Greenways Land Trust and the We Wai Kum First Nation are continuing work on a large-scale restoration project in the Baikie Island Nature Reserve this summer, though that means there will be intermittent closures of the Raven Trail.
A section of the trail between the footbridges and the Baikie Island parking lot will be closed to make way for machinery entering and exiting the worksite during July and August. The closures will be temporary and intermittent.
This summer, the job at hand will be restoring elevations to the historical levels that existed before the dredging of the Mill Pond for log boom storage. The goal of the project is to increase rearing habitat for juvenile salmon. Approximately 20,000 square metres of habitat is targeted for rehabilitation. This will be achieved by returning the Mill Pond area of the Campbell River Estuary to closer to pre-industry conditions.
The Mill Pond was dredged in 1980 for log boom storage and the current underwater elevations are not suitable for the eelgrass and marsh habitat that is so vital for juvenile salmon to grow in a safe, productive environment with adequate cover from predators and ample food sources before they migrate out to the Salish Sea for the next phase of their life cycle. Re-vegetation and monitoring work will continue for a several years as Greenways and We Wai Kum staff transplants eelgrass, and plants native marsh and shoreline vegetation.
“This very exciting project will not only revitalize habitats, but also help to revitalize local economy by employing many local contractors and crew members to complete this very large endeavor,” a release from Greenways says.
Funders, donors, partners, and experts, include the A-tlegay Fisheries Society, A Wood Bulldozing, the Campbell River Salmon Foundation, the City of Campbell River, Environment Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund, Fernhill Consulting, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Lewkowich Engineering Associates Ltd., Mainstream Biological Consultants, Mosaic Forest Management, Northwest Hydraulics Consulting, Pacific Wood Waste, Raven Forest Products, TerraWest Environmental Consultants, and Windsor Mill Sales; as well as consultation with many more local specialists and biologists.
RELATED: Greenways Land Trust gets boots muddy in battle against Campbell River invasive species
Junior Streamkeepers make a difference at Campbell River pond
marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
