Watershed Park was the first walk that I had no say in picking the location or the route of the walk. Although taking a walk was my idea I left all the details up to other people. Looking back I wish I had taken a slightly more active role as there were several park features I wish I could have seen but over-all it was nice to just get out and walk focusing more on just the company and the experience. The walk was also slightly rushed as we were on a schedule where we had to complete it and then go pick up someone. In some ways it lacked the relaxation because of the time constraints. We were not able to take time to explore and instead had to pick routes based on estimated roundtrip times and other factors.

Watershed Park was once the major water supply for Ladner and East Delta. The park contains artesian wells that supplied water to the area. Delta acquired the land in the early 1910’s to ensure a dependable source of water. At this time the land was logged, but the second growth has generally been untouched. Most of the growth is around 80 years old, but the remains of the original growth can be seen with the massive stumps hidden in the undergrowth.

The remains of the pervious use of the land can be seen with two major landmarks. The old water tower is still standing. It is not the traditional shape one thinks of as a water tower, but its size is impressive when one suddenly sees it around the corner of the trail. It was constructed to store excess water during the night for times of peak usage.

The other ruin is the remains of the pump house. The pump house is now an empty shell, although a few of the heaviest metal fittings are still inside, adding to the forlorn and forgotten appearance. There is an interpretative sign about the building on the outer wall. Originally there was a house built nearby for the manager and his family to live in. There were also given land for their own use. The water was turned off between 9 pm and 5 am everyday. The manager had to be present in case of fires or other emergencies, when he would receive a phone call from the fire department and would have to restart the pumps. Today the wells still bring fresh water to the surface but it just flows into Watershed Creek.

The park has eleven kilometers of gravel trails as well as smaller paths crisscrossing the area. Horseback riding and mountain biking are allowed, but we only saw other walkers and joggers. There is a picnic and viewpoint area, but unfortunately we did not get to see them. The creek is now a salmon spawning habitat and it interpretative signage explains some of the recent improvements to the shores and the surrounding landscape as well as the salmon life cycle.