for some fun weeding and planting events along the stream and in the wetland area!
Information for post provided by:
Jay Baker-French
Biologist | Assistant Program Coordinator