July 31 - Of topical and tropical water

Good morning !

Our first story will explain why some of our waters in and around Vancouver Island are looking rather tropical. Meanwhile, some area waters continue to be topical, but not in a good way. A popular swimming destination in Vic West is the latest area where you’re advised against wading in.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 28 / 14 

Tomorrow: 🌥️ 26 / 13

Saturday: ☀️ 26 / 12

NEWS

Algae bloom turns coastal waters off Vancouver Island tropical blue

The colour and condition of our waters is topical today, after the CRD deemed another swimming destination—see the bulletin on Banfield Park Dock below—as a no-go zone. 

But not all algae blooms are necessarily a risk to public health.

There’s one that’s turning some water off the Island into a tropical blue hue, and it is being observed from space.

“From the pictures, you can see the bloom developing along the coast, especially Nitinat Lake,” said DFO zooplankton expert Moira Galbraith, referring to a lake about 250 km northwest of Victoria. 

What’s happening off our coastline is called a coccolithophore bloom, and according to researchers at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), specifically, the Institute of Ocean Sciences (IOS) in Sidney, it’s been happening more frequently over the last decade because of heat waves and other El Niño effects.

Unlike some toxic algae blooms that can be harmful to marine life and human health, a coccolithophore bloom is “one that we don’t have to worry about for our health,” says Laura Griffith-Cochrane, a marine biologist and the executive director of the Ucluelet Aquarium.

It’s safe to swim in, provides a substantial food source for undersea organisms, and the coccolithophore algae bloom—made up of single-celled photosynthesizing algae—produces oxygen and fertilizes the ocean.

Coccolithophores have a calcareous shell made from a little sphere of calcium carbonate. 

“This material is reflective, making the water appear blue/white as it reflects the sunlight through the water,” said Galbraith. “Extensive blooms occur when the surface waters become quite warm and nutrient-depleted.” 

According to DFO, when the bloom dies, the calcium carbonate sinks, removing some of the carbon from the surface waters and leaving sediment. 

It’s how England’s White Cliffs of Dover got their chalk colour. 

Read more here about the waters that look glacial but aren’t. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Add Banfield Park Dock to the list of beach advisories. [Island Health]  

Road closure: Pandora between Cook and Vancouver all this week. 7am-5pm. [City of Victoria]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Saanich tree saved: was supposed to be chopped down

A majestic and condemned Bigleaf Maple has been spared the axe, following a flood of community interest and generous support from a tree-care company. 

The tree, adjacent to a development going up at 5032 Wesley, near Claremont, was slated to be taken down after Saanich crews determined large sections of the tree—including the centre stem—were dead.

“Due to indications that the tree was in decline and cumulative impacts of the development, Saanich staff made the difficult decision that the tree was not suitable for retention,” the municipality said on its website.

Saanich issued a removal notice on June 30, prompting a vocal response from residents. 

“Since the removal notice was posted, the district heard how much the community values the tree,” the district said on its website.

Saanich is working with the property owner to retain the tree, which it co-owns with the property owner because it’s growing on both district and private property. 

“To support the tree’s retention, the community has found a tree care company willing to donate some of their costs to help retain the tree,” Saanich said online. 

Centennial Square sequoia also gets a reprieve

Last month, another tree was spared when the City of Victoria decided to hold off on some of the plans to renovate Centennial Square. The large sequoia that casts a shadow over the square from near Douglas was to be taken down as part of the new look. But the city needed to spring $2.5M from its budget to use for public safety, pushing the sequoia decision down the road.

NEWS

Pat Bay’s Keating Cross Road flyover open for business

Two years after work began, the northbound flyover connecting to Keating Cross opened as the clock struck midnight on Sun. 

The new overpass will make travel through the Saanich peninsula faster and neighbourhoods safer, said Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor. 

“This has been a long-standing priority for our community.”

At peak hours, some 4K vehicles use this part of the Pat Bay each hour and 52K each day, according to the BC government.

Keating Cross was identified as a safety sore spot, with several collisions—including fatal impacts—taking place there over the years.

A CBC report said there were 15 crashes at the intersection in 2017 alone, per ICBC.

“Opening the Keating Cross Road flyover means we’ve removed a dangerous left turn and have made travel safer for families, commuters, tourists, and commercial transport drivers who rely on this corridor every day,” said Transport Minister Mike Farnworth.

The new infrastructure will change how motorists get to Keating Cross when northbound on the highway.

Instead of making that mad dash left to get into Brentwood Bay, drivers will use the right travel lane and take Exit 18 onto the flyover. The short, left-turning bay is now closed. 

There continue to be temporary closures near the project zone. Access from Tamany Drive to Keating Cross Road is closed. Drivers should use Buena Vista Road and watch for new signage and construction activity, the province said.

Construction of the $76.8-million project is not finished. It will continue through the summer and end in the fall with paving of the southbound on-ramp toward Victoria, drainage improvements, and landscaping. They’ll add a sidewalk, too. 

BC kicked in the largest chunk of money for the project—$57.6 million. The federal government contributed $16.7 million, and Central Saanich picked up $2.5 million.

This article appeared on July 27 for our Insiders. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life.

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Run virtually or in-person. Join or donate to Team PHS here. 

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⭐️ Capital Picks

💰 A million bucks: Victoria-area threesome wins Lotto 6/49 draw. [BCLC]

🎶 Pacific Opera Victoria's 25/26 Season is bursting with thrill, passion, and timeless legend as they bring three extraordinary operas to life at the Royal. Subscribe today.*

⚾ WCL Baseball: Kamloops NorthPaws vs. Victoria HarbourCats on Help Fill a Dream Night. 

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🗞️ In Other News

Tsunami watch for BC lifted yesterday morning following huge Russian quake 
The tsunami advisory issued on Tue. night for BC and parts of Vancouver Island, including the Saanich Peninsula, was lifted at 6:34am yesterday. Some 10 hours earlier, an 8.8-magnitude  earthquake rolled through Russia, prompting the warning, which was issued for all BC Tsunami Notification Zones, including Zone D, which comprises an area of the Juan de Fuca Strait from Jordan River to Greater Victoria. [EmergencyInfoBC]

Pedestrian dies after being struck by vehicle at Esquimalt intersection
VicPD said the pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Head and Esquimalt just before 8pm on Tue. night. “Paramedics provided emergency medical treatment to one patient who was transported to hospital in critical condition,” BCEHS spokesperson Bowen Osoko said in an email to Capital Daily. VicPD confirmed the man succumbed to injuries in the hospital. [BCEHS / VicPD]

Esquimalt Coun. Andrea Boardman replaces mayor on police board
Boardman was elected during an in-camera council meeting on July 7. She replaces Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins, who resigned earlier this month after serving for nearly two decades, citing a potential conflict of interest. The board meets twice a month, and members are paid $8K annually, but Desjardins said there are pay equity issues that need mending. Desjardins has been a proponent of Esquimalt breaking out from under VicPD with its own, separate police force. [CHEK]

🗓️ Things to do

🍺🎤 Phillips Backyard Music Festival: Reverb Weekend. Peach Pit, Ruby Waters, Phantogram, Borns, The Roots, and Danielle Ponder headline this three-day show. Phillips Brewery. Aug. 8-9. 2-11pm. [Info]

🎨 Bowker Creek Brush-Up: More than 2K attendees will meet with more than 40 artists who will demonstrate their art creation process. Aug. 10. 11am-4:30pm. [Info]

🎶 Sooke Music & Arts Festival: Econoline Crush and SirReal headline the 10th edition of this family-friendly festival. Free opening party on Sat. at the Legion. Fred Milne Park. Sat. & Aug. 8 & 9. [Info]

🎵 Plaza Franco: A lively outdoor musical showcase highlighting Francophone artists that brings the vibrant sounds of French-speaking culture to the square. Ship Point. Today. 5-8pm. [Info]

🎸 Melón Jimenez & Lara Wong | Flamenco-Jazz: A unique musical dialogue between Indian bansuri and flamenco guitar that's mysterious, bold, and passionate, featuring Juno-nominated artists. Hermann's Jazz Club. Today. 7pm. $30. [Info]

🤠🎶 Sunfest Country Music Festival: Four days of live music across three stages in a truly spectacular setting, plus a festival village with food and other vendors, activities, multiple full-service bars, a dynamic VIP area, flush toilets, showers, and more. Laketown Ranch. Today-Sun. [Info]

🧠 Trivia Thursday at Brickyard Pizza: Rally the troops and combine your knowledge to win swag, gift cards, and of course, delicious pizza in this weekly battle of the brains. Brickyard Pizza. Today. 7:30-10pm. [Info]

🪛 Build Night at BC Hobbies: Hobbyists get together to build model kits and hang out. If you like building model kits such as Gunpla, armour, tabletop miniatures, aircraft, cars, ships, sci-fi, or anything in between, then come on down. BC Hobbies at Hillside Shopping Centre. Tonight. 5:30-8:30pm. [Info] 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Wednesday’s headlines: Tsunami advisory for the Island after major quake in Russia; VicPD makes 16 downtown arrests in 2 days; Island Health lays off 117 employees. [July 30]

Hard harbinger: Tsunami advisory a good reminder to prepare, experts say. [CTV]

VicPD criticizes Island Health employee for friendly engagement with suspected drug trafficker. [CHEK]

BC’s expensive drug coverage program needs a reboot, says the premier. [Times Colonist] 

HarbourCats honour VicPD Chief Del Manak before game with Kamloops NorthPaws. [HarbourCats]

Victoria Symphony Splash is this BC Day holiday long weekend.

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