The Englishman River Estuary is located in the City of Parksville and within the Nature Trust British Columbia conservancy and protection. The 312-hectare Englishman River Estuary was acquired by Nature Trust between 1981 and 1992 to conserve a critical estuary, which has now become a model for successful conservation and restoration. The estuary is part of the Parksville-Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area. Species at risk that are known to use the Englishman River habitats include the Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Northern Goshawk, Townsend Big-eared Bat, Red-legged Frog, Coastal Cutthroat Trout, Steelhead, Coho and Chinook salmon. Millions of Pacific Herring spawn along the intertidal foreshore area each spring. The estuaries and foreshore zones also provide vital rearing habitat to Pacific salmonid species, while the river systems provide crucial habitat to spawning salmon, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat trout.
There are two areas for parking - one on Plummer Road just before the orange bridge heading north into Parksville and the other on San Malo Crescent. On the east side of the estuary, you will find easy access to a viewing platform perfect for bird watching and an overview of the estuary.
What is an estuary?
An estuary is a partly enclosed body of brackish water (more salinity than fresh water) along the coastline with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it. They form a transition zone between freshwater rivers and saline marine conditions. They are subject to several influences such as waves, tides, freshwater, and sediment. These variables provide high levels of nutrients making estuaries highly productive habitats. The Nanaimo River estuary is the largest estuary on Vancouver Island. As the river flow into the ocean sediment is deposited along the banks and basin. A delta is formed when the river deposits its material faster than the sea can remove it.
There are five major types of estuaries - classified by their geology or how they were formed. The five major types of estuaries are coastal plain, bar-built, delta system, tectonic, and fjord.
Coastal Plain – Formed at the end of the last ice age - as the ice melted sea levels rose and covered low-lying river valleys
Bar-built – Occurs when sandbars or barrier islands are built up by ocean waves and currents along coastal areas fed by one or more rivers or streams Delta system – Deltas form from sediment carried by a river as the flow leaves its mouth.
Tectonic – formed by the crustal movements along fault lines causing water to fill in. This type is small in number
Fjords – found along glaciated coasts and characterized by a deep basin that filled with water when the glaciers melted
Freshwater estuaries do not contain saltwater, they are unique combinations of river and lake water, which are chemically distinct. Unlike brackish estuaries where mixing processes are typically tidally driven, freshwater estuaries are most often storm-driven. In freshwater estuaries, the composition of the water is often regulated by storm surges and subsequent movement of lakewater.
While estuaries and coastal wetlands make up less than 3% of BC's coastline they provide habitat to over 80% of all fish and wildlife species. Half of BC's 8 most important estuaries are on Vancouver Island. Despite their importance, over 40% of estuaries throughout BC are threatened by development, modification, and pollution. The Englishman River originates on the slopes of Mount Arrowsmith for approximately 40 km in an easterly direction before entering into the Strait of Georgia near Parksville, forming the estuary. The banks of many estuaries are among the most heavily populated areas of the world, with about 60% of the world's population living along them causing degradation and overuse. The estuary is under considerable pressure from residential development as the population of Parksville grows at a rate higher than the provincial average. Shoreline hardening, invasive plants, pollution from stormwater, and increased human use are just a few of the impacts changing the dynamics of the system.
What does the Estuary do for you?
- Serves as a storm buffer, absorbing wave energy and rising tidal waters
- Provides nurseries and other critical habitat for many species of fish, shellfish, birds, and other living things that people eat (3/4 of commercial marine fish depend on estuaries at some point in their life cycle).
- Provides open space for quality of life and recreational experiences
- Provides tourism experiences
- Provides oxygen to us
- Absorbs human wastewater and other pollutants (to a limit)
- Influences high real estate prices
- Provides rich soils and freshwater for some of the best farmland
Things to note:
- The area is dog friendly, however, they MUST stay on a leash at all times. Please pick up after your dog!
- Although the majority of the trails are wide, there are a few that are quite overgrown, so this could cause difficulty for strollers or wheelchairs
- Please stay on the trails. This ensures that the more sensitive areas remain untouched.
- Don’t forget to bring your binoculars and camera
To log this earthcache send the answers to the owner. Please do not include them in your log.
1) The coordinates provide an excellent viewpoint of the estuary. Looking at it from here, which kind of estuary do you think the Englishman River estuary is and why? Describe what you see. Does it appear to be high or low tide?
2) According to the sign on the stand "ESTUARINE MARSH HABITAT REHABILITATION PROJECT" what is believed to be the primary cause of the declines in productivity?
Please post pictures of yourself at GZ or of anything of interest. Please DO NOT post the answers to these questions in your log. You also do not need to wait for a response before logging your find. Have fun, and enjoy the amazing views along the trail!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estuary https://www.naturetrust.bc.ca/news/legacy-landscapes-englishman-river-estuary https://www.mvihes.bc.ca/current-initiatives/caring-for-the-englishman-river-estuary
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