geomorphology of vancouver island - british · pdf filefigure 4. vancouver island bedrock...

Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Maps i

by RH Guthrie

Regional Geomorphologist

Geomorphology of Vancouver Island:

Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Maps

Victoria,

British Columbia

Research Report

No. RR 02

December 2005

Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Mapsii Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Maps iii

© 2005 Province of British Columbia

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data

Guthrie, R. H. (Richard Hamilton), 1969-

Geomorphology of Vancouver Island [electronic resource]: extended legends to nine thematic maps.

Includes bibliographical references: p.

Available on the Internet.

ISBN 0-7726-5469-7

1. Geomorphology - British Columbia – Vancouver Island - Maps. 2. Vancouver Island (B.C.) – Maps, Physical. 3. Geomorphology – British Columbia – Vancouver Island. 4. Geomorphology – British Columbia – Vancouver Island – Bibliography. 5. Geomorphological mapping. I. British Columbia. Ministry of Environment. II. Title.

GB428.5.C3G87 2005 551.41’09711’2 C2005-960253-8

Citation

Guthrie, R.H. 2005. Geomorphology of Vancouver Island [electronic resource]: extended legends to nine thematic maps.

B.C. Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC. Research Report No. RR02.

Copies of this report are available online through B.C. Ministry of Environment at http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/pub/pub.htm

Disclaimer: Interpretation of the results and analysis are solely those of the author and do not represent the opinions of the Ministry of Environment or the Government of British Columbia.

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/pub/pub.htm

Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Mapsii Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Maps iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The excellent work and assistance of Charles Penner on aspects of every map is gratefully acknowledged. Mapping difficulties were made easier with technical support by Ross Pettit and Shari Lindsay. Gail Harcombe of the Ministry of Environment provided or arranged editorial review. Warren Cooper and Pete Law agreed to review the extended legends.

Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Mapsiv Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Maps v

ABSTRACT

The Geomorphology of Vancouver Island is a series of nine 1:100 000 based thematic maps that collectively describe the physical nature of Vancouver Island. The maps are printed at two convenient scales: 1:400,000 and 1:250,000 that allow the island to be viewed on one or two E-sized plots (measuring 34 by 44 inches on a plotter). The nine thematic maps are:

1. Vancouver Island Bedrock Geology Map

2. Vancouver Island Surficial Geology Map

3. Vancouver Island Coastal Geomorphology Map

4. Vancouver Island Fluvial Processes Map

5. Vancouver Island Gullying Map

6. Vancouver Island Snow Avalanche Map

7. Vancouver Island Karst Potential Map

8. Vancouver Island Wetlands and Organic Soils Map

9. Vancouver Island Mass Wasting Map

Different levels of analysis are tied to each theme, from high levels of analysis (Mass Wasting and Coastal Geomorphology, for example) to no analysis (compilations of the Bedrock Geology and Wetlands and Organic Soils, for example). The extended legends in this report give some idea of the level of analysis and the implications, source data, and references for additional reading. The Mass Wasting Map is the subject of a separate report.

Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Mapsiv Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Maps v

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction and Background ................................................................................... 1

Geomorphology and the Biosphere...................................................................... 1

Geomorphology and Risk .................................................................................... 1

A Rationale for Mapping Geomorphology........................................................... 1

Map Themes and Extended Legends......................................................................... 3

1. Vancouver Island Bedrock Geology Map......................................................... 3

References for the Bedrock Geology Map...................................................... 4

2. Vancouver Island Surficial Geology Map ......................................................... 6

Definitions for the Surficial Geology Map................................................... 10

References for the Surficial Geology Map (see also Table 1) ........................ 10

3. Vancouver Island Coastal Geomorphology Map............................................ 13

Definitions for the Coastal Geomorphology Map ....................................... 13

References for the Coastal Geomorphology Map......................................... 17

4. Vancouver Island Fluvial Processes Map ........................................................ 17

Channel Behaviour ..................................................................................... 17

References for the Fluvial Processes Map..................................................... 19

5. Vancouver Island Gullying Map.................................................................... 19

References for the Gullying Map................................................................. 19

6. Vancouver Island Snow Avalanche Map ........................................................ 21

References for the Snow Avalanche Map ..................................................... 21

7. Vancouver Island Karst Potential Map........................................................... 22

References for the Karst Potential Map ....................................................... 23

8. Vancouver Island Wetlands and Organic Soils Map ...................................... 24

References for the Wetlands and Organic Soils Map ................................... 25

9. Vancouver Island Mass Wasting Map............................................................ 25

Appendix

Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Nine Thematic Maps ............................. 26

List of TablesTable 1. Source data and authors for the terrain mapping used in the Vancouver Island Surficial Geology Map ..................................................................................... 7

Table 2. The Vancouver Island rivers examined on air photographs and plotted sagainst Church’s (1992) criteria for alluvial rivers (Figure 18) ................................. 19

Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Mapsvi Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Maps 1

List of FiguresFigure 1. Relationships among geology, geomorphology, and the biosphere. The basic landscape foundation and structure is dictated by bedrock geology, typically formed millions of years ago, and acted on by geomorphic processes.......................... 2

Figure 2. Vancouver Island Bedrock Geology: Rock formations of the Cenozoic Era (66 My to present) ..................................................................................................... 3

Figure 3. Vancouver Island Bedrock Geology: Rock formations of the Mesozoic Era (66 My to 251 My) .................................................................................................... 5

Figure 4. Vancouver Island Bedrock Geology: Rock formations of the Paleozoic Era (251 My to 542 My) .................................................................................................. 5

Figure 5. An example of a terrain unit symbol (modified from Howes and Kenk 1988) ............................................................................................. 6

Figure 6. Commonly mapped surficial materials: (A) colluvium, (B) moraine, (C) colluvium over moraine (separated by yellow line), and (D) bedrock........................ 12

Figure 7. Fluvial deposits are materials transported by rivers .................................... 12

Figure 8. Water-deposited sediments: Glaciofluvial sediments are transported by glacial outwash and typically contain sands and gravels ............................................ 12

Figure 9. Marine sediments are reworked and deposited in a marine environment ... 13

Figure 10. Less commonly mapped surficial materials include (A) organics in and around wetlands and bogs, and (B) eolian landforms, transported or reworked by wind.............................................................................. 13

Figure 11. Detail of the Coastal Geomorphology map ............................................. 14

Figure 12. A sandy beach on the west coast of Vancouver Island .............................. 15

Figure 13. A typical rocky shoreline on Vancouver Island ........................................ 15

Figure 14. Rock stacks (A) and platforms (B) on Vancouver Island’s west coast ....... 15

Figure 15. Fiords are long steep runs into the ocean, with no visible beach; they are common on the west coast of Vancouver Island.................................................. 16

Figure 16. A tidal flat is a depositional marine environment where fine sands and organics accumulate ................................................................................................. 16

Figure 17. An estuary on Vancouver Island showing the rich vegetation that thrives in the brackish depositional environment...................................................... 16

Figure 18. Forty-two Vancouver Island rivers(*) (listed in Table 2) plotted on Church’s (1992) criteria for single and multi-thread channels .................................. 18

Figure 19. Gullied terrain in Teeta Creek on Vancouver Island................................ 20

Figure 20. Snow avalanche tracks on Mount Colonel Foster on Vancouver Island ... 21

Figure 21. Minor karren development on exposed limestone.................................... 23

Figure 22. A cave (A) where the Artlish River disappears underground, and a karst canyon (B) known as Devil’s Bath............................................................................ 23

Figure 23. A wetland in a mountain valley on Vancouver Island showing a rich biological community............................................................................................... 24

Figure 24. Much of the northern tip of Vancouver Island has low relief, which leads to the development of wetlands and deep organic layers .................................. 25

Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Mapsvi Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Maps 1

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Geomorphology is the study of the physical features of the Earth’s surface, specifically the landforms and the landform processes, their origins and composition, and predictions about their future form and behaviour. Applied geomorphology uses the knowledge and techniques to provide or assist in finding solutions to planning, resource, engineering, conservation, or environmental problems.

Geomorphology and the Biosphere

Floral and faunal communities are inexorably linked to the physical processes that establish the landscape. Physical processes include geological controls (e.g., tectonics), acted upon by modern processes (delta formation, landslides, weathering, surface erosion and solution of rock, glaciation, creation of sand dunes, wetland formation, and river erosion, for example). Biotic communities find niches and locations created by these processes where they are able to survive and propagate. Changes to the system from a new external force (e.g., land development, flood, earthquake, climate change) can affect species or even ecosystems in ways that are readily apparent. A particular concern occurs where a forcing mechanism impacts the geomorphic process or underlying structure and causes substantial changes to all systems.

Figure 1 shows the linkage between geomorphic and biological systems, the time scales required to build them, and potential threats to the systems.

Geomorphology and Risk

Geomorphology is important not only to understand the processes at work at a moment in time, but to understand the magnitude–frequency relationships inherent in the landscape. How often will this site flood? What is the likelihood of a landslide occurring after this activity? How long would this beach take to recover from a particular use? How long before sand dunes take over this portion of the island? Where is it safe to build? Understanding magnitude and frequency characteristics of the geomorphic processes is a fundamental part of risk analysis.

A Rationale for Mapping Geomorphology

Few large areas are geomorphically homogenous. Vancouver Island is physically heterogeneous and defined by, among other things, bedrock and surficial geology, climate, physiography, glacial history, and land use. Land use and land management decisions may impact the development of new ecosystems and exacerbate ecosystem survival. Encroachment of wetlands, shorelines, and deltas, increased landslides and site alteration, increased sediment delivery to streams, and destruction of erodible channels are examples of potential side effects of increased land use.

Vancouver Island, however, is not equally vulnerable to development, nor is it equally vulnerable to types of development. Some regions may be vulnerable to slope instability, others sensitive to dissolution. Some may be particularly robust to forest development, but vulnerable to mining or urban development.

In 1981, a first attempt was made at differentiating the processes active on northern Vancouver Island by the Ministry of Environment (Howes 1981). In Terrain Inventory

Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Maps2 Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Extended Legends to Nine Thematic Maps 3

and Geological Hazards: Northern Vancouver Island, Howes described the types of processes at work, where these processes occurred, and management implications that might be associated with them. More than anything, however, Howes (1981) advocated the use of terrain mapping and explained how such mapping could be further developed to derive hazard maps.

Building on similar principles, nine thematic maps have been developed that collectively describe Vancouver Island’s dominant geomorphic features and processes. Although not exhaustive of all processes, the maps, together with the extended legends provided in this report, are designed to give land managers, scientists, and environmental specialists fundamental geomorphic information at a usable scale of up to 1:100,000. For practical purposes, print file maps have been created at 1:400,000 (the entire island on one E-sized sheet) and 1:250,000 (the island on two E-sized sheets).

Figure 1. Relationships among geology, geomorphology, and the biosphere. The basic landscape foundation and structure is dictated by bedrock geology, typically formed millions of years ago, and acted on by geomorphic processes. The geomorphic processes may last only a few seconds (a landslide, for example) or a few thousand years (river valley formation), but in aggregate, they have been working for thousands of years to define the physical characteristics at a particular location. Ecosystems and species are defined by the locations within whose physical limits they are able to thrive. Forcing mechanisms can affect each system (depending on sensitivity to the change), but those forcing mechanisms that change structure or geomorphic response will have impacts all the way up the system diagram.


The level of analysis differs from one map to another and is described in the legend for each theme, except for the Mass Wasting map, which is documented in a separate report. References to further research are provided for each theme.

MAP THEMES AND EXTENDED LEGENDS

The nine thematic maps are:











The Bedrock Geology map (see Appendix) is a compilation of two data sets produced by the British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines (Massey et al. 2003a,b). The data was compiled and a legend generated from the familiar formation names (Figures 2–4). Some units were checked in the field on an ad hoc basis, including a field trip with Nick Massey, one of the original mappers. No additional analysis was conducted on this data.

Figure 2. Vancouver Island Bedrock Geology: Rock formations of the Cenozoic Era (66 My to present; adapted from Massey et al. 2003a,b).


References for the Bedrock Geology Map

Gabrielse, H., and C.J. Yorath (eds.). 1991. Geology of the Cordilleran orogen in Canada. Geol. Surv. Can., Ottawa, ON.

Howes, D.E. 1981. Terrain inventory and geological hazards, Northern Vancouver Island. B.C. Minist. Environ., Assess. and Plann. Div., Victoria, BC. APD Bull. 5.

Massey, N.W.D., D.G. MacIntyre, and P.J. Desjardins. 2003a. Digital map of British Columbia: Tile Nm 10, Southwest British Columbia. B.C. Minist. Energy and Mines, Victoria, BC. Geofile 2003-3.

Massey, N.W.D., D.G. MacIntyre, and P.J. Desjardins. 2003b. Digital map of British Columbia: Tile Nm 9, Southwest British Columbia. B.C. Minist. Energy and Mines, Victoria, BC. Geofile 2003-4.

Monger, J.W.H. (ed.). 1994. Geology and geological hazards of the Vancouver Region, Southwestern British Columbia. Geol. Surv. Can., Ottawa, ON. Bull. 481.

Muller, J.E. 1977. Geology of Vancouver Island. Geol. Sur. Can., Ottawa, ON. Open file 463.

Muller, J.E., K.E. Northcote, and D. Carlisle. 1974. Geology and mineral deposits of Alert Bay–Cape Scott map area (92L-1021), Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Geol. Surv. Can., Ottawa, ON. Paper 74-8.

Muller, J.E., and J.A. Roddick. 1983. Geology, Alert Bay–Cape Scott, British Columbia. Geol. Surv. Can., Ottawa, ON. Map 1552A.

Roddick, J.A. 1980. Geology of Northeast Alert Bay map area, British Columbia. Geol. Surv. Can., Ottawa, ON. Open File 722.

Smyth, W.R. 1997. Bedrock geology of Brooks Peninsula. Pages 2.1–2.8 in R.J. Hebda, and J.C. Haggarty, eds. Brooks Peninsula: An ice age refugium on Vancouver Island. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands Parks, Victoria, BC. Occas. Pap. 5.

Yorath, C.J., and H.W. Nasmith. 1995. The geology of Southern Vancouver Island: A field guide. Orca, Victoria, BC.


Figure 3. Vancouver Island Bedrock Geology: Rock formations of the Mesozoic Era (66 My to 251 My; adapted from Massey et al. 2003a,b).

Figure 4. Vancouver Island Bedrock Geology: Rock formations of the Paleozoic Era (251 My to 542 My; adapted from Massey et al. 2003a,b).



The Vancouver Island Surficial Geology Map (see Appendix) divides the island into units according to the dominant terrain type within a polygon. Terrain types are based on the Terrain Classification System for British Columbia (Howes and Kenk 1997; see that report for more information).

Bobrowsky et al. (1992) report that by 1992, more than 2000 surficial geology maps of various types and scales were publicly available for British Columbia. The number has undoubtedly grown substantially since then, particularly as terrain mapping became the standard for the forest industry. On Vancouver Island complete terrain mapping is available digitally at 1:50 000 through the Ministry of Energy and Mines; see http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/Mining/Geolsurv/Terrain&Soils/frbcguid.htm (April 2005). The maps are digital compilations of maps produced by the Ministry of Environment from 1972 to 1980, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in 1993, and Environment Canada from 1980 to 1983. Original mapping sources are listed Table 1. For this map, no new information was added in the extraction of dominant terrain types, but limited field checks were conducted to resolve miscoding or non-standard coding issues.

Terrain mapping was formally adopted in British Columbia with the publication of the terrain classification system (Howes and Kenk 1988, 1997). This system was based on previous research in the province and consisted of a method of codifying the landscape from aerial photographs into polygons or landscape units that were inwardly similar, but varied at least slightly from adjacent polygons. The codes synthesize geomorphic materials and processes into a terrain unit symbol (Figure 5)

Figure 5. An example of a terrain unit symbol (modified from Howes and Kenk 1988). This symbol describes a sandy gravely (sg) glaciofluvial (FG) terrace (t) modified by slow downslope failures (F) that are no longer active (I). The glaciofluvial (FG) material type would be highlighted for the Vancouver Island Surficial Geology Map. The codification is more complicated when two or more surficial materials are recognized, but the leading material is generally considered dominant. For example, Mb/Cv represents morainal blankets (Mb) more than colluvial veneers (Cv), and Moraine (in this case deep) would be shown on the Vancouver Island Surficial Geology Map. Terrain mapping is described in detail in Howes and Kenk (1997).

http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/Mining/Geolsurv/Terrain&Soils/frbcguid.htm


Table 1. Source data and authors for the terrain mapping used in the Vancouver Island Surficial Geology Map. MOE = Ministry of Environment, EMPR = Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, ENV CAN = Environment Canada.

Map NTS

102I/15

102I/16

102I/8E

102I/9

92B/11

92B/12

92B/12

92B/12

92B/13

92B/13

92B/14

92B/5

92B/5

92B/6

92C/10

92C/13E

92C/14

92C/14

92C/15

92C/15

92C/16

92C/8

92C/9

92E/10

92E/14

92E/15

92E/16

92E/1E

Map Name

Scott Islands

Cape Scott

Cape Parkins

San Josef

Sydney

Shawnigan

Shawnigan

Shawnigan Lake

Duncan

Duncan

Mayne Island

Sooke

Sooke

Victoria

Carmanah

Ucluelet

Barkley Sound

Alberni Inlet

Nitinat

Alberni Inlet

Cowichan Lake

River Jordan

San Juan

Nootka

Port Eliza

Zeballos

Gold River

Vargas Island

Author

A Chatterton

A Chatterton

A Chatterton

A Chatterton

HE Blythe & NW RutterJ Senyk

HE Blythe, NW Rutter & LM SankeralliM Dunn

L Lacelle

M Dunn

M Dunn

J Senyk

HE Blythe & NW RutterHE Blythe & NW RutterN Alley

I Cotic

J Jungen

M Dunn & A JacobN Alley

M Dunn & A JacobN Alley

N Alley

N Alley

D Howes

J Senyk

J Senyk

D Howes

D Howes

Map Type

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology

Physiographic Constraints

Surficial Geology & TopographyPhysiographic Constraints



Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology & TopographyPhysiographic Constraints

Surficial Geology


Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Year

1979

1979

1978

1979

1993

1975

1993

1980

1975

1980

1980

1975

1993

1993

1975

1975

1975

1983

1975

1983

1977

1975

1975

1980

1978

1980

1980

1978

Scale

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

Agency

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

EMPR

MOE

EMPR

ENV CAN

MOE

ENV CAN

ENV CAN

MOE

EMPR

EMPR

MOE

MOE

MOE

ENV CAN

MOE

ENV CAN

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE


Map NTS

92E/7E

92E/8

92E/9

92F/1

92F/1

92F/10

92F/10NE

92F/10SW

92F/11

92F/11

92F/12

92F/13

92F/14

92F/14

92F/15NE

92F/15SW

92F/16

92F/2

92F/2

92F/3

92F/3

92F/4

92F/5

92F/6

92F/7

92F/7

92F/8

92F/8

92F/9

92G/11

92G/12

92G/13

92G/14

Map Name

Estevan Point

Hesquiat

Muchalat Inlet

Nanaimo Lakes

Nanaimo Lakes

Comox

Comox

Comox

Forbidden Plateau

Forbidden Plateau

Buttle Lake

Upper Campbell

Oyster River

Oyster River

Powell River

Powell River

Haslam Lake

Alberni Inlet

Alberni Inlet

Effingham

Alberni Inlet

Tofino

Bedwell

Great Central

Horne Lake

Horne Lake

Parksville

Parksville

Texada Island

Squamish

Sechelt Inlet

Jervis Inlet

Cheakamus River

Author

D Howes

D Howes

D Howes

J Jungen

M Dunn

M Dunn

J Jungen

J Jungen

J Jungen

M Dunn

J Jungen

J Senyk

J Jungen

M Dunn

B Thomson

J Jungen

B Thomson

J Senyk

M Dunn & A JacobJ Jungen

M Dunn & A JacobJ Jungen

J Jungen

L Lacelle

L Lacelle

M Dunn

J Jungen

M Dunn

B Thomson

B Thomson

B Thomson

B Thomson

J Ryder

Map Type

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology



Surficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology & TopographyPhysiographic Constraints

Surficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology & TopographyPhysiographic Constraints

Surficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology



Surficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology & TopographyPhysiographic Constraints


Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Year

1979

1979

1980

1975

1980

1980

1980

1975

1975

1980

1975

1975

1975

1980

1980

1975

1980

1975

1983

1975

1983

1975

1975

1975

1975

1980

1975

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

Scale

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

Agency

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

ENV CAN

ENV CAN

MOE

MOE

MOE

ENV CAN

MOE

MOE

MOE

ENV CAN

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

ENV CAN

MOE

ENV CAN

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

ENV CAN

MOE

ENV CAN

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE


Map NTS

92G/4

92G/4W

92G/5

92K/1

92K/2

92K/3NE

92K/3SW

92K/4

92K/5N

92K/5S

92K/6

92K/6SW

92K/7

92K/8

92L/1

92L/10

92L/11

92L/12

92L/13

92L/2

92L/3

92L/4

92L/5

92L/6

92L/7

92L/8

Map Name

Nanaimo

Nanaimo

Sechelt

Powell Lake

Redonda Island

Quadra Island

Quadra Island

Salmon River

Sayward

Sayward

Sonora Island

Sonora Island

Toba Inlet

Little Toba River

Schoen Lake

Alert Bay

Port Mcneill

Quatsino

Shushartie

Woss Lake

Kyuquot

Brooks Peninsula

Mahatta Creek

Alice Lake

Nimpkish

Adam River

Author

M Dunn

I Cotic

B Thomson

K Drabinsky

B Thomson

B Thomson

J Jungen

J Jungen

B Thomson

J Jungen

B Thomson

J Jungen

K Drabinsky

K Drabinsky

J Jungen

A Pattison

A Pattison

A Chatterton

A Chatterton

J Senyk

J Senyk

A Pattison

A Pattison

A Pattison

J Senyk

J Jungen

Map Type



Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology & TopographySurficial Geology



Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Surficial Geology

Year

1980

1975

1980

1979

1980

1980

1972

1972

1980

1972

1980

1972

1979

1979

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

1980

Scale

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

1:50 000

Agency

ENV CAN

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

MOE

The Vancouver Island Surficial Geology Map represents the dominant surficial material type as reported on the 1:50,000 terrain maps. Dominant material type means that where more than one type was present, following the mapping standard, the material that occupies the most space in the polygon was selected. Limited surface expression was incorporated into the map in terms of material depth. “Veneers” were considered to be less than 1 m deep, “blankets” more than 1 m, and “mixed” a combination of both.


Please see Howes and Kenk (1997) for a detailed discussion of terrain mapping; however, the general definitions used are supplied below (from Howes and Kenk 1997).

Definitions for the Surficial Geology Map

• Anthropogenic – Artificial material or geological material modified such that the physical properties have been altered.

• Colluvium (Figure 6) – Sediment that is a product of gravity-induced downslope movement. Colluvium does not involve other transport agents such as water or ice, but the material can contain either.

• Moraine (Figure 6) – Sediment deposited by glaciers that has not been modified by other transport agents.

• Fluvial sediments (Figure 7) – Sediment transported and deposited by riverine processes. Fluvial sediments are also known as alluvium.

• Glaciofluvial sediments (Figure 8) – Sediment clearly deposited by glacial meltwater streams.

• Marine and Glaciomarine (Figures 8 and 9) – Sediment laid down in a marine environment (close to a glacier in the latter) that may include materials settling from suspension, gravity flows and, in glaciomarine, released from sediment trapped in melting flows. These deposits may be well sorted and stratified.

• Exposed bedrock (Figure 6) – Bedrock outcrops with little or no sediment cover.

• Lacustrine sediments – Generally silt and fine sand, stratified and well sorted deposits from old lakes.

• Organic (Figure 10) – Sediments resulting from thick accumulations of vegetation in wetlands such as peat bogs, fens, and swamps.

• Ice – Areas of permanent snow and ice.

• Eolian (Figure 10) – Wind-transported sediment, generally composed of sand.

• Undifferentiated – A layered sequence of surficial sediments that could not be separated.

References for the Surficial Geology Map (see also Table 1)

Blyth, H.E. 1996. The Quaternary geology of Southeastern Vancouver Island, B.C. MSc Thesis, Univ. Alberta, Edmonton, AB.

Bertrand, B. 1989. Clay mineral assemblages from late Quaternary deposits on Vancouver Island, southwest British Columbia. Quatern. Res. 31:41–56.

Bobrowsky, P.T., T. Giles, and W. Jackaman. 1992. Surficial geology map index of British Columbia. B.C. Minist. Energy, Mines, Petrol. Resour., Victoria, BC. Open file 1992-13.

Clague, J.J. 1976. Quadra Sand and its relation to the late Wisconsin glaciation of southwest British Columbia. Can. J. Earth Sci. 13:803–815.

Clague, J.J. 1977. Quadra Sand: A study of the late Pleistocene geology and geomorphic evolution of coastal southwest British Columbia. Geol. Surv. Can., Ottawa, ON. Pap. 77-17.


Clague, J.J. 1994. Quaternary stratigraphy and history of south-coastal British Columbia. Pages 181–192 in J.W.H. Monger, ed. Geology and geological hazards of the Vancouver Region, southwestern British Columbia. Geol. Surv. Can., Ottawa, ON. Bull. 481.

Howes, D.E. 1981a. Terrain inventory and geological hazards, Northern Vancouver Island. B.C. Minist. Environ., Assess. and Plann. Div., Victoria, BC. APD Bull. 5.

Howes, D.E. 1981b. Late Quaternary sediments and geomorphic history of north-central Vancouver Island. Can. J. Earth Sci. 18:1–12.

Howes, D.E. 1983. Late Quaternary sediments and geomorphic history of northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Can. J. Earth Sci. 20:57–65.

Howes, D.E. 1997. The Quaternary geology of Brooks Peninsula. In R.J. Hebda, and J.C. Haggarty, eds. Brooks Peninsula: An ice age refugium on Vancouver Island. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands, Parks, Victoria, BC. Occas. Pap. 5.

Howes, D.E., and E. Kenk, editors. 1988. Terrain classification system for British Columbia. B.C. Minist. Environ., and Minist. Crown Lands, Victoria, BC. Minist. Environ. Man. 10.

Howes, D.E., and E. Kenk, editors. 1997. Terrain classification system for British Columbia (revised edition). B.C. Minist. Environ. and Minist. Crown Lands, Victoria, BC. Minist. Environ. Man. 10.

Maxwell, R.E. 1997. Soils of Brooks Peninsula. In R.J. Hebda, and J.C. Haggarty, eds. Brooks Peninsula: An ice age refugium on Vancouver Island. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC. Occas. Pap. 5.

Ryder, J.M., and J.J. Clague. 1989. British Columbia (Quaternary stratigraphy and history, Cordilleran Ice Sheet). Pages 48–53 in R.J. Fulton, ed. Quaternary geology of Canada and Greenland. Geol. Surv. Can., Ottawa, ON.


Figure 7. Fluvial deposits are materials transported by rivers. They may include deltaic deposits (B) in lakes or oceans. If the sediment is reworked by lake or ocean water, or carried farther in that transport medium, it may become marine or lacustrine sediment. Marine and lacustrine sediments are usually better sorted and often much finer grained.

Figure 8. Water-deposited sediments: Glaciofluvial sediments are transported by glacial outwash and typically contain sands and gravels. They may be mixed with, or intermixed and confused with marine sediments, depending on the nature of the depositional environment. In either case, they are usually well sorted and stratified. (A) shows glaciofluvial sediments near Port Hardy, and (B) on the Cowichan River. Marine and glaciomarine sediments are typically finer, often with high clay content.

Figure 6. Commonly mapped surficial materials: (A) colluvium, (B) moraine, (C) colluvium over moraine (separated by yellow line), and (D) bedrock. Note that colluvium and moraine can often be difficult to tell apart and contextual information from air photographs is useful. On Vancouver Island, most tills are basal tills and are therefore extremely dense (occasionally similar to concrete). This material is also commonly referred to as hardpan in the construction industry.



The Coastal Geomorphology Map (see Appendix) divides the coastline into areas of erosion and areas of deposition. It represents original mapping from 1:20,000 air photographs onto 1:100,000-scale TRIM based map sheets and digitized into a GIS. The usable resolution is therefore 1:100,000, but the accuracy will be greater in some instances. The map was created by drawing a line around the shoreline of Vancouver Island and giving sections of the line morphological attributes (Figure 11, and definitions below). More than one line mapped for the same piece of shoreline represents two prominent shoreline types, and their relative position is indicated by the relative positions of the two lines (Figure 11).

Definitions for the Coastal Geomorphology Map

• Anthropogenic – Modified shoreline such that the original shoreline is no longer functional or resolvable, such as fills, jetties, breakwaters, dykes, and other shoreline-protection structures.

• Sand bar, sandy beach, gravely beach – Well sorted, largely depositional beaches. May include spits, beaches, bars, and sand ridges (Figure 12).

• Rocky beach with gravel, and rocky shoreline – Poorly sorted largely erosional shoreline. Includes short rock ramps, and may have pockets of gravel and cobbles.

Figure 9. Marine sediments are reworked and deposited in a marine environment. Materials range from cobbles and gravels to clay, but are typically well sorted.

Figure 10. Less commonly mapped surficial materials include (A) organics in and around wetlands and bogs, and (B) eolian landforms, transported or reworked by wind. In (B), marine sands are being eroded and reworked by wind. You can just make out the remnants of a fence on the left side of the picture.


Figure 11. Detail of the Coastal Geomorphology map. Colour codes: Yellow = sand bars, sandy beaches, gravely beaches. Blue = rocky beaches with gravel, and rocky shorelines. Red = rocky cliffs, stacks, and platforms. Brown = fiords with little or no beach. Purple = deltas. Orange = tidal flats. Green = estuaries. Double lines indicate more than one obvious beach type. The line relative line position indicates the relative position on the shore.

• Rocky cliff, stack and platform – Erosional shoreline dominated by resistant bedrock. May include promontories on either side of a pocket beach.

• Fiord – Long steep uniform slope into the water, with little or no beach. The environment is typically neutral with low deposition (typically a result of steep, resistant, bedrock slopes without sediment) and low erosion (largely protected from erosive forces sufficient to modify the slope) (Figure 15).

• Delta – Sediment deposited from a stream or river into a marine environment (Figure 7B).

• Tidal Flat – Protected marine depositional environments that accumulate fine sediments, mud, and organic matter (Figure 16).

• Estuary – A depositional feature transitional between deltaic and marine environments. Estuaries are formed in brackish water reflective of both riverine and marine processes (Figure 17).

Note: Deltas, estuaries, and tidal flats often grade into one another and may not be well distinguished across all areas in this study.


Figure 12. A sandy beach on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Figure 13. A typical rocky shoreline on Vancouver Island.

Figure 14. Rock stacks (A) and platforms (B) on Vancouver Island’s west coast.


Figure 15. Fiords are long steep runs into the ocean, with no visible beach; they are common on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Figure 16. A tidal flat is a depositional marine environment where fine sands and organics accumulate.

Figure 17. An estuary on Vancouver Island showing the rich vegetation that thrives in the brackish depositional environment.


References for the Coastal Geomorphology Map

Carter, L. 1973. Surficial sediments of Barkley Sound and the adjacent continental shelf, west coast Vancouver Island. Can. J. Earth Sci. 10:441–459.

Clague, J.J., and P.T. Bobrosky. 1994. Tsunami deposits beneath tidal marshes on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 106:1293–1303.

Friele, P.A., and I. Hutchinson. 1993. Holocene sea-level change on the central west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Can. J. Earth Sci. 30:832–840.

Harper, J.R. 1980. Seasonal changes in beach morphology along the BC coast. Pages 136–150 in Proc. of Canadian Coastal Conference, Burlington, ON.


The Vancouver Island Fluvial Processes Map (see Appendix) delineates the spatial extent of both fluvial and glaciofluvial sediments. More importantly, it distinguishes two very separate landforms and land management implications consequent of their presence.

Channel Behaviour

A recent report by Burge (2004) examined differences within and between single and multi-thread river channels. Burge (2004) reports that, at the pattern scale, single channels and multi-thread channels can be differentiated primarily by discharge and total stream power. Stream power is the relationship between discharge and gradient; its relationship to channel form was examined by Church (1992) and others. Church plotted a general relationship between channel form and stream power (Figure 18).

Experience on Vancouver Island suggests that there is considerable morphological variation in rivers, and that some are more vulnerable to braiding than others. Consequently, we plotted the lower alluvial reaches of 42 rivers (Table 2) on Vancouver Island, with discharges ranging two orders of magnitude, against Church’s (1992) criteria. The results are also shown in Figure 18.

The 42 Vancouver Island rivers clustered near the upper limit of single thread channels (the upper line in Figure 18). Experience indicated, however, that this was probably not true for all rivers on Vancouver Island. Airphoto interpretation with limited field checking was conducted for each river in an attempt to determine the extent to which they were actually vulnerable to wandering or braiding. The results were unequivocal: streams on Vancouver Island are vulnerable to braiding and wandering within their active floodplain, subject to other geomorphic controls. The three key components are:

• Geomorphic controls were critical on all streams. From the 42 rivers assessed, on Vancouver Island we found that streams were commonly constrained by bedrock and large glaciofluvial deposits that were more compact than the recent alluvium of the floodplain. Although the bedrock control was expected, the glaciofluvial response was more surprising. Generally, field experience has shown that glaciofluvial deposits are often under attack by river channels and represent massive sources of sediment. However, they also tend to be at higher elevations than the floodplain and resistant enough to develop steep faces; both characteristics that limit channel movement.


• The active floodplain is intended to represent the non-cohesive, non-compacted alluvial portion of the floodplain, but may include areas that are currently suspended or dormant. In essence, it may include anything that has been active floodplain in the last few thousand years, under climatic conditions similar to today’s. This portion of floodplain is typically mapped as Fluvial in terrain mapping.

• Vancouver Island streams are not automatically multi-threaded or braided despite their plotting position, even when not physically constrained by bedrock or glaciofluvial terraces. The streams appear to be at or near a threshold of stability within their own banks and, once disrupted, may remain unstable for decades. That stability is a function of stream inputs, including water, sediment load and, importantly, bank stability. Millar and Quick (1993) proposed a parameter ’ to quantify the effects of bank vegetation on stability and, related it to, among other things, stream width and depth ratios. Eaton et al. (2004), Millar (2000, 2005), and Millar and Quick (1993) have shown that bank vegetation exerts an important control on alluvial channel river patterns, including the transition between single and multi-thread types.

An analysis of Figure 18 and examination of air photographs support the conclusion that riparian vegetation plays a fundamental role in the stability of alluvial parts of Vancouver Island streams. Further, the loss of that vegetation can change the dynamics of river channels so that they move into an active multi-channel regime from which they are slow (taking several decades) to recover. The Eve River confluence with the Adam River is an excellent example.

Consequently, areas mapped as Fluvial are vulnerable to riparian harvesting, changes in peak flows, and increased sediment input. Areas mapped as Glaciofluvial may be ongoing sources of sediment in a watershed.

Figure 18. Forty-two Vancouver Island rivers(*) (listed in Table 2) plotted on Church’s (1992) criteria for single and multi-thread channels. River names have been excluded for readability.


Table 2. The Vancouver Island rivers examined on air photographs and plotted against Church’s (1992) criteria for alluvial rivers (Figure 18).

River name

AdamBensonBrownsCarmanahChemainusCluxeweEveFishermanGoldGoodspeedGordonHathawayHeberKeithKeoghKlootchlimmisKokishKoksilahMac JackMahattaMarble

River name

MemekayNahwittiNimpkishOysterQuatseSalmonSalmon at MemekaySan JosefSan JuanShushariteStandbyTsableTsitikaTsolumTsultonUpanaWallbranWanokanaWaukwaasWhiteZeballos

References for the Fluvial Processes Map

Burge, L.M. 2004. Testing links between river patterns and in-channel characteristics using MRPP and ANOVA. Geomorphology 63:115–130.

Church, M. 1992. Channel morphology and typology. Pages 126-143 in P. Calow and G.E. Petts, eds. The rivers handbook, vol. 1: Hydrological and ecological principles. Blackwell Science, Oxford.

Eaton, B.C., M. Church, and R.G. Millar. 2004. Rational regime model of alluvial channel morphology and response. Earth Surfaces Processes and Landforms 29:511–529.

Millar, R.G. 2000. Influence of bank vegetation on alluvial channel patterns. Water Resour. Res. 36:1109–1118.

Millar, R.G. 2005. Theoretical regime equations for mobile gravel-bed rivers with stable banks. Geomorphology 64:207–220.

Millar, R.G., and M.C. Quick. 1993. Effect of bank stability on geometry of gravel rivers. J. Hydraulic Eng. 119:1343–363.


The Vancouver Island Gullying Map (see Appendix) delineates terrain units on Vancouver Island that have been identified as gullied (see references), or alternatively, terrain that contains erodible sediments deeper than 1 m, on slopes steeper than 25%, for more than 100 m (terrain with gully potential).

Gullies are steep incised channels that convey water, sediment, and woody debris (Figure 19). In British Columbia, gullies are formally described as having a sidewall higher than


3 m, overall channel gradient steeper than 25%, and a sidewall slope of more than 50% (B.C. Ministry of Forests 2001). Gullies may not be active year-round and can be hard to identify on air photographs in forested terrain.

Gullies are associated with channelized debris flows, colluvial and alluvial fan destabilization, sediment generation, snow avalanches, and the rapid transport of water. Crossing gullies and gully systems remains a substantial challenge for land managers.

Figure 19. Gullied terrain in Teeta Creek on Vancouver Island. The gullies may be dry for part of the year, but their steep, incised nature translates to substantial power as a transport mechanism for the rest of the year.

References for the Gullying Map

Bovis, M.J., T.H. Millard, and M.E. Oden. 1998. Gully processes in coastal British Columbia: The role of woody debris. Pages 49–75 in Carnation Creek and Queen Charlotte Islands Fish/Forestry Workshop: Applying 20 Years of Coastal Research to Management Solutions. B.C. Minist. For., Res. Program, Victoria, BC. Land Manage. Handb. 41.

B.C. Ministry of Forests. 2001. Gully assessment procedure guidebook, 4th ed. Forest Practices Code of B.C., B.C. Minist. For., Victoria, BC.

Hogan, D.L., and Millard, T.H. 1998. Gully assessment procedures. Pages 183–188 in Carnation Creek and Queen Charlotte Islands Fish/Forestry Workshop: Applying 20 Years of Coastal Research to Management Solutions. B.C. Minist. For., Res. Program, Victoria, B.C. Land Manage. Handb. 41.

Millard, T.H. 1999. Debris flow initiation in coastal British Columbia gullies. B.C. Minist. For., Vanc. For. Reg., Nanaimo, BC. Tech. Rep. 002.

Millard, T.H., M.P. Wise, T.R. Rollerson, S. Chatwin, and D.L. Hogan. 1998. Gully system hazards, risks and forestry operations in coastal British Columbia. Pages


1149–1156 in Proc. of 8th Congr. of the Int. Assoc. Eng. Geol. and Environ. Balkema, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.


The Vancouver Island Snow Avalanche Map (see Appendix) delineates terrain units that have been identified as modified by snow avalanches (see references) or nivation (frost action and mast wasting beneath a snow bank), or alternatively, steep terrain above 800 m in elevation (the snow accumulation zone on the coast).

Snow avalanches, the rapid downslope movement of snow and debris (Figure 20), are a common feature in British Columbia; more than 300 000 are thought to occur annually, primarily in forested areas (Weir 2002). They initiate in high-elevation areas (generally above 800 m) where thick snow accumulates seasonally.

Although snow avalanches tend to occur away from population centres on Vancouver Island, they have potential to affect the lives of backcountry users. More typically, they can impact linear infrastructure (roads and power lines, for example) and the forestry resource. They may also increase the flow of sediment to streams, and may be associated with debris flows.

Figure 20. Snow avalanche tracks on Mount Colonel Foster on Vancouver Island.

References for the Snow Avalanche Map

Hungr, O., and D.M. McClung. 1987. An equation for calculating snow avalanche run-up against barriers. Pages 605-612 in Avalanche formation, motion and effects. IAHS Publ. 162.


McNay, R.S., L.D. Peterson, and J.B. Nyberg. 1988. The influence of forest stand characteristics on snow interception in the coastal forests of British Columbia. Can. J. For. Res. 18:566–573.

Stethem, C. 2003. Snow avalanche risk management in Canada. Pages 51–57 in Proc. of 3rd Can. Conf. on Geotechnique and Natural Hazards, Edmonton, AB.

Storck, P., Kern, T. and Bolton, S. 1999. Measurement of differences in snow accumulation, melt and micrometeorology due to forest harvesting. Northwest Sci. 73:87–101.

Weir, P. 2002. Snow avalanche management in forested terrain. B.C. Minist. For., Res. Br., Victoria, BC. Land Manage. Handb. 55. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Lmh/Lmh55.pdf


Karst is a unique landform typified by underground drainage and a ground surface characterized by hollows, pits, and runnels in bedrock. Karst is generally formed by the solution of limestone and marble by water. Karst landforms include caves, arches, canyons, springs, and sinkholes, as well as finer relief patterns such as karren (Figures 21 and 22).

Three major geological units on Vancouver Island are susceptible to karstification: the Parsons Bay Formation, Quatsino Formation, and Mount Mark Formation (see Figures 3 and 4).

Karst potential has been mapped for British Columbia by Stokes (1999) and a methodology has been developed for establishing karst inventories that combine the concept of karst potential (amount and type of soluble bedrock) with vulnerability (Stokes and Griffiths 2000; B.C. Ministry of Forests 2003; Resource Inventory and Standards Committee 2001). Karst is well developed on Vancouver Island and the Vancouver Island Karst Potential Map (see Appendix) provides a simple view of karst potential that is based largely on bedrock geology and the input of local experts. The two categories of karst potential, high and moderate, correspond roughly to bedrock that is more than 50% soluble and 20 to 49% soluble, respectively, and that is intensely or moderately intensely karstified (Stokes and Griffiths 2000; B.C. Ministry of Forests 2003; Resource Inventory and Standards Committee 2001).

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Lmh/Lmh55.pdf7


References for the Karst Potential Map

British Columbia Ministry of Forests. 2003. Karst management handbook for British Columbia. B.C. Minist. For., Victoria BC. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/fordev/karst/karstbmp.pdf

Resources Inventory Standards Committee (RISC). 2001. Karst inventory standards and vulnerability assessment procedures for British Columbia. The Karst Task Force, Victoria, BC. http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/risc/pubs/earthsci/karst/index.htm

Stokes, T. 1999. 1:250,000 karst potential maps of British Columbia. B.C. Minist. For., Res. Br., Victoria, BC. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/fordev/karst.htm

Figure 21. Minor karren development on exposed limestone.

Figure 22. A cave (A) where the Artlish River disappears underground, and a karst canyon (B) known as Devil’s Bath. A closer view of Devil’s Bath would reveal small-scale (cm) pitting and ridges that make the bedrock razor sharp, and give the feature its name.

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/fordev/karst/karstbmp.pdf

http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/risc/pubs/earthsci/karst/index.htm

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/fordev/karst.htm


Stokes, T.R., and P. Griffiths. 2000. A preliminary discussion of karst inventory systems and principles (KISP) for British Columbia. B.C. Minist. For., Victoria, BC. Work. Pap. 51.


The Wetland and Organic Soils Map (see Appendix) is a compilation of three data sets that represent depositional environments where soils and vegetation accumulate. The data sets are from wetlands delineated on the 1:50,000 British Columbia Watershed Atlas (the digital version of the National Topographic Maps), the British Columbia Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory (various scales, most at 1:10,000 or 1:15,000) for Vancouver Island, and Vancouver Island 1:50,000 terrain maps (see references). No additional analysis was completed for this data.

Wetlands develop where water and land meet in geomorphically stable or depostional parts of the landscape, such as ponds, marshes, swamps, estuaries, and peatlands (see Figures 22 and 23).

The relative stability of wetlands and their relationship with water produces a landscape rich with biological import and diversity. Similarly, the landscape position is often considered a safely developable area. Wetlands perform the additional role of water regulator, ameliorating potential impacts to water quality and quantity. Land management decisions around wetlands have long been focal points for public discussion.

Figure 23. A wetland in a mountain valley on Vancouver Island showing a rich biological community.


References for the Wetlands and Organic Soils Map

McPhee, M., P. Ward, J. Kirkby, L. Wolfe, N. Page, K. Dunster, N.K. Dawe, and I. Nykwist. 2000. Sensitive ecosystems inventory: East Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands, 1993–1997. Vol. 2: Conservation manual. Can. Wildl. Serv., Pac. and Yukon Reg. Tech. Rep. Ser. 345.

Ward, P., G. Radcliffe, J. Kirkby, J. Illingworth, and C. Cadrin. 1998. Sensitive ecosystems inventory: East Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands, 1993–1997. Vol. 1: Methodology, ecological descriptions and results. Can. Wildl. Serv., Pac. and Yukon Reg. Techn. Rep. Ser. 320.

Websites:

http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/fish/watershed_atlas_maps/index.html

http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/ecology/ecoregions/

http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/sei/van_gulf/ecosystems.html

Figure 24. Much of the northern tip of Vancouver Island has low relief, which leads to the development of wetlands and deep organic layers (see also Figure 10a). Organics are indicated by the brown vegetation on this photograph.


The Vancouver Island Mass Wasting map is the subject of a separate report:

Guthrie, R.H. 2005. Geomorphology of Vancouver Island: Mass Wasting Potential. Research Report No. RR 01. B.C. Minist. Environ., Nanaimo, B.C.

http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/fish/watershed_atlas_maps/index.html

http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/ecology/ecoregions/

http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/sei/van_gulf/ecosystems.html


APPENDIX 1: Geomorphology Of Vancouver Island: Nine Thematic Maps

This PDF report contains three maps for each map theme, in the same order as the expanded legends.

In addition, for practical purposes, print file maps have been created at 1:4000,000 and 1:250,000. Click on the links below for the ‘E-sized’ files.

Vancouver Island Bedrock Geology Map

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/bedrock.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/bedrockn.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/bedrocks.jpg

Vancouver Island Surficial Geology Map

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/surfical.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/surficaln.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/surficals.jpg

Vancouver Island Coastal Geomorphology Map

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/coastal.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/coastaln.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/coastals.jpg

Vancouver Island Fluvial Processes Map

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/fluvial.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/fluvialn.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/fluvials.jpg

Vancouver Island Gullying Map

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/gully.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/gullyn.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/gullys.jpg

Vancouver Island Snow Avalanche Map

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/snow_all.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/snow_n.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/snow_s.jpg

Vancouver Island Karst Potential Map

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/karst.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/karstn.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/karsts.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/bedrock.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/bedrockn.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/bedrocks.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/surfical.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/surficaln.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/surficals.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/coastal.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/coastaln.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/coastals.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/fluvial.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/fluvialn.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/fluvials.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/gully.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/gullyn.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/gullys.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/snow_all.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/snow_n.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/snow_s.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/karst.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/karstn.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/karsts.jpg


Vancouver Island Wetlands and Organic Soils Map

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/wetland.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/wetlandn.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/wetlands.jpg

Vancouver Island Mass Wasting Map

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/mass_all_final.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/mass_n.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/mass_s.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/wetland.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/wetlandn.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/wetlands.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/mass_all_final.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/mass_n.jpg

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/rr2/maps/mass_s.jpg

geomorphology of vancouver island - british · pdf filefigure 4. vancouver island bedrock...

Documents