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Discovering Kwilakm
  • Discovering Kwilákm
  • About
  • Get Involved
  • Changing Climate
    • Hotter Ocean Temperatures
    • Changing Ocean Chemistry
    • Rising Sea Levels and Intensifying Winter Storms
    • When Seashore Temperatures Spike – Killer Heat Dome 2021
  • Terminal Creek
    • Where does Terminal Creek’s Water Come From?
    • Signal Crayfish
    • Terminal Creek Fish Hatchery
  • The Lagoon
    • The Tidal Inlet that became the Lagoon
    • Aquatic Plants
    • Chum Salmon
    • The Beaver
    • Canada Geese
    • Three-Spined Stickleback
  • Shores
    • Nearshore Forests
    • Beaches
    • The Terminal Creek Sand Flats
    • The Curious Clay Beds of Kwilákm
    • Blue Mussels
    • Clams
    • Purple Stars
    • Oysters in Kwilákm
  • Shallows
    • Eelgrass
    • Young Chum Salmon
    • Winter Bay Birds
    • Year-Round Bay Birds
  • Deeper Waters
    • Plankton
    • Northern Anchovy
    • Harbour Seal
    • Octopus
Conservancy logoBowen Island Conservancy
    • About
    • Get Involved
  • Discovering Kwilákm
    • About
    • Get Involved
  • Changing Climate
    • Hotter Ocean Temperatures
    • Changing Ocean Chemistry
    • Rising Sea Levels and Intensifying Winter Storms
    • When Seashore Temperatures Spike – Killer Heat Dome 2021
  • Terminal Creek
    • Where does Terminal Creek’s Water Come From?
    • Signal Crayfish
    • Terminal Creek Fish Hatchery
  • The Lagoon
    • The Tidal Inlet that became the Lagoon
    • Aquatic Plants
    • Chum Salmon
    • The Beaver
    • Canada Geese
    • Three-Spined Stickleback
  • Shores
    • Nearshore Forests
    • Beaches
    • The Terminal Creek Sand Flats
    • The Curious Clay Beds of Kwilákm
    • Blue Mussels
    • Clams
    • Purple Stars
    • Oysters in Kwilákm
  • Shallows
    • Eelgrass
    • Young Chum Salmon
    • Winter Bay Birds
    • Year-Round Bay Birds
  • Deeper Waters
    • Plankton
    • Northern Anchovy
    • Harbour Seal
    • Octopus

Photo: Will Husby

Shores

Nearshore Forests

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Discover Kwilakm » Story » Shores » Nearshore Forests

How can a forest be important to the waters of Kwilákm?

Even seasoned nature watchers can be surprised that there are many ways that adjacent vegetation supports and enhances the lives of many marine creatures and ecosystems.

Nearshore forests play an important role in protecting shoreline properties from the impact of storms and high tides.

The diagram below highlights the many benefits of intact shoreline forest to marine ecosystems and to owners of shoreline property.

Click on the Labels to show details for each feature of the Nearshore Forest cross-section below:

Figure: Will Husby
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Safety
Precipitation
Infiltration
Slope Stability
Evapotranspiration
Habitat
Food Source
Shade
Salmon
Waves
Comfort and Safety

Vegetation shelters homes from strong winds and reduces possibility of shoreline erosion.

Reduces Impact of Precipitation

Vegetation slows descent of rainfall, reducing speed of surface runoff, thereby reducing slope erosion.

Infiltration

Vegetation and roots increase water seeping into soil, recharging groundwater.

Slope Stability

A matrix of roots holds soil and absorbs rainwater, reducing erosion and slumping.

Evapotranspiration Dries the Soil

As trees and shrubs breathe and photosynthesize, they draw in soil moisture and release large amounts of water vapour through their leaves, increasing soil stability.

Wildlife Habitat

Trees and dead snags provide nesting and roosting habitat for many species of sea birds.

Shade Microclimate

Overhanging branches near beaches create an ideal shaded environment for spawning forage fish eggs.

Food Source for Filter Feeders

Each autumn, tons of leaves fall onto shorelines and shallows along the shore.

Important Salmon Food Source

Wind-blown insects from seaside forests can account for up to half of the stomach contents of juvenile chum and Chinook salmon.

Wave Action

Waves pulverize leaves into fine particles – food for near-shore clams and mussels and providing good for diving birds.

Rotate your device to view diagram.

Managing Shoreline Erosion

Climate change in our region is resulting in more frequent and more severe winter storms, plus slowly rising sea levels. Recently, this has resulted in significant new erosion of beaches and shorelines. Scientists predict the trend will continue.

Modified Shoreline Landscape

Shoreline properties and homes adjacent to Kwilákm, built on soft shores of clay, sand, and gravel, may be threatened by storm erosion.

Illustration: Will Husby

Many homeowners who try to protect shorelines build hard structures to hold back the sea. These measures can have unintended consequences that damage marine life and in some cases increase erosion by reflecting wave energy at the beach and nearshore area surrounding the hard structure. 

Storm Damage

Illustration: Will Husby

Many landowners successfully protect their shoreline properties using natural materials, slopes, and plantings.

To learn more, see the Green Shores webpages located on the Stewardship Centre for British Columbia website.

Green Shores Landscape

Illustration: Will Husby

More About Shores

  • Shores
  • Nearshore Forests
  • Beaches
  • The Terminal Creek Sand Flats
  • The Curious Clay Beds of Kwilákm
  • Deep Bay Brickyards
  • Blue Mussels
  • Clams
  • Purple Stars
  • Oysters in Kwilákm
  • Does Kwilákm Have Two Species of Oyster?
  • Oyster are Pretty Awesome Creatures
  • Oysters and People
  • Oyster Harvesting: Health and Safety


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