The trout use the lagoon as their main feeding habitat. The lagoon is connected to the sea through a narrow channel at the end of a long sand and gravel spit that runs the length of the lagoon in a northeasterly direction. In the lagoon itself, bivalves, sea lettuce and eelgrass are abundant. Public Use Esquimalt Lagoon is a favourite place for naturalists in the Greater Victoria area due to the large numbers of birds that may be seen there and the regular occurrence of relatively rare birds. Others come for walking, jogging, cycling, and beachcombing, especially during the summer.
Human uses range from canoeing to sailing.
These activities generally do not conflict with bird use of the area because few birds are present during the summer. The lagoon, because of its sheltered location and readily available food source, attracts large numbers of waterbirds. Mallard, Pintail, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon and Coot are the most common waterbirds along the edges of the lagoon and at the northeast end where the water is shallow. Diving ducks such as Canvasback, Bufflehead and Ruddy Duck frequent the deeper waters of the lagoon, particularly along the north side. Two gravel-bar islands are important loafing areas for waterfowl and gulls and one rocky outcrop provides a loafing site for cormorants and Great Blue Heron.