[ { "gis_id": "", "map_ref": "restoration", "icon_name": "green_icons/information.png", "label": "", "title": "Tsolum Channel Relic", "descrip": "
Off channel habitats, which are areas out of the main river flows, play an important role in providing critical habitat through various salmonid life stages. At this location there is a relic channel of the Tsolum River that is slowly infilling and heavily vegetated. This channel could be enhanced to create better habitat. However, constraints to the project, especially the low flows of the Tsolum River make this project less of a priority than others featured on the map.
", "lat": "49.695883", "lng": "-124.994384", "updated": "140115", "image_link": " ", "embed_link": " ", "notes": " " }, { "gis_id": "", "map_ref": "restoration", "icon_name": "green_icons/star-3.png", "label": "", "title": "Simms Park", "descrip": "Simms Millenium Park restoration work has been completed. This site was one of the projects identified as being high priority with high potential for implementation with maximum benefit to fish, wildlife, and the community. In general, the Simms project was prioritized due to several factors:
As part of our Estuary Stewardship, Project Watershed has committed to the restoration of the Field Sawmill site. We have been given a name for the site by the K’ómoks First Nation and are now calling it Kus-kus-sum. Our vision is to create vibrant and productive habitat and connect it to Hollyhock flats, which is adjacent to the site and one of the most productive areas in the Estuary. The site would be rehabilitated by removing concrete and sheet pilings along the armoured stream banks and planting native species in their place. The riverbank would also be reshaped into a more natural form, with channels flowing through the site. This would create a valuable refuge for many species, particularly salmon, who are exposed and vulnerable when they travel along this section of the river. It’s a big job and it’s going to take a lot of work, we hope you will join us in creating this legacy. Visit www.kuskussum.ca for more information about the project and to donate!
Click on the button below to watch an animation of what a potential restoration of the Fields Sawmill site might look like.
The Airpark Lagoon has been breached with a culvert that is 20 meters long by 3.98 meters wide and 2.48 meters high. The culvert diverts some of the water from the Courtenay River through the lagoon area. This will flush and re-oxygenate the area with cooler river water, and restore the lagoon closer to its historical condition. The construction, coordinated by Project Watershed, will significantly improve fish habitat and deal with factors limiting productivityby helping lower water temperatures in the lagoon, increasing nutrients and mixing, providing better habitat for birds and marine life and improving connectivity between the river and the lagoon. To learn more please read our Breach Post.
", "lat": "49.680906", "lng": "-124.980613", "updated": "140115", "image_link": " ", "embed_link": "Salt marshes are coastal wetlands that are flooded and drained by salt water brought in by the tides. These intertidal habitats are common in estuaries and provide essential food, refuge or nursery habitat for many different species. Salt marshes also protect shorelines from erosion by buffering wave action and trapping sediments. They reduce flooding by slowing and absorbing rainwater and protect water quality by filtering runoff. They also aid in carbon sequestration as they function to absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it, thus decreasing the effects of global warming. Due to a grant from the North American Partnerships for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) Project Watershed will be restoring an area of salt marsh at the outlet of the Airpark Lagoon in order to provide all the aforementioned benefits as well as more contiguous habitat between the Lagoon and the Estuary.
", "lat": "49.677914", "lng": "-124.977914", "updated": "140115", "image_link": " ", "embed_link": " ", "notes": " " }, { "gis_id": "", "map_ref": "restoration", "icon_name": "red_icons/star-3.png", "label": "", "title": "Dyke Slough Tide Gates", "descrip": "There are tide gates located under Comox Road just north of the Rotary Viewing Stand. The gates were constructed during the 1930’s and restricted salt water intrusion into the farmland and marsh area above. They are characterized by two culverts with side-hinged tide gates that restrict movement of salt water into the floodplain area known as “Dyke Slough”, and a third culvert with a top-hinged tide gate provides flood relief. The area is important rearing habitat for salmonids. Slough habitat above and below the gates is highly valuable for food production, and has year-round flows from Glen Urquhart and Mallard creeks. The construction of the tide gates likely decreased salmon production dramatically by isolating the upstream areas. A study was undertaken to see if these could be adjusted to optimize fish access between the estuary, Dyke Slough and associated creeks. And, although the study has not yet been completed, one option to improve habitat connectivity would be to install baffles, which will allow fish to move through culverts even at high flow velocities. Alternatively the water levels of downstream pools could be raised in order to lower flow velocity through the culverts.
", "lat": "49.684074", "lng": "-124.975235", "updated": "140115", "image_link": " ", "embed_link": " ", "notes": " " }, { "gis_id": "", "map_ref": "restoration", "icon_name": "green_icons/information.png", "label": "", "title": "Estuary Interpretive Centre (Site not determined)", "descrip": "An interpretive centre could be created along the K’ómoks Estuary. The centre would provide interactive opportunities for all ages to learn about the Estuary, its watershed, marine life and natural and cultural history. It could feature interactive displays, opportunities to enjoy wildlife, bird watching and special events programs for visitors. Such a centre, in addition to providing recreational and education opportunities, would raise awareness about the ecosystem services the Estuary provides and would be a wonderful new community amenity.
", "lat": "49.675153", "lng": "-124.979350", "updated": "140115", "image_link": " ", "embed_link": " ", "notes": " " }, { "gis_id": "", "map_ref": "restoration", "icon_name": "green_icons/information.png", "label": "", "title": "Millard Creek Estuary", "descrip": "Development in the watershed has reduced the input of Large Woody Debris (LWD) and resulted in high sediment loads becoming deposited in the estuary ecotone (tidal channel above the mudflats). As such, there are long stretches of uniform habitat along this section where fish are exposed to high temperatures and predation. Although Chinook do not spawn in this system, the fry utilize the estuary during the spring and early summer, along with Coho, Chum, and Pink salmon from this, and possibly adjacent, systems.The creek could be made more complex by bringing in LWD and/or boulders which would help to trap fine sediments, stopping high sediment loads from being deposited at the mouth of the river. In conjunction with this some planting of native species could be done in the riparian zone near the mouth of the creek. Both these measures would create shade and reduce water temperatures. The LWD also would provide fish with protection from predators. The Millard-Piercy Watershed Stewards are a group of dedicated volunteers that have been working hard to enhance and maintain this watershed.
", "lat": "49.669430", "lng": "-124.974219", "updated": "140115", "image_link": " ", "embed_link": " ", "notes": " " }, { "gis_id": "", "map_ref": "restoration", "icon_name": "green_icons/star-3.png", "label": "", "title": "Royston Wrecks", "descrip": "This region has suffered from past impacts of log booming and a railway bed that cut through the foreshore area. In order to improve the habitat at this site Comox Valley Project Watershed conducted eelgrass transplants just north of the Royston Wrecks. The society restored nearly 2000 m2 of eelgrass in the intertidal amd sub tidal waters near the wrecks. Another project being undertaken by the society in this area, thanks to funding from the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program, is salt marsh restoration which will serve to create contiguous habitat and refuge for salmonids. This work involved enriching the beach with marine nutrients by creating benches of suitable elevation and then these areas were planted native salt marsh species. Currently the society is working towards having this area designated as a Wildlife Management Area at the provincial level. This will ensure that the area is protected for the future.
", "lat": "49.653901", "lng": "-124.951212", "updated": "140115", "image_link": " ", "embed_link": " ", "notes": " " }, { "gis_id": "", "map_ref": "restoration", "icon_name": "red_icons/star-3.png", "label": "", "title": "Eelgrass transplants", "descrip": "Eelgrass transplants have already been carried out successfully by Project Watershed around the Royston Wrecks and Goose Spit locations. Since Eelgrass expands primarily through its rhizomes, shoots are taken from high density areas and planted in disturbed bare or low density patches, where it then expands to the surrounding area. Eelgrass is a highly valuable habitat for salmon as well as many other marine and terrestrial species. It provides food, a refuge from predators and acts as a nursery for the eggs and young of many marine species. Eelgrass transplants will continue to be conducted at suitable sites throughout the K'ómoks Estuary in the coming years.
", "lat": "49.662997", "lng": "-124.942061", "updated": "140115", "image_link": " ", "embed_link": " ", "notes": " " }, { "gis_id": "", "map_ref": "restoration", "icon_name": "green_icons/information.png", "label": "", "title": "Brooklyn Creek", "descrip": "The Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society is \"dedicated to the protection, preservation, and restoration of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed through community stewardship and education\". The creek supports Coho and Chum salmon as well as a resident population of Cutthroat trout. The watershed also serves as a valuable green space in an urbanized environment and a wildlife corridor that supports a variety of invertebrates, birds and small animals such as otter and beaver. One possibility to enhance the habitat of Brooklyn Creek would be a restoration at the mouth of the creek where it enters the Estuary. Specifically the creek could be made more complex by bringing in large woody debris and/or boulders which would help to trap fine sediments, stopping high sediment loads from being deposited at the mouth of the river. In addition, this large woody debris would create shade for fish and provide protection from predators.
", "lat": "49.668904", "lng": "-124.914232", "updated": "140115", "image_link": " ", "embed_link": " ", "notes": " " }, { "gis_id": "", "map_ref": "restoration", "icon_name": "green_icons/information.png", "label": "", "title": "K'ómoks Estuary Management Plan (KEMP)", "descrip": "The Comox Valley Regional District took the lead in revising the Courtenay River Management Plan (CREMP) in 2009. Project Watershed's Estuary Working Group along with other stakeholders such as Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ministry of Transportation, K'ómoks First Nation and others worked together to revise the document. Project Watershed and the Comox Valley Regional District are now calling the Courtenay River Estuary the K'ómoks Estuary in honor of the K'ómoks First Nation and so the CREMP has become the KEMP. A second draft has been prepared and is awaiting final edits. Once the final draft is produced Project Watershed will be working towards its adoption and implementation by local, provincial and federal governments.
", "lat": "49.679032", "lng": "-124.959674", "updated": "140115", "image_link": " ", "embed_link": " ", "notes": " " } ]