The Headwaters of Bowker Creek are located on the western side of the University of Victoria’s campus, just outside of Ring Road. The area encompasses 5.7 ha (14 acres), surrounding UVic landmarks such as the Fraser building and University Club (Harrop-Archibald, 2007). Bowker Creek, which flows southeast from the headwaters, follows an 8km path entering the ocean in the municipality of Oak Bay, close to the Oak Bay Marina (CRD, 2003). Today, the creek is very highly urbanized as only 2.5km of the creek’s 8km channel runs above ground, with the remaining being diverted through pipes and culverts (CRD, 2003). Being one of the largest watersheds in the region, university staff have worked to revitalize this urbanized area through creek clean ups and riparian restoration projects (Harrop-Archibald, 2007).

Before European settlers began to alter the landscape, Bowker Creek had many tributaries and marshlands that flowed through it with a predominantly Black Cottonwood overstory in riparian areas with Douglas Fir and Garry Oak providing the tree canopy in the surrounding areas.  Both coho and chum salmon once spawned in the creek and was an important food source for the Lekwungen people who knew ‘Mary Tod’ Island (which lies near the mouth of Bowker Creek) as Kohweechella, or ‘where there are many fish’ when translated.