Photo: Will Husby
Terminal Creek
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Terminal Creek is the main source of fresh water flowing into Kwilákm. Its watershed drains approximately one-third of Bowen Island’s land mass.
The nearly intact forest lands that it drains act as a sponge, soaking up winter rainfall and snow melt, then releasing water into its many tributaries throughout the summer dry season.
Terminal Creek Map
Click below to highlight each area on the map.
Every winter, Grafton and Killarney Lakes, the island’s largest, fill to the brim.
The Killarney Creek beaver wetland stores thousands of litres of freshwater.
This system ensures a year-round flow of freshwater habitat for many stream creatures, which in turn provide food for baby salmon.
Terminal Creek also acts as a conveyor, moving nutrients and leafy debris from the inland forest into the lagoon and Kwilákm.
Many marine creatures and plants feast on this abundant food. In this way, the fresh waters of the creek increase the abundance and diversity of the bay’s marine ecosystem.