This 5.6 Ha conservation covenant area is located on Denman Island near the northern end of Northwest Road. The land is privately owned. The area was most recently logged in 1999.
The covenant area is a wetland complex, consisting primarily of regenerating forested swamp, with a distinct Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum) bog complex in the north portion. Cattail marsh pockets are widespread and beavers have created flooded impoundments and are actively altering the habitat. Numerous creek channels flow through the area, both in and under forested stands, as well as in the open.
Below are listed seven species at risk that were found in the covenant area. This list includes a federally endangered butterfly species that is endemic to Denman Island, or found nowhere else in Canada. Adult butterflies were seen along the existing road in May 2009, and this wetland complex has small sites of potential breeding habitat for this species. These breeding sites may remain un-forested and available to this butterfly.
Species at risk found at Danes Creek:
-Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)
-Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
-Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala)
-Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus borealis)
-Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora)
-Taylor’s Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha taylori)
-Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocate)
The dominant site association of the Covenant area, when canopy trees have rejuvenated, is likely to be the swamp wetland, Western red cedar-Western Hemlock-Skunk cabbage (Thuja plicata-Tsuga heterophylla-Lysichiton americanus).
Given that the vulnerable swamp wetland character of the area does not lend itself to trail development, there is no public access afforded by this covenant, though Denman Conservancy has the right to monitor and conduct scientific studies.
