24th Annual Douglas Creek Salmon Carcass Transplant

Name: 24th Annual Douglas Creek Salmon Carcass Transplant
Start: 2026-01-10T10:00:00-08:00
Location: Douglas Creek Bridge and Outdoor Classroom

Schedule

Sat, 10 Jan, 2026 at 10:00 am

UTC-08:00

Location

Douglas Creek Bridge and Outdoor Classroom | Victoria, BC

Join the PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy to help restore the ecological balance of Douglas Creek by transplanting salmon carcasses back into the ecosystem. This hands-on activity supports the recovery of this important salmon habitat and provides an educational experience for all ages. 🐟✨🌲
📅 When: Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM
📍 Where: Douglas Creek Bridge and Outdoor Classroom (https://maps.app.goo.gl/5y5XbXykrDKcv1TS7)
🏔️ PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) and Douglas Creek lies within the territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ (represented by the W̱JOȽEȽP, BOḰEĆEN, SȾÁUTW̱, W̱SIḴEM and MÁLEXEȽ Nations) as well as the the lək ̓wəŋən peoples, represented by the Songhees and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations. The W̱SÁNEĆ and lək ̓wəŋən peoples have been here since time immemorial, and their relationship with the land and water is long and rich.
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Enjoy speakers, educational displays, hot beverages, and learn more about our efforts at the Conservancy's membership table.
The event will happen rain or shine (the salmon don't care). Please dress for the outdoors, but leave your favourite winter coat at home — this can be slimy but rewarding experience!
This is a family-friendly event. Children are most welcome, but for safety reasons, each child must be accompanied/supervised by a responsible parent or guardian.
We can’t wait to see you there!
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This event is made possible by our good friends at the Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association. To learn more about the incredible work that GVSEA does, please visit: www.goldstreamhatchery.ca
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How transplanting salmon carcasses helps bridge the gap between marine and terrestrial ecosystems:
Transplanting salmon carcasses into Douglas Creek simulates the ecological process that would naturally occur in a healthy stream ecosystem when salmon return to their natal creeks to spawn en masse, complete their life cycle and die, leaving behind carcasses that are incredibly nutrient-rich. This natural process is how marine nutrients find their way back into terrestrial ecosystems, through the breakdown of these returning salmon carcasses that have spent years feeding in the Pacific Ocean.
Although Douglas Creek has seen returns of salmon each year since restoration work began, including record-breaking return in the fall of 2024, the numbers have not (yet!) reached their full potential, so the annual Douglas Creek Salmon Carcass Transplant continues. The transplanted carcasses also attract scavengers like river otters, racoons, eagles, and ravens, who help distribute the nutrients deeper into PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park), enriching the ecosystem further.
A remarkable study* published in 2023 by researchers at Simon Fraser University looked at the impact that nutrients from salmon carcasses had on the growth of native coastal plants. The research showed that wildflowers (including Douglas’ aster, Common red paintbrush, Common yarrow, and Silverweed) in areas where salmon carcasses had been dispersed grew larger leaves and bigger flowers, directly benefiting the pollinators dependent on these plant species.
Western science is beginning to recognize the insights of Traditional Ecological Knowledge that Coast Salish First Nations have held for millennia. These findings underscore the vital connection between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, reminding us that salmon are a keystone species working to bridge the gap between land and sea even after death.
*[Dennert, A.M., Elle, E. and Reynolds, J.D. (2023) ‘Experimental addition of marine-derived nutrients affects wildflower traits in a coastal meta-ecosystem’, Royal Society Open Science, 10(1). doi:10.1098/rsos.221008. ]