Stoneridge Wetland

- 4000+ plants - Over 20 hours of work - 30 volunteers WE DID IT!!!... It took a lot of effort, dealing with deep mud, rainy days and smoky skies, but the dedicated team of volunteers were able to plant over 4000+ native plants into Stoneridge Wetland. What an achievement!! Stoneridge Weltand looks amazing! All these new plants not only increase the biodiversity of the wetland, but will help slow the spread of the invasive parrot’s feather. To all the volunteerrs who helped with this project, you are an awesome level of awesomeness! We could never have done this without your help. Much appreciated! The next step will be for the Stoneridge Wetland stewardship team to continually monitor and remove parrot’s feather from the wetland. We were able knock it back during this restoration project, but it’s not eradicated yet. There’s still lots of work to do. We will continue to have volunteer events throughout the fall, at least until the water levels become too high to work. Keep following this page, and message me if you have any questions. Thanks! Mark.

TOMORROW! Stoneridge Wetland volunteer work party is tomorrow (Sunday) from 10 am - 1 pm. The weather promised to behave, giving us sunny skies with a high of 15 C. and only a scant 20% chance of rain. Nice!... There are maybe 500+ plants that still need to go into ground. Bring boots or sturdy shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy. Meet at the wetland trail at the end of Stoneridge place. See you Sunday!!

A HUGE thanks to the Greater Victoria Green Team for all their hard work today! The wetland is looking great. There are still many plants that need to go into the ground. There will be another volunteer event this weekend SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27 from 10 - 1. Grab some boots and come on down to the wetland. We could use the help!

The Greater Victoria Green Team is in the house, ern, wetland! Drop by today and help out! Still lots of planting to finish.... Two sessions 10:30 - 12 and 12-30 - 2:00

When the people go and the wetland is finally still and calm, a deer magically appear.

It’s looking very wet out there. These plants were above water just last night! This is the wetland’s super power: the ability to absorb massive quantities of surface water and then slowly release it. amongst other things, the wetland helps to control flooding, keeping your basement dry. So next time you’re walking past, give thanks to your friendly neighbourhood wetland!

There will be TWO upcoming wetland volunteer events. Please see below for details: Event #1: This work party will be supported by the Greater Victoria Green Team on ** Thursday, September 24 ** (2 sessions). ... Use the links below to reserve a spot. 1st Session: https://www.meetup.com/Greater-Victoria.../events/273233682/ 2nd Session: https://www.meetup.com/Greater-Victoria.../events/273233684/ Event #2: This event will be on ** Sunday September 27 ** from 10-1. Meet at the wetland trail (end of Stoneride Place). Parking is limited. All tools and snacks will be provided. Yumm!!!

The weather was absolutely perfect for today's volunteer event! A HUGE thanks to everyone for all your hard work! We even had a visit from Mayor David Screech dropped by to have a look. He was very impressed. We got lots of work done, but there's still more planting to be done. There will be another volunteer event on Thursday, September 24 (Sponsored by the Greater Victoria Green Team) and a second event on Sunday, September 27. I'll make another post with the specific details later.

We kicked up invasive species removal a notch by deploying the Stoneridge Wetland Parrot’s feather Attack Boat (SWPFAB) today. There are pockets of parrot’s fea...ther deep in the north pond that cannot be removed from shore. There was a huge root ball right smack in the middle that I was able to get out (with lots of effort and using the rake as lever). We got lots accomplished today, feeling really good for the volunteer work party tomorrow! The weather will be good (sunny with cloudy periods) with good air quality. Hope to see you there!

Woops, forgot the rake!

Rowing out into the north pond in the Stoneridge Wetland Parrot’s Feather Attack Boat (SWPFAB). I coming for you, Parrot’s feather!

Great news! Ducks have returned to the newly restored open water! I have been waiting expectantly for ducks to return to the wetland ever since the restoration was completed. A good sign! it makes all the hard work worthwhile.

The Stoneridge Wetland work party is only THREE days away! If you are planning to participate, please contact [email protected] by Saturday at 4:00 pm to reserve your spot. Please note the following:... - If you or anyone that you have been close to within the last 14 days are feeling unwell, please stay home. Please follow all of the provincial COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Masks are optional, but we will remind participants to maintain 2 m distancing at all times. - The event will be cancelled if the Environment Canada Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for the Westshore is 7 or higher on Sunday. You can check the AQHI rating here: https://weather.gc.ca/airquality/pages/bcaq-015_e.html - Heavy rain could also cause event cancellation. - Please check your email for cancellation notices before you leave your house for the event. - Parking is limited in the Stoneridge neighbourhood. A few spots are also available near the entrance to Eagle View Elementary School on Watkiss Way, and Aldersmith Park off Meadowpark Lane. - Meet at the end of Stoneridge Place (see attached map). - Wear rubber boots or old sneakers that you don't mind getting wet or muddy. Or stay on the drier parts of the planting areas. - Please bring shovels or trowels if you have them. - There will be plenty of invasive plants available for participants who would rather harvest than plant. - No pets please. Children will need to be supervised as the open water ponds are very deep.

We’ll be having not one but TWO volunteer work parties, to help get 4000+ native plants into the wetland. There is a bit of urgency here, as the new plants will need to be planted soon so they can begin to develop roots before the fall rains start. Also, we need to get them planted before it rains otherwise the wetland will be too wet to work in. *** FIRST WORK PARTY:... Sunday, September 20 from 10 am to 1 pm. - meet at the wetland trail at the end of Stoneridge Place - bring boots, gloves, hat and a hand shovel if you have one - no experience necessary *** SECOND WORK PARTY: This work party will be supported by the Greater Victoria Green Team on Thursday, September 24 (2 sessions). Use the links below to reserve a spot. 1st Session: https://www.meetup.com/Greater-Victoria-Green-//273233682/ 2nd Session: https://www.meetup.com/Greater-Victoria-Green-//273233684/ Thanks for you help!

Due to poor air quality, the wetland volunteer event scheduled for Sunday September 13 will be postponed. We will reschedule tentatively for Sunday, September 20 from 10 am to 1 pm. Check back for updates. There is a bit of urgency here, as the new plants will need to be planted soon so they can begin to develop roots before the fall rains start. Also, we need to get them planted before it rains otherwise the wetland will be too wet to work in.

Woot! The native plants from Saanich Native Plants arrived today! A really nice variety of plants, so excited to get these beauties into the ground!

This looks amazing!

Please keep an eye out for the resident turtle and muskrat. The project biologist and engineer did look for the turtle but could not find it. Really hope they were not injured. Let me know if you see them.

See that gravel path that leads into the marsh? It is NOT a public path. This gravel path will be used during the native vegetation planting next week, and for future maintenance of the wetland (like invasive species removal). The open water can be dangerous, with steep, irregular slopes and very deep water. Stoneridge wetland is a sensitive ecosystem that provide a habitat for a wide variety of plants, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians. Wandering into the wetland can i...mpact sensitive aquatic vegetation and disrupt nesting and breeding birds. There’s still lots to see from the comfort and safety of the wetland trail. I’m betting that ducks will return soon now that the ponds are no longer clogged with parrot’s feather. Grab a pair of binoculars and scan the thickets across the marsh they are always full of songbirds! And in the spring all those tadpoles!