TLC’s visit to our Second Lake property last week focused on building a current baseline for the area. Second Lake is located in the Coastal Douglas Fir biogeoclimatic zone, with three broad habitats; Douglas fir / arbutus, the lake, and the wetlands that surround it. This property is part of a large greenbelt consisting of TLC’s Barer property to the east, the Kindwood property to the south, and Mount Work, Lone Tree Hill and Gowlland/Todd Provincial Park.
After scouting the lake and wetland portion of the property, we made our way up into the hills and found ourselves on a rocky outcrop surrounded by arbutus. Several more paces and we found ourselves primarily amongst Douglas firs with carpets of moss beneath our feet. All the while, plant species and types of habitat were recorded to establish the diversity of the area for future reference; this is the essence of baseline work, which helps inform future decisions on how to protect and manage these areas.
The Second Lake property seems to have something new at every turn – whether it be a huge maple tree, a surprise wetland, or a fantastic view. With such diverse and significant habitat values, it was an interesting spot to get out and explore in my second to last week as TLC’s summer communications intern!
