In partnership with the Wei Wai Kum First Nation, Greenways Land Trust has embarked upon implementation of the Mill Pond Restoration Project which has been in the planning and design phase for several years. Through this large-scale, multi-million-dollar project, we are re-creating a large area of vital salmon habitat in an area of the Campbell River Estuary that had undergone significant alteration due to industrial activities.
The beginning stages of implementation included installing a temporary bridge to access the site, followed by the construction phase of the project which involved re-grading the terrestrial part of the site to lower the elevation, creating salt marsh, while increasing the elevation within the Mill Pond to make it more suitable for eelgrass. We also created 5 intertidal channels to increase flow to the Mill Pond. These additional habitats and increased habitat complexity are essential for the rearing of juvenile Chinook and Chum salmon that use them for cover from predation and as a source of food before entering the ocean.
We are very excited for the next steps of the Mill Pond Restoration Project, which will see restoration of 22,000 m² of habitat in the estuary. Of this, 5900 m² will be eelgrass habitat, 12,300 m² will be salt marsh habitat, and 3800 m² will be riparian forest habitat.
In future, we will see transplanting of eelgrass in subtidal habitats, planting of riparian forest with native trees and shrubs and fencing to protect new vegetation from browsing wildlife. The project will also include invasive plant management and effectiveness monitoring.
The project is majority funded by the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund and builds on project design funded through the Environmental Damages Fund. Bridge funding from the Campbell River Salmon Foundation and Mosaic allowed us to maintain momentum, along with support from community partners and contractors including the City of Campbell River, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Brown’s Bay Resort and Way-Key Sand and Gravel Ltd.
