Beckwith Pond dam decommissioning and associated ecological restoration work will begin later this summer. We expect the project to have significant environmental benefits to the Beckwith Park landscape with only minor disruptions to public use of the park.
Water License Removal
Beckwith Pond is a constructed landscape feature formerly used by farmers in the area as an irrigation pond who had a water license issued by the Province for irrigation purposes. The primary objective of the Beckwith Pond Dam Decommissioning Project is to remove the water license held by an adjacent property owner and in order to remove the water license; the Provincial Dam Safety Office requires a breach to the dam to ensure that it poses no liability or safety risk to the public in the future.
Dam Decommissioning
The decommissioning of dams in the Province is administered by Dam Safety Officers and the B.C. Dam Safety Program works to reduce risks associated with the design, construction, operation, maintenance, removal and/or decommissioning of a dam. The decommissioning of the Beckwith Pond dam structure is a prerequisite for removal of the water license. This also means the owners of the water licence are responsible for dam decommissioning even though the dam is located in Beckwith Park. The dam decommissioning plan has been reviewed by a provincial Dam Safety Officer and is compliant with requirements of the provincial Water Sustainability Act and Dam Safety Regulation.
Retention of Beckwith Park Amenities
The continuous looped path around the Beckwith Pond takes advantage of the dam structure on the eastern edge and pathways that lead off into adjacent neighbourhoods connect to the looped trail, making it a popular neighbourhood walking route. A key outcome of this project is to retain the loop trail and its connections, as such, the required breach in the dam will see pedestrian bridge approximately 10m in length.
Wildlife Habitat Enhancements
As a result of the breach in the dam, several habitat enhancements will be realized at the new bridge site.
New Stream Channel
The removal of an approximately 10m wide section of the dam (i.e., the breach) will allow the construction of a new stream channel designed to take the overflow from the pond and direct it safely into the Beckwith Creek.
Stream Channel Plantings
All of the plants chosen for the stream restoration are indigenous to the southern Vancouver Island region. Plants such as Ocean Spray, Pacific Ninebark, Red Twig Dogwood and mixture of rushes and sedges will provide habitat (food and nesting materials) to encourage diversity and a healthy ecosystem for birds and other animals.
Pond Riparian Vegetation
The water level of the pond will decrease slightly from the current condition because of the breach but this will allow riparian species such as Red Osier Dogwood and Willows to colonize the newly exposed soil around the perimeter of the pond. This habitat type can be particularly valuable for songbirds.
Berm Plantings
Like the channel riparian plantings, the plants proposed for the fill berm area are all indigenous to region. All the plants are tolerant of summer drought, and therefore do not need to be irrigated once established. They will provide habitat for insects, birds, and animals, and offer natural beauty throughout the growing seasons.
Invasive Species
Presently, an abundance of blackberries in the northeast corner of the site will be buried to form a small berm. The berm will be planted with a mixture of Douglas Fir, Big Leaf Maples, Red Alder and Oregon Oak, with the soil being seeded with a meadow mix.
Questions or comments?
Contact us at parks@saanich.ca or 250-475-5522.