Bedwell

Bedwell Inlet

Image 1: Looking toward Bedwell River Inlet

Bedwell Inlet is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, about nine miles north of Tofino. It is by far the shallowest inlet in Clayoquot Sound, reaching a depth of only about 80 meters. The maximum horizontal extent of the inlet is roughly 29 kilometers. Originally called the Nuu-cha-nulth region, it has been home to First Nations peoples for at least the last 4,000 years. Gold was discovered in the region in 1865, causing prospectors to flood into the area. But because the terrain was packed with boulders, prospecting turned out to be unprofitable. Since the exodus of the failed gold miners, the area surrounding Bedwell Inlet has been sparsely populated. Although, in 2000 an upscale eco-safari resort was opened in the estuary on the mouth of the Bedwell River. Even still, the only ways to reach the inlet are by seaplane or boat.

Sampling Stations

Bedwell Inlet has 6 sampling stations (40, 41, 82, 42, 85, 86). Samples were collected in 2013 and were used to create choropleth and cross-sectional surfer figures to display the inlet's water properties.

Figure 1: Map of Bedwell Inlet and sampling stations

Meteorolgical Conditions During Sampling Period

Tidal Pattern During Sampling Period

Nutrient Choropleth Maps

Nitrate Levels at Surface, Chlorophyll Max (CMax), and Bottom

Surface Nitrate Levels:

Surface nitrate levels are relatively low throughout the inlet besides in the middle (station 42).

CMax Nitrate Levels:

CMax nitrate levels were consistently average within the inlet.

Bottom Nitrate Levels:

Bottom nitrate levels were significantly higher at the head of the inlet (station 40). This is likely due to plankton die off in the late summer/early fall combined with a lack of mixing at lower depths.

Phosphate Levels at Surface, Chlorophyll Max (CMax), and Bottom

Surface Phosphate Levels:

Surface phosphates were lower at the head of the inlet (station 40). Likely due to the influx of freshwater from the Bedwell River.

CMax Phosphate Levels:

CMax phosphates were consistent throughout the inlet.

Bottom Phosphate Levels:

Similarly to nitrates, bottom phosphate levels were highest near the inlet head (station 40). This is also likely due to plankton die-off.

Silicate Levels at Surface, Chlorophyll Max (CMax), and Bottom

Surface Silicate Levels:

Surface silicates are consistent toward the head and mouth of the inlet. However, in the middle (station 42), levels are slightly higher.

CMax Silicate Levels:

CMax silicates were slightly higher in the middle of the inlet (stations 82,42) relative to the inlet's head (station 40).

Bottom Silicate Levels:

Bottom silicate levels were also highest near the head of the inlet (station 40). This is also due to plankton die-off and lack of mixing in deeper waters.

Nutrient Trends

All three nutrients measured showed similar trends between the surface, chlorophyll max, and bottom. There are lower nutrients towards the surface because of phytoplankton productivity. In the fall, plankton begin to die off and sink to the bottom as the weather cools. Additionally, downwelling often begins in autumn as well. Therefore, nutrients tended to be most dense at the bottom near the head of the inlet.

Water Property Sections

Temperature (°C)

Salinity (PSU)

Density (kg/m³)

The bottom water temperature under station 40 was the coldest, at around 13 degrees. It was warmest near the mouth of the inlet at station 86. Salinity generally increased as distance from the inlet head increased, ranging from 28-32 PSUs. Likely due to the influx of fresh water from the Bedwell River. Given the correlation between density and salinity, we see density displaying a similar pattern of increasing near the mouth of the inlet. There is a region of what seems to be less salty and less dense water coming in from the Bedwell River.

Fluorescence (mg/m³)

Transmisivity (%)

Dissolved Oxygen (mL/L)

Fluorescence was highest near the surface, where phytoplankton can most readily absorb sunlight. Additionally, there was also high fluorescence (~20 mg/m^3) following down from the coast to about 60 meters below the surface. This is likely caused by downwelling dragging phytoplankton downward. Transmissivity was lowest near the bottom, which was expected due to decaying matter on the inlet floor. There was however, a small blob of very clear water in the middle of the water column near the inlet head. Dissolved oxygen was highest near the surface, especially close to the mouth of the river where it reached around 5.5 ml/L. While the bottom near station 40 was almost completely anoxic at 1 ml/L.

Page developed by Gary Livingston Jr

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