Bear Mountain Living Up To “Eco” in Name
This is the Fourth Year That Osborne Pond Has Served as a Nursery for Juvenile Coho.
Image Courtesy Bear Mountain.
Late last year, the Ecoasis-owned Bear Mountain partnered with the Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association to once again stock their “Osborne” pond on the Valley Course’s 15th hole with 5,000 juvenile Coho salmon.
The juvenile Coho salmon (coincidentally called “parr”) came from the Howard English Hatchery.
Peter McCully, technical consultant and retired biologist for the Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association, explained, “The installation of the fish ladders is integral to our Associations’ work in the Millstream watershed, as the nursery in Osborne Pond provides greater population stability improving the chances of survival for these juvenile Coho. Prior to the introduction of parr to Osborne Pond, there was no salmon in Millstream Creek. Our goal is to maintain and improve salmon stocks to support the food fishery for First Nations communities, the sport fishery, and local commercial and charter fishing operations in the area. Facilitating conditions to support a new salmon run is very exciting for all of us.”
Bear Mountain said in a press release, “Turning Osborne Pond into a nursery for these parr is an integral part of a larger conservation initiative to strengthen the numbers of Coho, Chum, and Chinook salmon in the waters off the south easterly tip of Vancouver Island. The juvenile fish will complete their fresh water development in Osborne Pond, before entering the Millstream watershed to return to the ocean in Esquimalt harbour.”
Prior to introducing the parr into the ponds, the Association tests the water quality to ensure that there are no harmful pesticides and fertilizers present. Over the past decade, all water tests at Bear Mountain have come back negative, which is a strong demonstration of Bear Mountain’s prudent environmental practices.
This initiative is in keeping with Bear Mountain’s ongoing commitment to promoting eco-friendly practices.
They offer what are termed “Green Tours,” where people can take a self-guided golf cart eco-tour on the cart path around The Valley Course. Open to the public, people can experience the rich natural habitat of the 102-acre setting of mature forests while following the cart path. For many non-golfers, this may be their first opportunity to drive a golf cart, adding some fun to the educational experience. The tours cost $29.00, which includes a golf cart for 2 persons. Partial proceeds from the tours will benefit the Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association.