Race Rocks

Welcome to Race Rocks! The upwelling and swells of water that pass it by so quickly every day earned it the name (pronounced xwuayen), a Coast Salish Klallum language word which means "swift water". Race Rocks is a series of islands at the eastern end of the Juan de Fuca Strait, between the southern tip of Vancouver Island in the Province of British Columbia, Canada and the State of Washington, USA.

In 1980 Race Rocks was established as an ecological reserve to protect its beautiful and fragile ecosystem and recently it was designated as one of Canada's first Marine Protected Areas (MPA).

Race Rocks MPA is a unique environment. The MPA is the area around the islands that is less than 20 fathoms (about 36 metres) deep. Outside that zone, the depth increases dramatically and reaches well over 100 metres! Currents run past the islands at up to 7 knots (about 14 km/hr) bringing water back and forth from the east coast of Vancouver Island and the Fraser River to the Pacific Ocean, twice each day. It is this enormous amount of water flowing over this relatively shallow area and containing tons of sediment and nutrients, which provides for a unique environment full of wonderful flora and fauna.

Task

Located on the main island, called Great Race, is the Lighthouse and Marine Science Centre. This is where Mike and Carol Slater, formerly employed as Coast Guard Lighthouse Keepers, live. They are now employed by Lester B. Pearson College as the Guardians of Race Rocks. Together they keep a watchful eye over the islands and protect its inhabitants. Each day they also record the weather, sea water temperature and salinity as well as any encroachments on the reserve by fishermen or tour boats. They post this information in their journal on the Race Rocks website.

Even though Race Rocks is the warmest place in Canada, Mike and Carol need to get away on a holiday and visit their many grandchildren. Your task is to take over their work by taking care of Race Rocks. During your stay at Race Rocks you will be working with the Pearson College science and diving team, including Garry Fletcher (Educational Director of Race Rocks and Faculty Member in Biology and Environmental Systems) and Chris Blondeau, the Dive Instructor. Together you will collect information, observe the organisms of Race Rocks through live video of animals and record day-to-day data about Race Rocks. You will be staying in the former assistant lighthouse keeper's house, which has been converted to a Marine Science Centre. As you can see in your virtual tour, it is fully equipped with a kitchen, comfortable couches and there are two bedrooms with six beds for you and your science partners to sleep in. It makes for a cozy atmosphere! Look around the island from the top of the lighthouse as well as other places, to see what else is there.

While you are enjoying the scenery, your help will be required to complete the following important projects for the science team in these areas:

Enjoy your stay and remember, the information you gather is important to the preservation of Race Rocks as a Marine Protected Area!