Maltby Lake is located in South southwestern
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are o ...
,
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
. It is located 10 km north of
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. Th ...
in the Tod Creek Watershed. The lake is the headwaters for the
watershed
Watershed is a hydrological term, which has been adopted in other fields in a more or less figurative sense. It may refer to:
Hydrology
* Drainage divide, the line that separates neighbouring drainage basins
* Drainage basin, called a "watershe ...
, which eventually feeds the world class
Butchart Gardens
The Butchart Gardens is a group of floral_displays, floral display gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, located near Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria on Vancouver Island. The gardens receive ove ...
.
Named after Thomas and Richard Maltby, original owners of West part of Sec. 118 Lake District; Crown Grant 3882/3." Paid $22.00 in full for 22 acres September 22, 1873. Old name Highland Lake.
Maltby Lake is a pristine freshwater source in the middle of a semi rural developing area on the
Saanich Peninsula
Saanich Peninsula ( str, W̱SÁNEĆ) is located north of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is bounded by Saanich Inlet on the west, Satellite Channel on the north, the small Colburne Passage on the northeast, and Haro Strait on the east. The ...
on
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are o ...
. The lake and the surrounding area of pristine land hosts an abundance of wildlife, exotic aquatic life (including
freshwater jellyfish) and one of the largest Douglas fir trees in the
Greater Victoria
Greater Victoria (also known as the Greater Victoria Region) is located in British Columbia, Canada, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. It is usually defined as the thirteen municipalities of the Capital Regional District (CRD) ...
area.
For over a century the lake and surrounding lands have been owned by a single extended family, which developed the property minimally. The first dwelling, an 1860s hunting cabin turned farm house, still stands. Motorized watercraft have been banned by the family since the '50s; the lake provides a potable drinking water source for the few residents there. As land taxes continue to rise (in the order of 500x in the last 40 years), the owners endeavour to maintain this idyllic setting.
Maltby Lake is an important water body in the Tod Creek Watershed. It contributes to the catchment area of Tod Creek which is estimated to be 22.8 km2 (8.8 mi2). Maltby Lake, Prospect Lake, Durrance Lake and Quarry Lake are all in the Tod Creek drainage area.
Several studies have been conducted on the lake, including a
Camosun College
Camosun College is a public college located in Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. The college has two campuses, Lansdowne and Interurban, with a total enrollment of around 14,000 students (including Professional Studies and Industry Training) ...
environmental study, a PhD on frogs and an ongoing study on the hydrology and hydrogeology of the lake.
Excellent for swimming with access off Munn road.
External links
Friends of Tod Creek Watershedhttps://www.saanich.ca/assets/Parks~Recreation~and~Culture/Documents/Archives~Collections~and~Research/Category~8/Saanich_Placenames_MR_Reference.pdf
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Lakes of British Columbia
Saanich Peninsula
Lake Land District