Maltby Lake is located in South southwestern

Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest ...

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

. It is located 10 km north of

Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Gre ...

in the Tod Creek Watershed. The lake is the headwaters for the

watershed Watershed may refer to: Hydrology * Drainage divide, the line that separates neighbouring drainage basins * Drainage basin, an area of land where surface water converges (North American usage) Music * Watershed Music Festival, an annual country ...

, which eventually feeds the world class

Butchart Gardens The Butchart Gardens is a floral display garden in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, located near Victoria on Vancouver Island. The gardens receive over a million visitors each year. The gardens have been designated a National Historic S ...

. 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 () 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 exact southern ...

. 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) on V ...

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 full-time equivalent enrollment of 4,946 students in 2022/23. Camosun College also provides co ...

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 Watershed
https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Parks~Recreation~and~Culture/Documents/Archives~Collections~and~Research/Category~8/Saanich_Placenames_MR_Reference.pdf {{authority control Lakes of British Columbia Saanich Peninsula Lake Land District

See also

External links