Lagoon
The Bowen Island Lagoon is in Crippen Regional Park and is only a 5 min. walk from the Ferry. This photograph is the causeway as seen from the ocean side of the Lagoon. This fresh water Lagoon is the first stage for spawning Salmon and the last stage when they return to the ocean. The Bowen Island Fish & Wildlife Club operates the Hatchery that enhances the Wild Salmon stock of Chum and Coho.
The Lagoon is the terminus of Terminal Creek and Killarney Creek before flowing into the Ocean. Some Coho and Chum will spawn right here at the causeway gravel bed but most head upstream to Bridal Veil Falls. Our Chum and Coho return anywhere from October through the end of December if it is cold enough and the fresh water streams are flowing with lots of water.
Chum “can’t jump”, Coho can “Jump”. Not actually, fish don’t really jump, they just swim fast upstream if they can. Chum are a weaker fish than Coho when swimming upstream and cannot go up the Falls or the fish ladder. Chum (and the weaker Coho) will spawn below the falls and the stronger Coho will swim upstream into the ladders. If successful the Coho will go as far as the Hatchery by Terminal Creek or as far as the dam at Killarney Creek.