The Conservation Lands at Comox Lake and Perseverance Creek are 157 acres of land purchased from private landowners for the primary purposes of drinking water protection, ecological protection and restoration, improved hydrological function, and protection of cultural values which include low impact (non motorized) community access and indigenous use.
No motorized vehicles are permitted
No camping is permitted
No fires are permitted
Please pack in what you pack out
Make no impact, leave no trace
Background:
In 2018, the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) purchased a 113-acre parcel of land at the east end of Comox Lake for watershed protection purposes. In December 2022, the Cumberland Community Forest Society (CCFS) purchased a 44-acre parcel, including the Perseverance Creek corridor, immediately adjacent to and providing access to the CVRD property. These lands also include a length of the Wellington Colliery railway line owned by the Village of Cumberland and connected to adjacent protected lands at Coal Creek Historic Park.
These lands were purchased from private landowners for the purpose of drinking water protection, ecological protection, improved hydrological function, and protection of cultural values which include low impact community access, and indigenous use and heritage conservation.
The lands have been heavily impacted by 135 years of industrial activity including coal mining (the site is the location of the former #4 Coal Mine), forestry and more recently, intensive off road motorized use which has prevented the natural regeneration of the site. Informal access to the lands from the public has increased in recent years and the scope of the damage to the forest floor, damage to the creek from pedestrian bike and motorized crossing through the creek bed, garbage and human waste, and fire risk has also increased.
Conservation Plan:
The goals for these lands, owned by the CVRD, CCFS, and Village of Cumberland (all of which are located within the Village of Cumberland), are based on the same underlying values – drinking water protection, ecological protection, improved hydrological function, and protection of cultural values. The funds secured for the purchase of these lands are directly linked to these values.
The three parties, with support from others in the community, have prepared an integrated Conservation Plan through a process which has engaged K’ómoks First Nation, adjacent landowners, conservation and recreation partners and the CVRD’s multi stakeholder Watershed Advisory Group.
In 2024 the Comox Valley Regional District Board of Directors, Village of Cumberland and Cumberland Community Forest Society all endorsed the draft version of this Plan which has enabled preliminary management actions to address immediate risk. Final formal approval is pending K’omoks First Nations engagement.
The purpose of the Conservation Plan is to guide the protection of these lands for drinking water protection, ecological protection, hydrological function, and cultural values. The Conservation Plan articulates a vision, objectives, and strategies to guide decision-making and future uses of the lands. Section 219 Conservation Covenants will also be prepared for the lands, which legally enshrine the intentions for long-term management, as defined by the Conservation Plan.
Management Actions:
In the spring and summer of 2024 preliminary management actions have been undertaken to deal with immediate threats to the lands and risk to the watershed as a whole. These actions are a first phase of activities to protect and restore the ecological function of the lands and creek. These include:
- Improvements to the access roads for emergency response to fires
- Signage informing visitors to the land about the permissible activities
- Pedestrian bridge installation across Perseverance Creek
- Restoration works on Perseverance Creek to remediate damage from human impacts
- Perseverance Streamkeeper activities (fish rescue and refuge enhancement)
Restoration fencing to protect forested areas from expanding erosion and encroachment - Summer monitoring and stewardship program for the lands (twice weekly) focused on fires, garbage, signage and fencing.
- Communications outreach with current users, trails organizations, ORV networks, Tourism organizations and online trails platforms.
- Daily contract security visit to the site to inform users of use changes
Building a Culture of Stewardship:
The preliminary management actions are the first steps in a multi-year process to shift use patterns on the lands and to build a strong community culture of care and stewardship. The installation of the bridge is a big first step to reduce impacts on Perseverance Creek. The road access works have improved emergency access for fire and addressed some of the trail braiding and widening that has occurred over the years. The restoration and regeneration of the forested areas adjacent to the beach is entirely reliant on a change in access from dirt bikes and other off road vehicles. This is a former industrial site. It needs the opportunity to recover.
The Cumberland Community Forest Society is playing a leadership role in the development of stewardship culture and action at the Conservation Lands. They have also led the project to build and install a pedestrian bridge crossing at Perseverance Creek. To find out more about the work of the Cumberland Community Forest Society visit www.cumberlandforest.com
What is the status of motorized recreation at the site?
Due to a combination of fire threat, public safety risks, and ecosystem protection and restoration objectives, there are no motorized vehicles permitted on these lands. This has always been the case for these lands but this is now being proactively communicated.
The highest use areas (coal hills) have been completely scoured of vegetation and organics / soils and these areas are the target for restoration and regeneration. The lower portions of the resource roads / access roads to these lands are also part of the Conservation Lands. The primary pedestrian access (Coal Beach trail / Wellington Colliery Trail) from Comox Lake Road is for non motorized use only.
For information on motorized recreation access sites on Vancouver Island visit https://vancouverislanddirtriders.com/riding-areas/. VIDRA maintains three dirt bike riding areas on the island: Tanksy (South Island), Whiskey Creek (Mid-Island) and Cook Creek (North Island).
For information on private riding sites visit:
Campbell River – https://www.campbellrivermx.ca/aboutus
Port Alberni – https://www.avmxcoldcreek.com/
Nanaimo – https://www.nanaimomx.com/ Wastelands Motocross Park
Sooke – Dirt Bike Adventures – https://dirtbikeadventures.ca/
What is the status of non motorized access to the site?
Non motorized visitors to the site are asked to stay on primary roads, light no fires, pack in what you pack out and leave no trace. There are currently no public toilets at the site so for the time being the area is to be treated like a backcountry site. Pack it ALL out.
Reports and Studies:
The following reports and studies have been completed for the lands:
A biological inventory
An ethnohistoric and archaeological survey
An update of the Comox Lake Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) risk assessment
A heritage Statement of Significant – Village of Cumberland
Proper Functioning Condition Assessment – Perseverance Creek
Fish Habitat 1 Assessment – Perseverance Creek
Preliminary Site Investigation Phase 1 – environmental study
Advisory Committee:
The Comox Lake Watershed Advisory Group – Coal Beach Subcommittee have acted as advisors to the Conservation Planning process. The Advisory Committee provided input and recommendations to the decision making bodies (CVRD, CCFS and Village)
Cumberland Lake Wilderness Society
Comox Valley Land Trust (CVLT)
Comox Lake Land Corporation
Manulife Forest Management
BC Hydro
BC Parks
Courtenay and District Fish and Game Protective Association
CVRD Parks
Cumberland Museum and Archives