Excerpts from
Baseline Bio-Inventory and Conservation Assessment for
Linley Valley West, Nanaimo
Prepared by:
Joe Materi, R.P.Bio.
Ursus Environmental
Wildlife and Environmental Resource Consulting
September 13th, 2012
Prepared for Save Linley Valley West Society
Baseline Bio-Inventory and Conservation Assessment for
Linley Valley West, Nanaimo
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Located in the northern part of the City of Nanaimo, the four parcels referred to as the
Linley Valley West site encompasses 117 hectares of wetlands, forests, and rock outcrops within
the Coastal Douglas-fir (or CDF) Biogeoclimatic Zone. With adjacent protected areas to the east,
these properties form part of the largest contiguous natural area within the City Limits.
In recent years, there has been increasing recognition that protecting forested ecosystems
within the CDF should be a regional conservation priority. Like the Linley Valley West site,
many of the other remaining forest areas in the CDF are privately held and have significant
timber or real estate values, providing challenges to protection through Provincial government
regulation alone. As a result of historical and more recent land development within the CDF,
sensitive ecosystems and larger forest patches in this zone are currently considered threatened.
In 2011, public concerns over damage to sensitive plant communities in adjacent areas
led the formation of a group known as Save Linley Valley West (SLVW). The SLVW group
retained Ursus Environmental in the spring of 2012 to conduct a baseline bio-inventory of the
site, and provide an objective assessment of its ecological values. The primary objectives of the
assignment were to:
1) Compile and review reliable reasonably accessible existing information sources;
2) Ground-truth forest, wetland and rock outcrop ecosystems to identify environmentally
sensitive plant communities and document existing vegetation conditions.
3) Prepare a plant list and natural features map for the individual properties comprising
the Study Area;
4) Conduct wildlife surveys and reconnaissance, with special reference to potential use
by Provincially Red- and Blue-Listed species; and
5) Assess the importance of vegetation and wildlife resources in a regional context.
Surveys to inventory the flora and fauna of the property were conducted between April
and July of 2012. The fieldwork ranged from reconnaissance level inspections to formal surveys
following Provincial government protocols. Standard methods were used to document breeding
birds and raptorial birds, while pond marginal were inspected for the presence of amphibian egg
masses. A total of 32 field description plots were used as an aid to ecosystem mapping. Eleven
sites in forest openings were inspected during the spring to document the distribution of
wildflower meadows. Wildlife observations were augmented by information provided by
naturalists familiar with the site.
Based on the material compiled and reviewed, the Linley Valley West site was assessed
as having a high overall conservation value. The variety of soil nutrient and moisture regimes
Linley West Bio-Inventory Executive Summary
1
present on the site result from complex site topography and beaver workings, which in turn have
produced a site possessing high floral diversity. Excluding the non-native plants, Linley Valley
West supports over 100 plant species, putting it on a par with Mt. Benson Regional Park, which
is considered regionally important for its floral diversity.
Although no observations or records of rare plants were found for the site, the Linley
Valley West site contains several habitats capable of supporting rare plants (e.g. wetlands, rock
outcrops, and especially vernal seeps) it is reasonable to rank this site as at least moderately
important to the persistence of rare plants in the region.
By virtue of the site’s location within the Coastal Douglas-fir Zone, the Linley Valley
West site is comprised predominantly of plant communities that are, or should be, considered
Sensitive Ecosystems. Though not pristine old-growth forest, a large proportion of both the 5260
Tanya Road and 3518 Hillside Avenue properties have been considered significant by the
Provincial Conservation Data Centre. Four forested Red-Listed plant communities and one BlueListed wetland plant community were documented in the Study Area. The two parcels
comprising the western part of the Study Area encompass sensitive Wetland and Terrestrial
Herbaceous ecosystems that were not identified during the SEI mapping process. Overall, this
site is very highly rated for capture of sensitive and threatened ecosystems.
The Linley Valley West site is used by one Red-Listed vertebrate, the Western Painted
Turtle, for basking and foraging, with some potential to encompass critical nesting and
hibernating habitats. It supports use by seven Blue-Listed animals, and likely provides critical
breeding habitats for at least four of them (Red-legged Frog, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Sooty
Grouse, and Pacific Sideband Snail). The area was assessed as having a high potential to support
nesting by Great Blue Herons, a Blue-Listed species that faces increased threats from current and
future development pressures In addition to the above, Linley Valley West is also used by
several regionally uncommon raptorial birds, and supports an unusually high density of Blackheaded Grosbeaks. Given the above, the importance of the site to regional faunal diversity was
assessed as high.
Due to the variety and juxtaposition of habitats present at Linley Valley West, the site
possesses a very rich and interesting bird assemblage, consisting of at least 65 native species.
Although mammal and amphibian assemblages of the site were found to be fairly typical for the
region, the overall faunal diversity at Linley Valley West was assessed as high based on bird use.
With its large size and location adjacent to three sizable protected areas (Linley
Valley/Cottle Lake Park, Lost Lake Park, and DL 56) the Linley Valley West site possesses
strategic importance in terms of maintaining regionally important landscape linkages. The site
provides habitat connections between lakes, wetlands, and adjacent forest patches that are key to
the persistence of native amphibians and mammals with riparian habitat affinities.
Linley West Bio-Inventory Executive Summary
2
The site also contributes to a continuous valley bottom forest corridor, with intact connections to
for a variety of wide-ranging wildlife, including ungulates, mustelids, and large carnivores.
Given the above, The Linley Valley West site was rated very high for landscape-level
connectivity.
Readers interested in the natural features identified at individual properties comprising
the Study Area are referred to Section 7.0 of the main body of this report.
Linley West Bio-Inventory Executive Summary
3
4.0 RESULTS
4.1 Flora and Plant Communities
Observations made by Ursus Environmental during the spring and summer of 2012
documented that the Linley Valley West Study Area supports at least 106 species of native
vascular plants (Appendix A). The list includes 52 herbs and ferns, 19 aquatic emergent plants,
25 shrubs, and 10 trees. Of the four properties comprising the Study Area, the highest native
plant diversity was recorded at 5701 Vanderneuk Road (93 species), due largely to the greater
variety of wetlands present there (Table 1).
Table 1. Summary of native vascular plant observations within the Study Area.
Plant
Category
Trees
5701
5600
Vanderneuk Vanderneuk
Road
Road
8
8
5280
Tanya
Drive
8
3518
Hillside
Avenue
7
Total
Species
Diversity
10
Shrubs
22
18
14
14
25
Terrestrial Herbs
& Ferns
Aquatic
Emergents
Subtotals
47
30
16
24
52
16
1
3
7
19
93
57
41
52
106
None of the plants identified within the Study Area appear on the Conservation Data
Centre (CDC) Tracking List of Red- or Blue-listed species for the region. No current or historical
rare plant records were found within the CDC Rare Element Database search covering the Study
Area and immediately adjacent areas. However, a small vernal seepage possessing Entire-leaved
Gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia) within the 5600 Vanderneuk Road property (on the rocky
slope below the transmission towers) was considered to have potential to support rare plants.
Noted BC botanist Adolph Ceska has determined that gumweed is often a good indication of
suitable conditions for several rare species listed by the CDC.
Though not officially designated as rare, the Study Area supports some native plants
considered uncommon in the Nanaimo region, including: Trembling Aspen, Hairy Manzanita,
Harvest Brodiaea (Figure 4), and Hooker’s Onion (Figure 5). The latter species has been on the
Blue-List of threatened plants in the past decade (Douglas et al. 2002).
p. 9 Main Report
Linley West Bio-Inventory Excerpts
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Table 2. Summary of Ecosystems present in the Linley Valley West Study Area.
Ecosystem
Type
(Map code)
Upland
Ecosystems
Terrestrial
Herbaceous
(HT)
Douglas firOregon Grape
(01)
FdPl – Arbutus
(02)
Grand Fir –
Foamflower
(06)
Cw – Vanilla
Leaf
(12)
Young Mixed
Forest
(Fm-y)
Developed or
Disturbed
Shrubland
(DEV or
DIST)
Wetland
Ecosystems
Cattail Marsh
(WN: m)
Wetland –
Swamp
(WN: sw)
Wetland –
Shallow Water
(WN: ow)
Wetland – Fen
(WN: fn)
Structural
Stages
Represented
Conser-vation
Status
Herbaceous
√
√
√
√
Early & Midseral Forest
Unmapped
Sensitive
Ecosystem
Red Listed
CF Priority 1
√
√
√
√
Early & Midseral Forest
Mid-seral
Forest
Red Listed
CF Priority 1
Red Listed
CF Priority 1
√
√
√
√
√
√
Early & midSeral Forest
Red Listed
CF Priority 2
√
√
√
Early
None
√
√
√
Shrub- herb
None
√
√
Emergent
Herbaceous
Mid-seral
Forest
Blue Listed
CF Priority 1
Unmapped
Sensitive
Ecosystem
Unmapped
Sensitive
Ecosystem
Unmapped
Sensitive
Ecosystem
√
n/a
n/a
5701
Vanderneuk
Properties of Interest
5600
5260
Vanderneuk Tanya
3518
Hillside
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
p. 12 Main report
Linley West Bio-Inventory Excerpts
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Occurrence of Forest Ecosystems with Red-Listed Conservation Status
Douglas-fir – Dull Oregon Grape Communities (Site Association 01)
This Red-listed (or critically imperiled) forest community is the zonal (or representative)
ecosystem type for the Moist Maritime Variant of the Coastal Douglas-fir Zone. Within the
Study Area, it occurs mainly as mid-seral forest on lower and middle slope locations of warmaspect (i.e. south- and west-facing) slopes, and along upper slopes of gentler, cool-aspect slopes
(north- and east-facing). It is associated with moderately dry soils and poor to moderately rich
soils, and occurs as small patches across the Study Area. The forest canopy in this ecosystem is
dominated by Douglas-fir trees, interspersed with other conifers and the occasional Arbutus tree.
Understorey vegetation is mostly Salal, Dull Oregon Grape, and Ocean Spray, sometimes with a
minor cover of Red Huckleberry, Trailing Blackberry, and Baldhip Rose (Figure 10). Herb cover
is generally light. It may include scattered Broad-leaved Starflower and Sword Fern.
FdPl – Arbutus Communities (Site Association 02)
This Red-listed forest community is the most extensive forest ecosystem occurring in the
Study Area, with sizeable areas represented within all parcels. It occurs as both early- and midseral stands along upper slopes and along ridge crests. It is associated with dry, rapidly draining
soils having low nutrient levels. The forest canopy in this ecosystem type is semi-open, typically
with a mix of Douglas-fir, Lodgepole Pine and Arbutus trees. The forest understorey in this
ecosystem type is dominated by Ocean Spray and Scouler’s Willow with a minor cover of Salal
and Hairy Honeysuckle, and Baldhip Rose (Figure 11). Within the Study Area, herb cover in this
ecosystem type is largely limited to grasses and a few weedy forbs.
Grand Fir – Foamflower Communities (Site Association 06)
The Grand Fir-Foamflower ecosystem, which is also Red-Listed by the CDC, occurs only
in the eastern part of the Study Area, and only as mid-seral forest. It is found in the central
regions of the 5260 Tanya Drive and 3518 Hillside Avenue properties, along lower slope and
toe-of-slope locations. It is associated with richer and moister soils than the other forested
ecosystems discussed so far. The forest canopy in this ecosystem type is typically dense and
predominantly coniferous. It features a mix of Douglas-fir, Western Redcedar, Grand Fir, Red
Alder, and Big Leaf Maple with diameters ranging from about 20 cm to 35 cm in diameter. The
forest understory in this ecosystem type is dominated by Sword Fern, with clusters of native
shrubs including: Salmonberry, Salal, Red Huckleberry and Dull Oregon Grape (Figure 12).
Cw – Vanilla Leaf (Site Association 12)
The fourth Red-Listed forest community occurring in the Study Area possesses a
groundwater table that fluctuates strongly over the annual cycle, creating very moist soils in
winter and dry soils in summer. This ecosystem occurs mainly within the 5600 Vanderneuk
property, at the base of a steep slope in the northern part of that property, and in pockets between
rocky knolls in three other locations. These early-seral stands often feature Black Cottonwoods
to 25 cm in diameter. Young alders and willows comprise much of the remainder of the canopy.
A rich forest understorey occurs in this ecosystem type with numerous native shrubs and herbs,
characteristically Indian Plum and Vanilla Leaf (Figure 13).
p. 16 Main report
Linley West Bio-Inventory Excerpts
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Occurrence of Other Uncommon Forest Ecosystems on the Site
Young Mixed Forest (Fm-y)
Vegetation in several areas in the western part of the Study Area that had been harvested
in recent decades did not fit into comparison charts describing forested Site Associations within
the Coastal Douglas-Fir Zone. These valley-bottom stands are locally uncommon, with their high
deciduous component of Red Alder and Black Cottonwoods. Tree diameters here typically range
from 10 cm to 25 cm. Intermixed with the deciduous trees are clusters of larger conifers (to 35
cm in diameter) and, in some places, small Arbutus trees. Understory vegetation is highly
variable in these regenerating stands, with some areas supporting a dense cover of Salmonberry,
while others have a mix of Salal, blackberry, juvenile conifers, and invasive exotics (Figure 14).
Occurrence of Sensitive Wetlands (WN) on the Site
Eight wetlands have been noted within the Study Area on the City of Nanaimo’s online
high-resolution orthophoto mapping, while broad-scale Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping for the
Coastal Douglas-fir Zone shows only three wetland units. Interestingly, the Sensitive Ecosystem
Mapping prepared in 1997 showed only 1 wetland unit at the 1:20,000 scale. However, fieldwork
in 2012 identified a total of 18 wetland units within the Study Area (Table 3) representing four
general types: Marsh, Fen, Swamp, and Shallow Open Water (Figures 15 through 19).
Table 3. Summary of Wetland Ecosystems present in the Study Area
Wetland Type
5701
Vanderneuk
Road
5
5600
Vanderneuk
Road
0
5260
Tanya
Drive
1
3518
Hillside
Avenue
3
SubTotals
1
0
0
0
1
Fen
1
1
1
1
4
Swamp
1
0
1
2
4
Totals
8
1
3
6
18
Shallow Open
Water
Marsh
9
As indicated in Figures 6, 7, and 8, many of the wetland units are very small (< 0.5 ha). A
number of them are beaver-maintained shallow open waters supporting limited aquatic emergent
vegetation due to their recent origin. However, there are five wetlands in the 1 ha to 2 ha range
within the Study Area, with a healthy complement of characteristic wetland plants. As indicated
in Table 3, the 5701 Vanderneuk property was found to have the widest variety of wetland types,
as well as the greatest number of wetlands. It possesses the only cattail-dominated marsh
ecosystem in the Study Area. This type of wetland is currently Blue-listed by the Provincial
Conservation Data Centre.
p. 18 Main report
Linley West Bio-Inventory Excerpts
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p. 21 Main report
Table 4. Bird Species Observed
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Anna’s Hummingbird
Bald Eagle (S. Ramsay obs. 02/12)
Band-tailed Pigeon
Barred Owl
Bewick’s Wren
Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Brown Creeper
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bushtit
California Quail
Cassin’s Vireo
Cedar Waxwing
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Chipping Sparrow
Common Nighthawk
Common Raven
Common Yellowthroat
Cooper’s Hawk
Dark-eyed Junco
Downy Woodpecker
European Starling
Great Blue Heron
Green-winged Teal (S. Ramsay 10/11)
Hairy Woodpecker
Hooded Merganser
House Finch
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Shoveler (S. Ramsay 05/12)
Northwestern Crow
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Orange-crowned Warbler
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Pacific Wren
Pied-billed Grebe
Pileated Woodpecker
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Red Crossbill
Red-winged Blackbird
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Rufous Hummingbird
Song Sparrow
Sooty Grouse
Spotted Towhee
Swainson’s Thrush
Townsend’s Warbler
Turkey Vulture
Varied Thrush
Violet-green Swallow
Warbling Vireo
Western Screech-owl
Western Tanager
Willow Flycatcher
Wilson’s Warbler
Wood Duck (S. Ramsay obs. 05/12)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow Warbler
5701 Vanderneuk
√
√
√
√
Linley West Bio-Inventory Excerpts
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5280 Tanya
3518 Hillside
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5
Table 5. Summary of mammal observations at Linley Valley West.
Species
Mammals
Beaver
Columbian Black-tailed
Deer
Cougar
Eastern Cottontail
Red Squirrel
Townsend’s Vole
Location
5701
5600
5280
Vanderneuk Vanderneuk
Tanya
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
3518
Hillside
√
√
√
√
Amphibians and Reptiles
The 2012 amphibian inventory was focused on determining the presence of two Bluelisted species; the Red-legged Frog and Western Toad, with other species observed on an
opportunistic basis. Four amphibians were documented within the Study Area, including three
native species and one non-native species (Table 6). Red-legged Frogs were recorded within the
5701 Vanderneuk and 3518 Hillside Avenue properties, but breeding use was only documented
within the latter parcel. Wetlands unsuitable for breeding would likely function as moist refuges
for Red-legged Frogs and other lentic (pond-breeding) amphibian species during the summer.
Several other common pond-breeding amphibians are expected to occur within the Study
Area, however, it was only possible to document two without the aid of standard Gee traps.
Pacific Treefrogs and their characteristic egg masses were detected in most wetlands on the site,
with the exception of recently formed beaver ponds. Rough-skinned Newts (Figure 25), whose
eggs are much less conspicuous than treefrogs, were reported during dispersal away from
breeding areas in late spring.
Entirely terrestrial salamanders, particularly Western Red-backed Salamanders, were not
inventoried during the 2012 field program, but are expected to be present. They can reach high
densities in moist forest stands with abundant large woody debris. Wetland margins and toe-ofslope locations within the Study Area appear suitable for this species
American Bullfrogs are well-established in wetlands of the Nanaimo Region, and the
Study Area is no exception. They were detected in five wetlands within the Study Area. Some
researchers in the Pacific Northwest have found that Red-legged Frogs and other native
amphibians can persist in wetlands possessing complex bottoms with abundant cover objects.
Beaver-constructed ponds typically provide these kinds of features.
p. 24 Main report
Linley West Bio-Inventory Excerpts
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Figure 25. Rough-skinned Newt
Figure 26. Western Painted Turtle
The reptile assemblage of the site includes species of two garter snakes and the RedListed Western Painted Turtle. The latter was observed in the spring of 2012, in a wetland within
the 5701 Vanderneuk Road property. Nesting sites for this species are often on sandy slopes
with a warm southerly aspect, within 150 m of water (Cannings et al. 1999). It is not known if
suitable nesting habitats occur within the Study Area, or if these turtles hibernate in the same
ponds at which they were seen. A native reptile that was not seen but frequently occurs in similar
habitats in the Nanaimo area is the Northern Alligator Lizard. This species is associated with dry
forests near open rocky areas and abundant woody debris.
Table 6. Summary of herptile observations at Linley Valley West.
Species
5701
Vanderneuk
Location
5600
5280
Vanderneuk
Tanya
Amphibians
American Bullfrog
√
√
Pacific Treefrog
√
√
Red-legged Frog
(Blue-listed)
Rough-skinned Newt
(J. Jonas McRae obs.
06/12).
Reptiles
Common Garter Snake
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
Northwestern Garter
Snake
Western Painted Turtle
(Red-listed)
3518
Hillside
√
p. 26 Main report
Linley West Bio-Inventory Excerpts
7
Invertebrates
Table 7. Native invertebrates observed at the Linley Valley West site in 2012.
Species
Location
5701
5600
5280
Vanderneuk Vanderneuk
Tanya
Butterflies
Anise Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Lorquin’s Admiral
Butterfly
Oreas Comma Butterfly
Purplish Copper
3518
Hillside
√
√
√
√
√
√
Forest Molluscs
Pacific Sideband Snail
(Blue-listed)
√
Figure 27. Oreas Comma Butterfly.
p. 28 Main report
Linley West Bio-Inventory Excerpts
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5.0
CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT
The approach employed in assessing conservation values within the Study Area involved
identifying its primary Valued Ecosystem Components (or VEC’s) and rating the site’s
importance to them. Though an exhaustive bio-inventory was beyond the scope of this
assignment, the work completed was considered thorough enough to permit rating the VEC’s
discussed below.
5.1 Vascular Plant Diversity
The variety of soil nutrient and moisture regimes created by complex site topography and
beaver workings at Linley Valley West has resulted in a site possessing high floral diversity.
Excluding the non-native plants recorded on the site, the Study Area supports over 100 plant
species. The floral diversity at this site is on a par with Mt. Benson Regional Park, a site which is
considered regionally important for (among other things) its floral diversity.
5.2 Capture of Rare / Threatened Plants
With no documented observations of Red- or Blue-Listed plants, it would be seem to be
fairly straightforward to assess this site as low for this VEC. However, because the Linley Valley
West site contains several habitats capable of supporting rare plants (e.g. wetlands, rock
outcrops, and especially vernal seeps) it is reasonable to rank this site as at least moderately
important to the persistence of rare plants in the region.
5.3 Capture of Sensitive / Under-represented Plant Communities
In recent years, there has been increasing recognition that protecting forested ecosystems
within the Coastal Douglas-fir (or CDF) Biogeoclimatic Zone should be a conservation priority
in Southeast Vancouver Island. Like the Linley Valley West site, many of the remaining forest
areas in the CDF are privately held and have significant timber/real estate values, providing
challenges to protection through Provincial government regulation alone. A recent analysis of
changes to mapped Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory (SEI) polygons (Axys Environmental 2005)
showed that all types of sensitive ecosystems, and larger forest patches in the CDF, are
threatened by removal and disturbance within the CDF.
By virtue of its location within the CDF, the Linley Valley West site is comprised
predominantly of plant communities that are, or should be, considered Sensitive Ecosystems.
Though not pristine old-growth forest, a large proportion of both the 5260 Tanya Road and 3518
Hillside Avenue properties have been considered significant by the Provincial Conservation Data
Centre. Four forested Red-Listed plant communities and one Blue-Listed wetland plant
community were documented in the Study Area during the 2012 field program. The two parcels
comprising the western part of the Study Area encompass sensitive Wetland and Terrestrial
Herbaceous ecosystems that were not identified during the SEI mapping process. Overall, this
site is very highly rated for capture of sensitive and threatened ecosystems.
p. 29 Main report
Linley West Bio-Inventory Excerpts
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5.4 Importance to “At-risk” and Regionally Uncommon Wildlife
The Study Area is used by one Red-Listed vertebrate, the Western Painted Turtle, as
basking and foraging habitat. The site’s importance as critical nesting and hibernating habitat is
not known, but there is some potential for one or both of these habitats to occur on the site.
The Linley Valley West site also supports use by seven Blue-Listed animals, and likely
provides critical breeding habitats for at least four of them (Red-legged Frog, Olive-sided
Flycatcher, Sooty Grouse, and Pacific Sideband Snail). In addition, the site has a high potential
to support nesting by Great Blue Herons, an “at-risk” species which exists in a setting where
development pressures are expected to remain strong for many years.
In addition to these listed species, the Linley Valley West is also used by several
regionally uncommon raptorial birds, and supports an unusually high density of Black-headed
Grosbeaks. Given the above, the importance of the site to regional faunal diversity has been
assessed as high.
5.5 Faunal Diversity
As a consequence of the variety and juxtaposition of habitats present at the Linley Valley
West property, the site possesses a very rich and interesting bird assemblage (at least 65 native
species). In the Vancouver Island context, the mammal assemblage of the site (6 species
observed; 5 expected) is considered to be average. Though amphibian inventory effort was
limited, that amphibian assemblage appears to possess average diversity as well. Based on the
bird documented bird assemblage, overall faunal diversity at the Linley Valley West site has
been assessed as high.
5.6 Landscape-level Connectivity
With its large size (117 ha in total area) and location adjacent to three sizable protected
areas (Linley Valley/Cottle Lake Park, Lost Lake Park, and DL 56) the Linley Valley West site
possesses strategic importance in terms of maintaining regionally important landscape linkages.
The site provides habitat connections between lakes, wetlands, and adjacent forest patches that
are key to the persistence of native amphibians and mammals with riparian habitat affinities. The
site also contributes to a continuous valley bottom forest corridor, with intact connections to for a
variety of wide-ranging wildlife, including ungulates, mustelids, and large carnivores. This site is
considered to have a very high rating for landscape-level connectivity.
A summary of notable environmental features within the Study Area is presented in
Figure 28.
p. 30 Main report
Linley West Bio-Inventory Excerpts
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7.0
CONCLUSIONS
7.1 Summary of Study Area Conservation Values
Based on the material compiled and reviewed, it is concluded that the Linley Valley West
site possesses a high overall conservation value. A breakdown of the site’s importance with
respect to individual Valued Ecosystem Components is provided in Table 8 below.
Table 8. Regional Importance ratings of the Linley Valley West site for selected
Valued Ecosystem Components.
Valued Ecosystem
Component
1. Vascular Plant Diversity
Regional
Importance
Rating
High
2. Capture of Rare /
Threatened Plants
Moderate
3. Capture of Sensitive /
Under-represented
Plant Communities
Very High
4. Importance to “At-risk”
& Regionally Uncommon
Wildlife
High
5. Faunal Diversity
High
6. Landscape-Level
Connectivity
Very High
Overall Conservation Value
Rating Rationale
Over 100 native plant species recorded,
including uncommon Trembling Aspen,
Hairy Manzanita, and Hooker’s Onion.
No Red- or Blue-listed plants observed on
site, but includes several habitats which may
support rare plants.
Contains extensive areas with threatened
forest ecosystems within the CDF Zone.
Includes numerous Wetland and
Herbaceous Terrestrial units that meet
Sensitive Ecosystem Criteria.
Supports breeding by Blue-listed: Redlegged Frog; Sooty Grouse, Olive-sided
Flycatcher, and Pacific Sideband Snail.
Red-listed Western Painted Turtle and Bluelisted Great Blue Heron present with
potential for on-site nesting. High use by
raptors & Blk-headed Grosbeak.
Total of 65 birds, 6 mammals, 3 native
amphibians and 3 reptiles documented on the
site. At least 5 other mammals, 2 other
amphibians, and other 1 reptile are expected
to occur there.
Site is adjacent to three significant protected
areas. Provides numerous wetland-towetland habitat linkages for amphibians and
other wetland-associated wildlife. With
neighbouring protected areas, site provides
valley bottom movement corridor for wideranging wildlife.
High
p. 33 Main report
Linley West Bio-Inventory Excerpts
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7.2 Features of Individual Parcels Comprising the Study Area
5701 Vanderneuk Road

32.9 ha of predominantly forested land within the threatened Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF)
Zone, which is restricted to a narrow band along Southeast Vancouver Island and under
threat from land development and timber extraction.
 Extensive areas (approx. 16 ha) of immature Red-Listed FdPl–Arbutus forest ecosystem
in the central and eastern parts of the site.
 Small area (0.5 ha) of immature Red-Listed Douglas-fir–Oregon Grape ecosystem.
 Bands of young Red-Listed Cw-Vanilla Leaf ecosystem, associated with strongly
fluctuating groundwater tables, in north-central and southwest parts of the property.
 Extensive young mixed stands in the southern part of the site featuring an uncommonly
high proportion of Black Cottonwood trees.
 Isolated large specimens of Douglas-fir (50 – 80 cm diameter) and clusters of
Shore/Lodgepole Pine (40+ cm diameter) trees occur in several parts of the site.
 Large and previously unmapped Terrestrial Herbaceous Sensitive Ecosystems in the
central and southwest parts of the site.
 Pockets of rock outcrop habitat with uncommon Hairy Manzanita and fine displays of
spring wildflowers including: Common Camas, Meadow Death-camas, Woolly
Eriophyllum, Yellow Stonecrop, Harvest Brodeia, Early Blue Violet, Small-leaved
Montia, Fawn Lily, and Yarrow.
 One previously unmapped Sensitive Wetland classified as a Cattail Marsh in the central
part of the property (size approx. 1 ha)
 Two small (< 0.25 ha each) and previously unmapped Sensitive Wetlands. One is
classified as a Slough Sedge Fen in the southeastern part of the property and the other is a
Swamp along the southern margins of the property.
 Four Small shallow open water wetlands which have been created or enlarged as a result
of Beaver activity in the past decade or so. These ponds support Pacific Treefrog
breeding and moist refuge for Blue-Listed Red-Legged Frogs.
 As in other parts of Nanaimo, invasive American Bullfrogs have become established at
wetlands on the property.
 A pond in the western part of the site is used by the Western Painted Turtle. Locations of
critical breeding and hibernation areas for this Red-Listed species are not known, but they
may be present on the property.
 The site is used by at least 46 species of birds, including Blue-Listed Great Blue Heron
and Olive-sided Flycatcher.
 Several species of waterfowl have been documented on site wetlands including: Canada
Geese, Northern Shovelers, Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, and Mallards. The two
latter species raise broods on site wetlands. Significant numbers of Ring-necked Ducks
are reported to over-winter on ponds on this property.
 Young mixed forest stands on the site support high use by forest songbirds, particularly
Black-headed Grosbeaks.
 Northern Saw-whet owls use the site and may nest on or adjacent to the site.
 Blue-Listed Pacific Sideband Snails have been observed in the central part of the site, and
are expected to reproduce there.
 Cougar sign was detected along the rocky ridge in the south-central part of the site.
p. 35 Main report
Linley West Bio-Inventory Excerpts
12