Morrison Marsh Management Plan

Extracted text (beginning)

Morrison Marsh Nature Reserve 
Management Plan 
Denman Island, British Columbia 
 
 
Prepared for: 
 
 
 
Prepared by:  
M. Durand and R. Durand, Taara Environmental, 2007 
 
REVISED 2018 by Carrina Maslovat, R. P. Bio. #1407, 175 Stewart Road, Salt Spring Island, BC 
 
Approved by 
Islands Trust Conservancy, July 17, 2018 by Resolution Number: ITC-2018-021 
Denman Conservancy Association, September 17, 2018 

  
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Morrison Marsh Nature Reserve Management Plan: July 17, 2018 Page 2 of 78 
 
 
 
i. Executive Summary  
Morrison Marsh Nature Reserve is a 51.73 hectare (127.77 acre) property which includes the 
southern portion of Denman Island’s largest marsh and the headwaters to Boyle Creek. The 
marsh is surrounded by third growth Douglas-fir forests with rocky outcrops and there are 
several smaller wetlands within the forested areas. The land was most recently logged in 
1979. 
 
The land was donated to the Islands Trust Conservancy (ITC) (previously the Islands Trust 
Fund) in 2005 by the former land holder. The land is protected by a conservation covenant 
which was registered to the Denman Conservancy Association (DCA) in 2006. The ITC 
manages the Reserve in cooperation with the DCA guided by the management plan which 
was written in 2007 and revised in 2018. The Reserve was established to protect the marsh, 
the wetlands, the rocky outcrops and the upland forests for the benefit of the flora, fungi 
and fauna of the Reserve and the residents of Denman Island.  
 
There are hiking trails along the old logging roads that are used by the public. The trails 
connect with Boyle Point Provincial Park to the south and east of the Reserve. The low 
impact hiking trails will continue to be open to the public. There are seven confirmed rare 
species noted in the Reserve including one dragonfly, one frog, four birds and two bats.  
There are also two ecological communities which are ranked as rare by the BC Conservation 
Data Centre. The marsh is important habitat for waterfowl and the eight species of bat which 
have been detected. 
 
Threats to the property include invasive non-native woody plants. There has been 
disturbance from recreational use, primarily in areas where the trails have been routed 
through wetlands or wet areas, and from occasional mountain bike use. There are concerns 
related to disturbance of waterfowl, with the biggest impact during the breeding season. 
Impacts associated with fluctuations in water levels and water quality as well as over-grazing 
by native Black-tailed Deer may also threaten the Reserve. 
 
In cooperation with DCA, invasive species removal should continue. Removal efforts should 
focus on woody invasive species such as spurge-laurel (Daphne), English holly and Scotch 
broom. Trail maintenance/re-routing is recommended to address disturbance in wet areas. A 
volunteer warden program would be useful to conduct 

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