Bee Creek is monitored by both volunteers of the Esquimalt Lagoon Stewardship Initiative (ELSI) and the Capital Regional District (CRD). This week we were visited by Sara, Barri and Dean (CRD) as part of the water quality research program.

The one hour visit completed an extensive analysis of Bee Creek and we learned how water velocity, temperature, turbidity were measured. In addition, careful measurements of the creek depth and width were taken plus sampling of pebble size, sand and vegetation were taken.

This was the third visit for Sara, who previously had taken water samples to test.

Using a sample length of the creek, which contained ripples, Dean a used kick net to collect macro invertebrates. The net was moved carefully along the bed of the creek while collecting vegetation, mud and a variety of insects such as flies, larvae and shrimp. The bottom of the net contained a collection tube from which samples were taken.

All samples were sent to CRD laboratories for examination, analysis and reporting. See the last report completed by CRD in 2008.