You protected a rare land-to-sea treasure at Deep Bay! Have a question? Contact us at gifts@bcparksfoundation.ca or 604-343-3975.
Deep Bay
Why Deep Bay matters
Deep Bay sits at the heart of one of Vancouver Island's richest coastal ecosystems. Here, forest, wetland, estuary, salmon-bearing creeks, and the Salish Sea come together in a way that's becoming increasingly rare.
“Places like this don’t come along very often. It’s one of those rare spots where forest, wetland, estuary, and ocean still meet the way they’re meant to. By protecting this land now, we’re keeping salmon moving through its creeks, birds returning to the estuary year after year, and the shoreline doing its job of filtering water before it reaches the Salish Sea. Opportunities to protect an intact land-to-sea system like this are increasingly rare, and stepping up here makes a real difference for this coast and all the life that depends on it.”
—Andy Day, CEO, BC Parks Foundation
A rare coastal ecosystem
Deep Bay lies at the northernmost edge of the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem on Vancouver Island, making it an important place for wildlife and plant species as the climate changes.
This property protects rare coastal forests, productive wetlands, important bird habitat, and salmon-bearing creeks that help sustain life throughout the region.
Protecting this land helps ensure wildlife and plant communities have the space they need to adapt and thrive as the climate changes.
A missing link from forest to ocean
Deep Bay connects 122.5 acres of forests, wetlands, estuaries, and the Salish Sea in a way few remaining parcels can.
To the north and south are Bowser Ecological Reserve, Rosewall Creek Provincial Park, Old Growth Management Areas, Visual Quality Objective protected lands, and more than 2,000 acres of Crown land protected for Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystems.
More than 4,300 acres of protected land already exist in this region, but much of it remains disconnected from the ocean.
Connecting this property to a recently BCPF-protected property of 83 acres completes a vital land-to-sea corridor, connecting thousands of acres of protected habitat to the rich marine ecosystems of Baynes Sound.
This land-to-sea connection is crucial for wildlife, water quality, climate resilience, and the health of the entire coastal ecosystem.
A stronghold for salmon, birds, and marine life
The creeks and estuaries that flow through Deep Bay support robust populations of coho, chum, pink, and chinook salmon, along with trout and other fish species.
Just offshore, Baynes Sound is Canada’s shellfish capital, a major herring spawning hotspot, and a critical feeding ground for migratory waterfowl.
The region is also part of the broader K’ómoks Estuary system, the second most important estuary on the BC coast after the Fraser River. Its rich marine life helps explain why the southern Salish Sea hosts more overwintering migratory waterfowl than any other region in Canada.
Your impact
This was a true community effort. BC Parks Foundation purchased the $4-million property with support from the , Comox Valley Land Trust, Nanaimo & Area Land Trust, and donors across the region. Thank you for helping to keep BC beautiful.
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