Medicine Beach Management Plan

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Medicine Beach (E,HO,) 
Nature Sanctuary 
Management Plan  
Pender Island 
 
 
 
Prepared for 
 
 
 
Prepared By: 
REVISED 2017 by Carrina Maslovat, RPBio #1407, 175 Stewart Road, Salt Spring Island, BC 
 
Approved by 
Trust Fund Board, May 29, 2018 
Resolution No. TFB 2018-017, 
Habitat Acquisition Trust, September 15, 2018 
Nature Conservancy of Canada, July 20, 2018 
Pender Islands Conservancy Association, July 27, 2018 
 
 

  
 
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Medicine Beach Nature Sanctuary Management Plan- FINAL May 16, 2018 Page 2 of 92 
 
 
 
 
i. Executive Summary  
The Medicine Beach Nature Sanctuary is located at the head of Bedwell Harbour on North 
Pender Island. The Sanctuary is 8.44 ha (20.12 acres) in size and includes a 2 ha (5 acre) 
brackish marsh and 201 metres (660 feet) of ocean shoreline with spectacular views. The 
remainder of the lot includes maturing Douglas-fir, Arbutus and Western Redcedar trees and 
a Red Alder swamp.  
 
Medicine Beach, known as E,HO, to the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations, has a long history of use by 
First Nations and was the historical location of a summer village site of the W̱SÁNEĆ people. 
There is an extensive archaeological midden that stretches along the shoreline. The beach 
front is one of the largest undeveloped beaches remaining on North Pender Island and has 
been used for many years by residents and visitors for recreation. There are hiking trails 
throughout the northern portion of the property. 
 
The Pender Islands Conservancy Association (PICA) raised funds for the acquisition of 
Medicine Beach Nature Sanctuary and the land was transferred to the Trust Fund Board 
(TFB) by PICA in 1995. The Islands Trust Fund and the Pender Islands Conservancy 
Association work in partnership to manage and protect, in perpetuity, the marsh, upland 
forests, coastal bluffs and beach. A conservation covenant held by the Nature Conservancy 
of Canada and Habitat Acquisition Trust was registered on the property in 2000, adding an 
extra layer of protection. 
 
There are ten red and blue Provincially listed ecological communities that have been 
identified on the property and the tidal marsh (S1- red) is of special significance because 
these ecosystems are extremely rare on the Gulf Islands. There are 11 red and blue 
Provincially listed species that have been noted on the property including five birds, one bat, 
one dragonfly and four plants. The Sanctuary is home to many other mammals including 
eight bat species and the sandy beach is important spawning area for Surf Smelt. 
 
Threats to the property include a lack of protection to the upper watershed that provides 
freshwater to the marsh, and possible limits to tidal flow which maintain the brackish 
conditions of the marsh. Protection and survival of Henderson’s Checker-mallow is of 
concern and invasive species are present though have been kept in check by ongoing 
removal by PICA. Erosion to the midden may

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