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The Galiano Conservancy Association conserves land through direct acquisition to protect habitat for wildlife, maintain ecosystems that are characteristic of the Southern Gulf Islands and provide access to nature for education purposes. The Conservancy is actively fundraising to protect the Great Beaver Swamp.
The Great Beaver Swamp
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| Beaver Swamp Sunset |
As far back as 1888, William Ralph mapped “The Great Beaver Swamp” in a survey of District Lot 61. Since his 1888 survey, the beaver dam has been breached and this wetland was briefly used as pasture in the middle of the 20th century. In its more recent history, the beaver have returned to the area and have restored the “Great Beaver Dam” so that the approximately 6 hectare wetland system is today a similar size to that described by William Ralph in 1888.
The Great Beaver Swamp is one of the largest wetlands on Galiano, an island where surface water is scarce – especially in the summer months. It provides valuable habitat for birds and amphibians and is a regular watering hole for Black-tailed deer, River Otter, Mink and other mammals. It is also the source of Beaver Creek which flows northeast to Cable Bay on the Georgia Straight side of Galiano.
| "[The Great Beaver Swamp] is an excellent example of landscape and watershed-level conservation planning that ensures protection of not just an individual wetland or stream, but the entire wetland complex, stream and riparian areas." |
| The BC Conservation Data Centre |
The acquisition of the Great Beaver Swamp is an integral component in the protection of the Beaver Creek Watershed which is protected by both Crown land and Conservancy land in the Pebble Beach Reserve. When the acquisition of the Great Beaver Swamp is complete it will become a part of the Pebble Beach Reserve.
The acquisition of the Great Beaver Swamp and the adjoining Pebble Beach Reserve has been supported by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Islands Trust Fund and Pacific Marine Heritage Legacy. To contribute to the acquisition of this property, please donate to the Galiano Conservancy Association.
Past Acquisition Projects
Other Galiano Conservancy Association acquisition projects have included:
- Mount Sutil
- District Lot 63 (part of the Pebble Beach Reserve)
- Laughlin Lake
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Land Acquisition