"an ideal park in jeopardy"

The West Coast of Vancouver Island is experiencing a major influx of population with consequent residential and commercial development. It is critical at such a time to ensure that planning already in place to guide this growth is implemented. The potential consequence of unplanned growth is to degrade and possibly destroy much of the ecological variety that makes the Island attractive.

The Timber West Company currently owns virtually all of the land in the Muir Creek watershed. Timber West is actively logging in the area and the company’s long-range plans include selling property in the 

Formal community planning through

the Capital Regional District since 1983

has identified the Muir Creek watershed as

desirable for park acquisition and needing

special consideration as wildlife and fisheries

habitat. The MCPS is working with

regional and provincial representatives to

sustain this area as a park.The implementation of these plans will

protect natural recreational spaces, habitat

to support ecosystem species, and protect 

genetic diversity.
 

The Muir Creek watershed is on the

boundary between Otter Point District

and Shirley-Jordan River District of the

Juan de Fuca Electoral Area of the Capital

Regional District (CRD). Preliminary

to the Official Community Plans for these

districts is the Sooke Official Settlement

Plan (1983) prepared by residents of the

Sooke Electoral Area in cooperation with

CRD planners.

Muir Creek is mentioned as one of the

significant drainage systems in need of

“protection in as natural, undisturbed

state as possible…as fish and wildlife

habitat, recreational areas and as water

supply areas” (page 23).

Muir Creek is also identified as a significant

salmon stream, important “not

just for the contribution…to the open

space system and the recreational opportunities…

but also for the commercial

opportunities” presented (page 48). This

plan recommends that in addition to the

CRD parks master plan, a Sooke parks

plan be developed with detailed guidelines

for the acquisition and development

of parks and trails in the Sooke Electoral

Area.

The Sooke Electoral Area Official Community

Plan (OCP) was adopted in 1988.

In 1996, the Sooke Electoral Area Long

Range Plan for Public Open Space was

appended to the OCP. These documents

are the current plans for the Otter Point

District and Shirley-Jordan River District.

They will be revised in 2007.

 

The Sooke Electoral Area Long Range

Plan has prioritized Muir Creek as the

fifth item on the public open space acquisitions

list: “acquire and protect Muir

Creek from creek mouth, all the way on

both sides.” The prior listings were sites

in the Sooke Village core which have

been processed. The plan assigned high

priority to acquiring parkland at Muir

Creek because it is considered “an ideal

park site…in jeopardy of damage” (page

33). It is also recognized that creating

this park will meet the needs of the larger

community of British Columbia.

The CRD Parks Master Plan acknowledges

a need for parks west of Sooke

District. It mentions a desire to establish

new regional trail links between the Galloping

Goose Regional Trail and the Juan

de Fuca Marine Trail: it suggests a desire

for Parks to acquire a wilderness area

west of Sooke, more swimming opportunities,

riparian ecosystems, old growth

forest, beach walks and marine ecosystems

in the areas preserved as parks by

the CRD. The CRD parks plan recognizes

that a larger park of regional importance

would not be in the mandate of a municipal

parks authority. Acquisition of

parkland in the Muir Creek watershed

and adjacent to the estuary would help

fill several of these gaps mentioned in the

CRD Parks Master Plan.

Muir Creek is unique in its natural richness

and scenic beauty. The diversity of

plant and animal species includes noted

species at risk. The area provides residents

and visitors the opportunity to

experience an accessible example of a

vanishing and unique West Coast Rain

Forest, with an unspoiled fish-bearing

stream. Local residents enjoy the beauty

of Muir Creek for sports, recreation,

education and quiet contemplation. This

resource enhances the quality of life and

provides far-reaching economic, social,

educational, recreational, healthful and

spiritual benefits to the community.

More Information

Muir Creek Protection Society

Recreational Activites

Beach Areas

Hydrology

Fossils

Flora

Fauna

What Now?

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