Seagrass Meadows along Metchosin’s Coastline

There are several areas along Metchosin’s coastline where there are beds of the two species of sea grasses.

zosteraEelgrass : Zostera marina: http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/eco/taxalab/2006/zosteram/zosteram.htm

See this map, for locations of eel grass meadows, at #5 (off Taylor Beach) and # 12, (behind Swordfish Island)

 

phyllospadixSurf Grass: Phyllospadix scouleri : http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/eco/taxalab/phyllospadix.htm
Surf grass is most common on the   West shore of Race Rocks (#11) and Church Island (#12)

 

The Coastline of Metchosin is not as protected as the inner shores of the Victoria to Sidney area. Eelgrass needs protection and thus is minimally  important in our area as  fish habitat compared to the macro-algal kelp beds.

The following reference details the work done on the mapping of sea grasses in other areas of lower Vancouver island:
From: Island Trust Fund E-News Update March 27, 2013

Why we are mapping eelgrass

Seagrasses form large meadows that serve as nursery habitat and a refuge for juvenile fishes.  The leaves serve as a cornerstone for the marine food web, supplying nutrients to salmonids and other fish, shellfish, waterfowl and about 124 species of faunal invertebrates.

Eelgrass habitats within the Salish Sea provide the basis for the region’s commercial and recreational fisheries revenue.  The productivity of native seagrasses rivals the world’s richest rainforests.Eelgrass habitats capture and store large amounts of carbon at much more efficient rates than terrestrial forests.  Scientists estimate the salt marshes and seagrass meadows of B.C. sequester the equivalent of the emissions of some 200,000 passenger cars.

Contaminates and shoreline development put pressure on fragile eelgrass meadow ecosystems.  To protect eelgrass, we need to know where it is.  We’re mapping eelgrass habitat so that we can better plan our strategies to conserve these valuable underwater ecosystems

New Eelgrass Maps Released

The Islands Trust Fund is mapping nearshore eelgrass habitat in the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound, in partnership with SeaChange Marine Conservation Society and the Seagrass Conservation Working Group.

Eelgrass Mapping Completed

Additional Technical Reference :
Mapping of Eelgrass (Zostera marina) at Sidney Spit Marine Park, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Using High Spatial Resolution Remote Imagery: by Jennifer D. O’Neill BSc, University of Victoria, 2006:

ABSTRACT: The main goal of this thesis was to evaluate the use of high spatial remote imagery to map the location and biophysical parameters of eelgrass at Sidney Spit Marine Park, part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. To meet this goal, three objectives were addressed: (1) Define key spectral variables which provide optimum separation between eelgrass and its associated benthic substrates, using in situ hyperspectral measurements, and simulated IKONOS and Landsat 7ETM+ spectral response; (2) evaluate the efficacy of these key variables in classification of the high spatial resolution imagery, AISA and IKONOS, at various levels of processing, to determine the processing methodology which offers the highest eelgrass mapping accuracy; and (3) evaluate the potential of ―value-added classification of two eelgrass biophysical indicators, LAI and epiphyte type.

Ecologically Sensitive Areas of Coastal Metchosin

ecoareas

This list does not necessarily include all ecologically sensitive areas. Arguments could be made for the complete coastline being ecologically sensitive.
1.Lagoon with shorebird habitat, Sensitive dune vegetation
on sand shore.
2.Coastal Islands with harbour seal haulouts

3.Harbourseal haulout

4.Coastal lagoon, migratory and resident seabird habitat.

5.Eel grass beds offshore. Sensitive dune vegetation on sand shore.

6. High current invertebrate community

7. Estuary, mudflat habitat for overwintering shorebirds.

8. Cormorant winter roosting colony.

9. Kelp bed for fish spawning and seabird habitat. Great blue herons often feed from the kelp

10. High current channel with harbour seal haulouts and winter feeding grounds for seabirds, some migratory. Western Grebes and Buffleheads frequent the area in winter.

11. High current area, with significant invertebrate colonies,
kelp beds, a rockfish protection area, marine mammal haulout and seabird nesting and overwintering habitat.

12. Island ecosystems, swept with strong currents bearing significant invertebrate colonies.

13. Island ecosystems with significant invertebrate and kelp beds.