Planting

Over the past century, much of the Qualicum Beach area has been commercially logged, leaving only a few of the old growth forest in areas such as the Heritage Forest and scattered remnants in difficult to reach areas. 

The second growth trees have returned, but in lower Grandon Creek, the alders are at the end of their life cycle and new plantings are needed to preserve the tree canopy.  In the Lower Qualicum River Estuary Conservation Area (LQRECA), almost no trees have survived, leaving the area almost open.

Over many years, streamkeepers and other local groups have planted hundreds of native trees, primarily cedar and douglas fir, along the stream banks.  Many of these are now reaching substantial heights and are beginning to contribute shade and bank stabilization improvements.  Ongoing work will be needed to plant the private lands on the steep banks and replace the end-of-life alders.

THE LQRECA has been an area with almost twenty five years of planting and restoration efforts by Streamkeepers and other organizations, including the BCCF, the RDN, and DFO.  The conditions of the conservation area are challenging…the soil is primarily sand and gravel, it is hot and dry in summer, access is restricted, and access to fresh water is limited. 

Despite these constraints, several hundred plantings of native species of trees and bushes have been placed on several sites.  Based on hard won experience, the replanting has added several components to improve survival, including protective exclosures to limit damage from rabbits and deer; drip irrigation during the hot and dry summers; selection of the most hardy and successful plant species; and the addition of  good quality soil to plant locations.