History

Laughlin Lake is the headwaters for Greig Creek. The 13hectare lake is part of a 27hectare protected area purchased by the Galiano Conservancy Association and partners in 2001. The location of the lake puts it between several other protected areas in the mid island region making it key to landscape level connectivity.

The lake was recognized in print for the 1873 preemption grant for the lake and 160 surrounding acres, down to Retreat Cove. By the 1888 crown grant survey the lake is noted and mapped as a ditched field under cultivation. The lake bed seems to have continued to be employed in agriculture at least into the mid 20th Century. It is not until the 1970's, presumable when beaver re-colonize, that standing water begins to collect in the Laughlin Lake basin. In the late 1970's the east end of the lake is heavily disturbed by a gravel pit operation that mined up to the waters edge, a bay is created in the depression left by the gravel extraction expanding the lake area. In the 1990's more disturbance is created through the construction of a major road that crosses the island skirting the east end of Laughlin Lake. By the 1990's the lake is filled once again resembling it's 19th Century levels. The disturbed land around the East end of the lake was invaded by Scotch Broom(Link to non existant invasive species page). Restoration work at Laughlin Lake can be divided into three sections: