Comox Lake Watershed
Located in the unceded territory of the K'omoks First Nation.
The Comox Valley’s abundant beach access, lakes, waterfalls, and rivers make it an enticing destination for those who love recreational activities in or on the water. Even if you’re not ready to jump in, our sandy and pebbly beaches provide relaxing spots for reading, walking, wildlife watching, and picnicking.
Did you know that when you adventure in these aquatic spaces, and the trails and forest around them, you are in a watershed? A watershed is where all the water from melting snow and rain within a specific area eventually congregates. Watersheds are filled with life—flora, fungi, fauna, and human inhabitants—that thrive on the plentiful access to water and the interconnectedness of our ecosystems.
Rare residents and access to safe drinking water
The Comox Valley Watershed includes rivers, creeks, wetlands, forests, and estuaries from the mountains all the way to our coastline with the Salish Sea. It's home to some unique (and at-risk) residents like Roosevelt Elk, Little Brown Bats, and Northern Red-legged Frogs.
Nestled in the valley, what's often referred to as Comox Lake holds a deeper, richer history. Traditionally, this body of water was known as PE’ntlatc Lake, the ancestral home of the Pentlatch people, now part of the K'ómoks First Nation. The glacier that feeds this valley, K’one-is (Queneesh), stands as a powerful reminder of the enduring connection between the land and its original inhabitants.
Comox Lake is an essential part of this ecosystem as it captures water flowing down from the Comox Glacier and the Vancouver Island Mountain Range. The lake is where everyone in our region has sourced their drinking water since the 1960s!
The watershed also includes various smaller creeks and rivers between Comox Lake and the Salish Sea that are known as Sub-Basins, like the Upper Puntledge and Perseverance Creek. In total, our watershed is 461 square kilometres. To deepen your experience of its ecological lessons and history, join a special family-friendly Community Watershed Canoe Tour with the Lake Park Society, which also hosts movie nights and outdoor concerts around Comox Lake in the summer.
The land and waters within the Comox Lake Watershed were originally utilized and stewarded by the K’omoks and Pentlatch peoples, whose cultural practices continue today. The watershed was degraded by European settlement and the arrival of industries like mining and logging, some of which continue today with large parts of the watershed privately owned. As a community, we passionately envision a thriving future for the watershed, its many inhabitants, and future generations. And even as a guest here during your Comox Valley adventures, you can help!
Balancing recreation and preservation
Swimming, water sports, camping, sporting events, and even power generation through BC Hydro, take place in and around Comox Lake throughout the year. Outdoor rock climbing is also a popular activity that has buoyed visitation to the lake’s shores. As the popularity of this idyllic spot only increases, we invite you to follow a few principles to help us continue revitalizing and maintaining the watershed’s health.
Cooling off with a refreshing swim in the summer or doing a cold dip-sauna rotation on the lakefront with Nomadic Sauna invites full submersion. To protect the freshwater’s quality, try not to wear skin products or suncream that will wash off into the lake. Coin-operated hot showers, designated bathroom facilities, and plenty of waste bins for clearing up after your four-legged friends to prevent pathogens from entering the water are available close by.
Camping and fire safety in the Comox Lake Watershed
Finally, let’s fight off the threat of forest fires, together. Camp in designated campgrounds, keep a close eye on anything that potentially provides an unexpected spark in tinder-dry summer conditions, and always abide by fire bans. Following these principles is the difference in the provision of safe water and community safety.
Access to many areas within the Comox Lake Watershed is a delicate dance between enjoying the incredible recreation we have on offer and protecting this essential life source. Many watersheds within the province do not allow this balance, instead keeping the watershed closed to the public. We hope to inspire you to recreate mindfully, so we can continue to provide access and all the joy in outdoor recreation Comox Lake and its surrounding waterways brings.
