Many migratory birds use Heron Cove as a port of call.
Sea stars have been returning to the cove after a mass die-off.
With richer food sources, the Oyster Catchers have become regular visitors to the cove.
Many migratory birds use Heron Cove as a port of call.
Heron Cove
A Special Place
Although Victoria's harbour has been recognized as a natural ecological area for local and migratory birds, and designated a Migratory Bird Sanctuary since 1923, like other active industrial marine ports, the harbour has had a toxic history, and especially in the area surrounding Fisherman's Wharf and Heron Cove.
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Heron Cove historically offered a tidal grid for boats to dock for minor repairs and cleanings. A vessel could tie-up at high tide and as the tide went out, the boat's hull could be inspected, cleaned, patched and sealed before the arrival of the next high tide. Further up the shore was home to a paint factory with all manner of toxins and contaminates. For years, the city's storm drains dumped silt and such directly into the little cove. In many ways, it's amazing there is any life at all in Heron Cove.
But there is.
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The decommissioning of the tidal grid, and improvements to the city drains and filtration via a natural rain garden in Fisherman's Wharf Park have had a tremendously positive impact on the cove including all the wildlife both above and below the water.
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Heron Cove is a perfect example of Nature's sheer determination to prevail. While human influence has undoubtedly damaged the seabed, foreshore, water and wildlife, the unstoppable will of Nature to survive is evident in every crevice of Heron Cove.
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In recent years, Heron Cove has seen a rapid return of many local and migratory birds. It is estimated that over 120 different species of birds spend time in the cove, some more than others. Oyster Catchers, King Fishers, Canadian Geese, Trumpeter Swans, Brown Pelicans and many ducks and smaller birds all spend time in and around Heron Cove. The Great Blue Heron, for whom the cove is named, is a long-time, year-round resident of the cove and can be regularly seen, day and night, rain or shine, fishing along the shore of the rocky spit, or throughout the cove in low tide.
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The presence of the many birds points to another important regeneration of the ecosystem - life below water. A revitalized native Olympic Oyster bed is especially promising for the continued rehabilitation of the cove, and offers hope that the negative impact of human intervention can actually be halted and reversed. See the link below to watch the incredible and natural ability of oysters to filter "dirty" water.
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The return of sea vegetation, small fishes and other sea life provides a buffet of food choices for larger wildlife, including seals, river otters, raccoons, and minks.
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Potentially the only urban sanctuary to view migratory birds in Victoria, Heron Cove is truly a special place like no other in our historic harbour. As a community, we wish to continue restoring and preserving the cove and all its inhabitants.
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The float home community has a special interest in protecting Heron Cove. Watching the cove recover in recent years has inspired different restoration and regeneration opportunities, such as the installation of reef balls and the reseeding of native oyster beds. As stewards of this sensitive urban area, we are committed to protecting the water, land and wildlife for all generations to come.
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UPDATE - May 12, 2017 from the Times Colonist
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Single bid, $1M over budget, puts harbour pathway bridges on hold
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Victoria’s building boom means the construction of two pedestrian bridges along the David Foster Harbour Pathway will have to wait, after the only bid to build them came in $1 million over budget. The city had planned to build foot bridges at Raymur Point and Heron Cove in James Bay, and create a “special place” at Heron Cove with a gathering space and access to the shoreline. The budget for the project is about $4.27 million. Ninety-nine companies downloaded the tender documents, but only one bid was received and it came in $1 million over budget, Victoria councillors were told Thursday.
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“Really, the problem here isn’t the $1 million over. It’s that we got no competitive bids,” said Mayor Lisa Helps, adding: “I think it’s never wise — unless it is an emergency — to proceed with just one bid, because we don’t know what else would have come in.”
Fraser Work, the city’s director of engineering, told councillors that the amount of construction underway in the city is likely to blame for the lack of bids. “There’s only a certain number of contractors who have the skills and capacity to perform this type of work and that climate is really influencing this price tag,” Work said.
Several councillors said they were reluctant to defer work on the bridges, which are seen as key connectors between Ogden Point to downtown. “I had really been looking forward to the construction of, in particular, the Heron Cove bridge, which I think really will add to the usefulness and attractiveness of that waterfront pathway,” Coun. Geoff Young said. “So it’s with great regret that I accept the staff’s recommendation to postpone it.”
Coun. Marianne Alto said she’s not convinced the deferral will result in cost savings down the road unless there’s a significant re-examination of the bridge design. But, she said, given the $1-million overage and the lack of competitive bids, “this is not a good investment at this time.” Councillors agreed to staff recommendations to defer work on the bridges and special place and instead focus on other aspects of the trail, including the section through Reeson Park and the Johnson Street Bridge pedestrian underpass.
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The city had secured $1.4 million from the Trans Canada Trail Foundation. The funding was dependent on the two bridges and special place being completed by Sept. 30. It is hoped that the funding can be used on other aspects of the trail. “I do not know right now if Trans Canada Trail would honour a modification to this financial gearing, but that potential is something to consider,” Work said.
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This is the second time in as many years the building boom has been blamed for a delay in a city project. Last year, the city put off the start of its new 1.2-kilometre separated bike lane on Pandora Avenue because of a lack of competitive bids. The new Pandora cycle track, which just opened at a cost of $3.4 million, had originally been forecast to cost $2.16 million.
Bill Cleverley / Times Colonist bcleverley@timescolonist.com
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