Royal Bay Parks
Hatley Park || Delora Park || Latoria Park
Latoria Creek Park
The plan for "The Bluffs" proposes the creation of a major new park - "Latoria Creek Park. " When planning commenced on Royal Bay in 1995 Latoria Creek Park was to be 20 acres in size but as result of the studies the park was enlarged to 30 acres.
The studies recommended a buffer along the creek sufficient to ensure that the riparian vegetation and cool humid micro climates of importance to plants and wildlife would be maintained. This buffer will vary in width, depending upon terrain features.
The proposed park includes representative areas of all ecosystems identified in The Bluffs area including riparian areas, open or forested rock outcrops and areas of second growth forest. Five of six veteran trees close to the creek are included within the park. The rock bluff (identified as "polygon 22") within which the california comandra is associated is included in the park. The rock bluff at "polygon 17," also associated with the California comandra, is largely within the park; the balance falls within two lots for detached housing.
A management plan for the Latoria Creek Park has been developed which will have the following elements:
- incorporating the park into the perimeter pathway, a linear park and pathway that encircles Royal Bay;
- establishing a network of trails for pedestrians including boardwalks with look-outs. Cyclists and horse riding will not be permitted within the Creek area - a separate path for cyclists will be provided;
- ensuring bank stability;
- minimizing impacts on sensitive wildlife habitat and water quality;
- raising awareness through education and interpretation programs to ensure public access respects the park's integrity.
The detailed design of the park will be undertaken with the City of Colwood. The improvements will be undertaken at the cost of Royal Bay.
About Latoria Creek
Latoria Creek is an "ephemeral stream". It runs from Latoria Road to Metchosin Road through Royal Bay in a southeasterly direction for approximately one kilometre. The stream flows through a deep gully created by a fault in the bedrock. This part of Latoria Creek represents a small part of its overall catchment area.
This stretch of the creek has been protected from despoliation by virtue of its location within the property owned by Construction Aggregates Ltd. (CAL) and its relative inaccessibility.
Latoria Creek has two headwater channels: the west originates from two ponds located on the Olympic View Golf Course and the east headwater drains from a wetland marsh located adjacent to a private house on Latoria Road.
Upstream from the proposed park the creek channel has been highly modified. These modifications include ditching along Latoria Road and channelization within residential properties. Along Latoria Road the stream has been placed in many residential driveway culverts and the riparian vegetation has been cleared along much of this stretch of the stream.
Southeast from the proposed park, the creek flows under Metchosin Road in a 1.3 metre culvert that is 45 metres long. To the south of Metchosin Road the creek enters the District of Metchosin and an area of detached homes before emptying out to the sea at Albert Head Lagoon. South of Metchosin Road the Creek plunges through a narrow cut in a bedrock seam dropping over a vertical distance of approximately six metres.
Downstream of the bedrock waterfalls, the creek flows through a series of six man made dams with drops of 1 to 1.5 meters before entering a man made pond.
The bedrock waterfall and series of concrete dams preclude any upstream fish migration from the local tidal reaches of the Creek.
Within the Latoria Creek catchment area on the property vegetation cover varies. The Latoria Creek Park Plan Inventory Analysis shows that western red cedar, sword fern and skunk cabbage are dominant along most of the flood plain with Douglas-fir and salal forest common on the drier creek banks. This forested area consists of naturally regenerated coniferous trees with salal or Oregon grape covering much of the forest floor.
Vegetation and Topography
Within the area forming "The Bluffs" no red listed species ("at risk" - rare endangered species) were found in the area, but one blue listed species (a lower order of ranking for species at risk ) was identified. The latter, Meadow nemophilia was found on two rock bluffs. California comandra, a parasitic green herb, was found on a rock outcrop along the western edge of Latoria Creek adjacent to a veteran tree. This species is common in the interior of BC but is unusual in the Coastal region.
No rare ecosystems were found, although a number of ecosystems and individual "veteran trees" were considered to have sufficient merit to be designated sensitive and meriting protection.
Outside Latoria Creek Park, the balance of the Bluffs is dominated by Douglas fir forest, although there are variations in associated vegetation depending on soil depth, orientation and soil moisture. The larger specimens of Douglas fir and the "denser "area of reforestation are generally along the western boundary of the site. Veteran trees remain within the forested area, although their condition is variable. All veteran trees were located on plans as part of studies undertaken. The largest concentration of veteran trees is adjacent to the western boundary of the area. Veteran trees are those trees predating the existing predominant forest. They may be 100 years in age.
Another major ecosystem found in the subject area is designated, "Sweet vernal grass - Sea Blush". This ecosystem occurs on rock outcrops where the soil is extremely shallow and the bedrock is at or near the surface. Vegetation is dominated by a large variety of herbs, mosses and lichens. Adjacent to the dominant vegetative cover is Douglas fir with Garry Oak, Arbutus and various shrubs. There are a number of these rock outcrops along the western edge of the Latoria Creek.
Wildlife
The Wildlife Study and the Latoria Creek Study surveyed for small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Black-tailed deer, rabbits and gray squirrels were found in the study area. Larger species of wild life, including bears, wolves and wolverines, were not considered likely be found in the area.
A total of 43 bird species were observed within Royal Bay as a whole; the blue listed turkey vulture was the only rare species observed and it was only seen flying over the area. No raptor nests were found in the study area, although some raptors were observed flying over the study area.
Latoria creek has the most varied and extensive riparian habitat in Royal Bay. Surveys confirmed the presence of a wide range of bird species as well as shrews, mice, deer, salamander and newts and frogs.
The aquatic study indicated that there was no evidence to suggest that the upper reaches of Latoria Creek support salmonid fish species. Upstream migration is precluded by the natural and artificial barriers that exist in and around the subdivision south and east of Metchosin Road. Although trout rearing habitat capabilities exist within Upper Latoria Creek, the studies suggest that no trout are present. Stickleback and scalpin were found in the creek.
