The Campbell River estuary is an iconic sensitive ecosystem that is currently recovering from over a century of degradation from industrial use. The estuary provides habitat to many wildlife species, including Purple martins, Great blue herons, Bald eagles, and waterfowl; large predators such as seals, sea lions and bears; and four species of Pacific salmon, including the iconic ‘Tyee’ Chinook salmon.
Greenways is working on the ongoing restoration of the Campbell River estuary with the assistance of its fantastic volunteers and partner organizations. Restoration activities include removing invasive species and replanting with native species that are suited to the varied marsh, swamp, and riparian forest habitats.
Greenways also monitors estuary vegetation, Canada goose populations, and Purple martin nesting in the estuary to determine long-term ecosystem health.
We also continue to work towards increasing the population of the critically endangered Deltoid balsamroot; a beautiful relative of the sunflower that is currently known from only eight locations in BC including Campbell River’s Tyee Spit.
Whenever possible, our Greenways Conservation Team of volunteers works to further restore habitats in the Campbell River estuary. There is a lot of work to do, but together we are making steady progress!
HIGHLIGHTS 2021/2022
- Upland forest habitat was replanted with 286 trees and shrubs using a diversity of native trees and shrubs.
- Approximately 40 Sitka spruce trees infected with white pine weevil were removed from Baikie Island, as well as approximately 10 Red alder trees. This was done to create space for added diversity to be planted the following year
- 377 native trees and shrubs were planted on the Tyee Spit as part of our annual Scotch broom contract that Greenways has been running for the City of Campbell River since 2018
- 2,800kg of Yellowflag iris was removed from marsh habitats on Baikie Island. We were also able to lift many of the benthic barriers that were installed two years ago and begin a trial of treatments including replanting with native nursery stock and allowing the areas to revegetate naturally.
- We further strengthened our partnership with Weiwaikum Guardian Watchmen to control invasive plant species in the estuary, particularly Purple loosestrife along Myrt Thompson Trail and on the estuary islands.
- New “Stewardship through Partnership” sign created and installed on Baikie Island, celebrating these and other partnerships that allow us to efficiently and effectively manage habitats in the Campbell River Estuary
OUTLOOK 2023
- We are excited to continue our revegetation of the areas where Yellow Flag Iris has been treated with benthic barriers
- We are working on an Ocean Blue Wildflower Meadow Restoration following removal of invasive tansy and thistle and planting of native wildflowers
- Partnered with Weiwaikum Guardian Watchmen and the We Wai Kai Guardians to start a new restoration and education project; ‘Revitalizing Campbell River’, funded by Indigenous Watersheds Initiative
- We are hoping to create a huge amount of new marsh and eel grass habitat in Baikie Island Nature Reserve’s Mill Pond, bringing this area closer to what it looked like prior to being dredged for log booms.
