Wetlands, Lakes, and Streams

Wetland ecosystems provide essential habitat for many species, including rare amphibians, birds, and insects.  They also store, clean, and help infiltrate rainwater, providing a valuable service for all living creatures that call Galiano home.

Historically, Galiano had significantly more wetlands than it currently does.  The larger wetlands were commonly constructed by beavers (Castor canadensis), and most of our remaining lakes and complex wetlands are beaver-maintained.  Many of the wetlands that existed prior to colonization have been drained for agricultural use, such as for farm land and grazing land.  To this day, some of these areas remain the most productive and important agricultural land on the Island.  In other cases, agricultural use has ceased, but other factors have prevented the recovery of wetland ecosystems.  Whatever the reason, the wetlands our Island currently supports represent only a fraction of the historical and potential wetland footprint.

The Galiano Conservancy has a long history of protecting and restoring streams and wetlands and is actively engaged in stream reconstruction and wetland restoration at the Millard Learning Centre.  Laughlin Lake, Finlay Lake, and the Great Beaver Swamp are all important wetland ecosystems stewarded by the Galiano Conservancy.