Goldstream Provincial Park Group Campsite Restoration

The Satinflower Team led and participated in ecological restoration activities at the Goldstream Provincial Park Prospector Group Campsites this past year with our partners BC Parks. This work follows our first year (fall, 2023) of helping with restoration by creating a restoration plan, then helping manage invasive plant species and reintroducing native plant species that are site-appropriate and genetically local. 

We acknowledge SELEKTEL (Goldstream River) and surrounding areas as part of Coast Salish territory and an important salmon spawning river and fishing location for the WSÁNEĆ (Saanich) Peoples (Clifford, Robert YELḰÁTTE 2016).

The Satinflower Team ready for a day of planting and seeding this October.

This restoration site is a unique ecosystem type where vegetation has established over sandy soil that is part of glacial outwash deposits. On southern Vancouver Island, much of the vegetation associated with these outwash deposits has been lost to site disturbances where parent material has been removed (i.e. gravel pits), development, and invasive species. Restoration of this site with native plants presents a special opportunity to re-establish a semblance of the original plant community and contribute to the recovery of a rare ecosystem and the potentially associated species at risk. 

Potted plant layout in the area freshly cleared of Scotch Broom by BC Parks staff this past summer.

BC Parks started the restoration season off right by helping to remove a dense stand of large Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) from the planting area. Then, Satinflower staff focused invasive species removal on Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and Hairy Cat’s Ear (Hypochaeris radicata) throughout the site to help limit further seed dispersal.

The goal for invasive species removal this year was to remove up to three invasive plants for each native species planted. Native species can be placed in the gap left by the excavated undesirable plant. We suggest this technique for restoration projects as it minimizes disturbance.

Our planting strategy this year involved adding plants from pots and overseeding in between these plants. The plant species choices were selected based on site goals for maintaining an open meadow structure in an area that receives full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils. Species such as Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum), Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), California Brome (Bromus carinatus), California Oatgrass (Danthonia californica), Sticky Cinquefoil (Drymocallis glandulosa) and Woolly Sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum) were included. Clusters of shrubs were included as well, including Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor), Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana), Red-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum), and Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus).

Satinflower staff enjoying planting in the sun.

The seed mix this year included a suite of 28 species of native grasses, sedges, and forbs. Our seeding mix will directly contribute to improving site biodiversity and we look to enjoy watching them sprout in the fall rains and into spring. 

Custom seed blend for Goldstream Provincial Park.

Abby Hyde (Satinflower Nurseries) blends native seed blend and sand to aid in equal dispersal when hand sowing. 

Nathan Fisk (Parks Canada) and Kristen Miskelly preparing to broadcast seeds donated by Parks Canada.

Monitoring

Photopoint monitoring will help us to observe the effectiveness of invasive species management and the establishment of native plant species. This year, we took 75 photos to characterize the current conditions of the site.  We hope to repeat photopoint monitoring over the long term and conduct plant surveys to help adapt project activities based on the ecosystem-wide response over time.

Species planted in 2023 were observed during the 2024 spring monitoring.

Satinflower is eager to participate in projects that the public can view and enjoy. We are also excited to visit and watch the progression of our restoration efforts for years to come.

We hope you'll consider a camping trip at the Prospector Group Campsite in spring to enjoy the trails and see some of the work we have been up to. The restoration areas are behind split-rail wooden fences, yet there is still much to see from the perimeter!

The Goldstream Provincial Park Prospector Group Campsite with the restoration site in the background.

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