Restoration investment on the Saanich Peninsula pays off big-time in cutthroat trout dividends

The Hagan-Graham (KÉNNES) watershed, while relatively small compared to many systems in B.C., is one of the largest on the Saanich Peninsula. This watershed is home to resident coastal cutthroat trout – the only fish species present there. Over the decades, industrial and agricultural practices have dealt the watershed a multitude of human impacts. These include heavy-metal pollution, nutrient loading, wetland draining, and invasive plants that strangle stream banks and waterways.

A significant portion of the watershed’s main stream, Hagan Creek, flows through MÁWUEĆ, a section of farmland (formerly known as Woodwynn Farms) which was acquired by the Tsartlip First Nation in 2020. The Tsartlip traditionally used MÁWUEĆ for hunting and fishing, farming, and ceremonial activities. The W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich First People) placenames for the streams, lands, and shorelines suggest an area rich with Indigenous history and culture. For more background on traditional placenames in the area, visit this resource.

Project History

In 2021, the Tsartlip approached Peninsula Streams Society (PSS), a local stewardship organization, to assist with land and stream remediation. One ultimate goal was to re-establish the healthy coastal cutthroat trout population which had historically thrived in this watershed. Thanks to cool springs originating in the surrounding elevated areas, Hagan Creek stands out for its ability to maintain adequate cool waterflows, even during the hot summer months. With longer, more severe droughts and high-temperature periods on the peninsula in recent years, such systems are becoming increasingly important as refuges for cold-water specialists like trout and salmon.

Cutthroat trout in the Hagan-Graham watershed

The Hagan-Graham watershed is isolated from the ocean by a seven-metre-high waterfall at its mouth where it flows into a small estuary. This prevents any migratory salmon or trout from entering the system, and means that all cutthroat trout in the watershed are resident fish. The stream does not receive any contributions of fish from elsewhere; if the resident population is wiped out, it cannot be rebuilt from migrants. The falls have likely been in place for thousands of years, creating an isolated trout population that has evolved independently of others nearby. Genetic assessments of such populations have demonstrated that retaining genetic diversity (important to the resilience of populations) is directly related to the amount of usable habitat accessible to the fish. These findings highlight the importance of protecting and restoring as much habitat as possible when isolated populations cannot rely on immigration from nearby locations to bolster numbers or genetic diversity.

Restoring Hagan Creek

Significant restoration efforts in the watershed, including on Hagan Creek, have been undertaken since the early 2000s. Unfortunately, the condition of Hagan Creek on MÁWUEĆ remained such that while cool water was available, the channel was not in a condition to support a robust cutthroat population. In 2021, PSS received funds from the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC’s Native Trout Stewardship Initiative to begin assessments on the stream to ascertain the presence of trout, and the status of fish habitat. This work identified key sections of stream and surrounding riparian areas that could benefit from restoration.

Restoration work included the creation of a large side-channel, and replanting the riparian area with native vegetation to push out invasive canary grass (Images (L to R): David Elliot; Sue Pollard)

The Society provided further stewardship funds to PSS in 2022 to work with the Tsartlip First Nation to plan and deliver habitat restoration activities in the watershed. Using these funds as leverage, the group has since managed to generate significant support in the form of funds, partnerships, and volunteer time. With these resources, major improvements have been completed or are underway to create a large side-channel and riffle sections on MÁWUEĆ, remove invasive plants, and replant riparian sections with native plant species. While restoration is far from complete, there is good evidence that efforts so far have been successful. Older plantings have started to grow in along the stream to provide shading. Perhaps most encouraging, cutthroat trout have been seen feeding vigorously in the newly created side-channel.

Left: Before restoration activities (Image: Katrina Adams); Middle: Restoration work begins (Image: Dave Elliot); Right: After restoration activities (Image: Katrina Adams).

You can get involved! For more information and opportunities to volunteer on this and other local projects involving the Peninsula Streams Society, please go to www.PeninsulaStreams.ca

For additional information, please see: 

• Tsartlip First Nation Celebrates Return of MÁWUEĆ – Tsartlip First Nation
• Hagan Creek Map
• Other projects funded by the FFSBC’s Native Trout Stewardship Initiative

Author: Sue Pollard, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC