Coastal Restoration Fund: Projects in British Columbia
Tom Berry gravel pit: Restoration and recovery for Fraser River chinook and Pacific salmon off-channel habitat
Recipient: Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition
Project achievements: The project team completed the construction of a permanent outlet channel from the Tom Berry pit to Bristol Slough. This channel restores:
- fish habitat for juvenile chinook, coho and sockeye salmon
- its capacity to support a floodplain ecosystem in both form and function
The completed spillway has now increased the available water baseline levels for overwintering habitat by 54% for juvenile salmon.
In collaboration with partners, the project removed a 2,886 m2 area of targeted invasive species (Sweet white clover and Canada thistle) at key locations of the restoration area.
A total of 1,853 native trees and shrubs were planted encompassing a total restoration of 2,130 m2.
Fund allocation: $776,524 over 4 years
Partners:
- Sto:lo First Nation
- Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Fraser Valley Regional District
- Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition
Media announcement:
Cowichan/Koksilah watershed to sea - Protecting and restoring Canada's wild river heritage as an integral link to the Salish Sea
Recipient: Cowichan Tribes
Project achievements: Restoration team work improved:
- key habitats
- connectivity
- natural processes
These improvements support chinook productivity, extending these benefits to southern resident killer whales, First Nations' fisheries, the Georgia Strait ecosystem, and the Cowichan/Koksilah coastal watersheds.
In collaboration with partners, the project restored over 500,000 m2 of estuary habitat, over which 9,600 m2 was restored by the planting of eelgrass shoots within the region.
Fund allocation: $2,677,742 over 5 years
Partners:
- BC Conservation Foundation
- Cowichan Estuary Restoration and Conservation Association
- Cowichan Community Land Trust
- Cowichan Valley Naturalists
- Cowichan Valley Regional District
- Cowichan Watershed Board
- Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Integrated Flood Management Plan partners
- Pacific Industrial Marine
- Precision Identification
- Pacific Salmon Foundation
- SeaChange
- Simon Fraser University
- The Nature Trust of BC West Coast Conservation Land Management Program
- University of Victoria
- Western Forest Products
- Western Stevedoring
- Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
- RBC Blue Water
- Cowichan Valley Regional District
- Mountain Equipment Coop
- Pacific Salmon Foundation
- Sidney Anglers Association
- British Columbia Conservation Foundation Living Rivers
- Canada Student Works
- Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
- Ministry of Environment (BC Parks)
- Ducks Unlimited Canada
Media announcement:
Restoring estuary connectivity on the delta of the Fraser River estuary
Recipient: Raincoast Conservation Foundation
Project achievements: The project team improved Fraser estuary habitat connectivity through the Steveston Jetty. To do so, they build 3, 50-meter-wide, linear breaches (where previously there were impassable barriers due to historically constructed flow control structures). These breaches directly benefit juvenile chinook and other Pacific salmon species (from populations originating throughout the Fraser Watershed), which rely on the estuary habitat.
Fund allocation: $2,658,217 over 5 years
Partners:
- Ducks Unlimited
Media announcement:
Restoration of estuary and intertidal areas within Barkley Sound and Kyuquot Sound/Checleset Bay on the West Coast of Vancouver Island
Recipient: Maa-nulth Treaty Society
Project achievements: The project team restored a causeway isolating the southern portion of the Sarita River estuary in Treaty Settlement Lands of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, west coast Vancouver Island. This enhanced salmon and tidal water access across the causeway. The restoration of this priority estuary has mitigated stressors from forest harvesting and road building activities. It has also led to increased abundances of Chinook and Chum Salmon populations using the new channel habitat.
Fund allocation: $1,350,000 over 5 years
Partners:
- Huu-ay-aht First Nations
- Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations
- Uchuklesaht Tribe
- Toquaht Nation
- Yuułuʔiłʔath
Media announcement:
Surf Inlet Watershed and Dam Salmon Restoration Feasibility Project
Recipient: Gitga'at First Nation
Project achievements: The project team completed a feasibility study that allowed the team to understand the:
- background of the Surf Inlet – Cougar Lake Dam
- subsequent stressors facing salmon resources in the region
Recommendations were made on the best approach to implement restoration of habitat procedures that will allow improved fish passage by the impeded Surf Inlet Dam.
Fund allocation: $90,000 over 1 year
Partners: N/A
Media Announcement:
Lower Skeena and estuary sockeye, chum and chinook habitat reconnaissance, restoration and rehabilitation
Recipient: North Coast Skeena First Nations Stewardship Society (NCSFNSS)
Project achievements: Several restoration projects were identified through extensive literature review and engagement with:
- NCSFNSS Member Nations
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
- local experts focusing on sockeye, chum and chinook salmon
Preliminary fisheries and environmental monitoring was completed to collect baseline data for each project.
The Clear Creek Eastern Side Channel Revitalization project, a region hosting an important spawning stream for Coho, Chinook, Sockeye and Steelhead species, created nearly 12,000m2 of spawning and rearing fish habitat.
The increased productivity resulting from restored salmonid habitats provides benefits to the coastal environment in the form of increased prey availability for predators of all salmon life stages.
Fund allocation: $875,000 over 5 years
Partners:
- Tsimshian Environmental Stewardship Authority
- Pacific Salmon Foundation
Media announcement:
Salish Sea nearshore habitat recovery project
Recipient: SeaChange Marine Conservation Society
Project achievements: The project restored native eelgrass and riparian habitats within estuaries and bays that have previously been affected by activities, such as:
- nearshore development
- non-point pollution
- climate change
Recovering the health of these ecosystems has increased the resilience of nearshore intertidal and subtidal habitats for:
- salmon
- chinook
- coho
- steelhead species
Fund allocation: $1,309,333 over 5 years
Partners:
- Gulf Islands (community members and Regional Technical committee members)
- Burrard Inlet (community members and Regional Technical committee members)
- Sechelt (community members and Regional Technical committee members)
- Howe Sound (community members and Regional Technical committee members)
Media announcement:
Squamish estuary salmon habitat recovery project
Recipient: Squamish River Watershed Society
Project achievements: The project team improved estuarine processes and access for juvenile chinook and other Pacific salmon species to the Squamish River estuary.
Fish passage structures were removed or established at several locations on the estuary floodplain.
Baseline data was collected along the length of the Central Estuary, which provides crucial information on:
- soils
- water temperatures
- salinity
- vegetation
1,800 trees and shrubs were planted within the region as a result of educational programming and volunteer support.
Fund allocation: $1,736,749 over 5 years
Partners:
- Squamish First Nation
- Habitat Conservation Trust Fund
- BC Hydro Fish Wildlife Compensation Program
- Squamish Terminals Ltd.
- Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
- District of Squamish
- Pacific Salmon Foundation
- Pacific Salmon Commission
Media announcement:
Salish Sea North - East Coast Vancouver Island salmon highway (nearshore habitat) mapping and restoration
Recipient: Comox Valley Project Watershed Society
Project achievements: The project team increased habitat connectivity for salmonid species along 86 km of eastern Vancouver Island shoreline from Oyster River estuary to Nile Creek estuary.
Total subtidal eelgrass transplantation of 2,479.3 m2 was successful within the region despite climate challenges presented over the course of the project.
In collaboration with partners, the production of the Coastal Restoration Plan is an invaluable document and tool to guide the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society's coastal restoration efforts throughout the northern Salish Sea.
Fund allocation: $689,000 over 5 years
Partners:
- K'omoks First Nations
- Nile Creek Enhancement Society
- Hornby Island Diving
- Simon Fraser University
Media announcement:
Orca sustenance: Thompson River chinook project 2017-2020
Recipient: British Columbia Conservation Foundation
Project achievements: The Chinook Habitat Restoration project team restored approximately 14,347 m2 habitat used by Chinook at 9 key locations within the Thompson River Watershed:
- Salmon River
- Upper Nicola River
- Lower Nicola River
- Louis Creek Stream Bank
- Louis Creek Off Channel Habitat
- Quinville Creek
- Guichon Creek, Phase I
- Guichon Creed, Phase II
- Little Shuswap Lake
The improvements and recovery made to these key habitat features now:
- support sustainable Thompson Chinook populations
- facilitate improved Chinook outmigration success that benefit Resident Killer Whale (RKW) populations, improving their marine feeding success
Fund allocation: $1,733,746 over 3 years
Partners:
- First Nations: Secwepempc Fisheries Commission
- Simpcw (North Thompson Indian Band)
- Lower Nicola Indian Band
- Douglas Lake Ranch
- Wallis Environmental Aquatics
- Land Owner – Jenny Garthwaite
- Shawnessy Enterprises Ltd.
- Land Owner – Rey Creek Ranch
Media announcement:
Pacific salmon explorer
Recipient: Pacific Salmon Foundation
Project achievements: The project team:
- compiled information required to assess the status of salmon populations
- evaluated pressures on salmon spawning, rearing and migratory habitats
With the addition of 155 salmon conservation units in the Fraser-Thompson and South Coast-Vancouver Island regions to the tool, the Pacific Salmon Explorer now presents standardized assessments of biological and habitat status for 343 out of the 415 conservation units in the Pacific Region.
Salmon datasets that have been historically unavailable or difficult to access are now stored in a centralized format and location available freely for download to the general public.
Fund allocation: $1,200,000 over 3 years
Partners:
- Gitxaala Nation
- HaislaKitasoo/Xais'Xai Nation
- Heiltsuk Nation
- Nuxalk Nation
- Wuikinuxv Nation
- Great Bear Initiative Society
- Habitat Stewardship Program, Government of Canada
- Willow Grove Foundation
- Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Media Announcement:
New funding supports technical innovation to restore salmon-bearing watersheds in British Columbia
Estuary Restoration in the Fraser River Delta and Connected Wetlands
Recipient: Ducks Unlimited Canada
Project achievements: The project team provided substantial benefits to aquatic ecosystems in the region. By re-connecting previously alienated habitat, through the construction of 3 Woodward breaches, the amount of accessible brackish marsh habitat available has increased. This benefits fish and other aquatic organisms extending from the Fraser River Main Arm into Woodward Marsh.
Natural physical processes, such as circulation, salinity gradients, and nutrient and estuary sedimentation processes, have been restored. This ensures these habitats are more resilient and robust to sea level rise. Through these increased fish accesses and food-web benefits, the project contributed to the recovery efforts of the northeast Pacific southern resident killer whale population, for which Chinook and Chum salmon are key prey species.
Fund allocation: $2,039,912 over 4 years
Partners:
- Province of British Columbia – Spartina Funding
Media Announcement:
San Juan and Gordon River – Estuary and Coastal Area Restoration
Recipient: Pacheedaht First Nation
Project achievements: The project team focused on improving critical estuarine habitats through the:
- re-connection of prioritized tidal channels
- restoration of estuarine vegetation and forage fish habitat
In total, 6,396 m of coastline was assessed for its suitability as forage fish spawning habitat, for either surf smelt or Pacific sand lance.
By its completion, the project restored 2,908 m2 of aquatic habitat and improve early marine rearing for:
- chinook
- chum
- coho
- pink salmon
The restoration of ecological function of the estuary:
- re-established the food chain of forage fish (meaning sand lance) available to chinook
- further enhanced forage fish accessibility to the Southern Resident Killer Whales in their adjacent coastal foraging habitat
Fund allocation: $1,670,000 over 4 years
Partners:
- BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
- TimberWest
- Fishing Derby
- BC Timber Sales
Media Announcement:
Government of Canada works with Pacheedaht First Nation to restore wild salmon habitat
Musqueam Fisheries Habitat Restoration 2020
Recipient: Musqueam Indian Band
Project goal: Musqueam Indian Band aims to build its capacity to be key partners and leaders in aquatic and foreshore fisheries habitat restoration within the Musqueam territory of the Lower Fraser River and parts of the Salish Sea.
The aim of this project is to:
- improve habitat conditions for Chinook salmon and other key marine species at two sites on the Fraser River estuary and Salish Sea within Musqueam territory
- build capacity and expertise at Musqueam in project management and implementation of projects related to fisheries habitat restoration, planning, and collaborative decision-making
Time frame: 4 years
Fund allocation: $1,200,000
Partners: N/A
Media Announcement: N/A
Lower Fraser River Wetland Conservation and Restoration Plan
Recipient: Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance
Project achievements: Together with conservation organizations, multiple First Nation partners, researchers and mapping specialists at the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance biologists developed an interactive story map designed to introduce and educate the general public about:
- the Lower Fraser River
- salmon importance
- restoration needs and prioritization
The story map provides a visual and interactive public communications tool for the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance First-Nations-led restoration strategy.
Fund allocation: $800,427 over 3 years
Partners:
- Pacific Salmon Foundation
- Community Mapping Network
Media Announcement: Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection Plan
Restoring marine habitat around log handling facilities in Haida Gwaii
Recipient: Secretariat of the Haida Nation
Project achievements: The project team developed community-based restoration strategies for sensitive marine areas impacted by historic forestry practices. The project team:
- excavated over 20,000 m3 of previously infilled shoreline to create over 10,000 m2 of eelgrass, salt marsh and natural beach habitat at Juskatla camp
- created 1,000 m2 of rocky reef and eelgrass habitat in Bearskin Bay
Assessments of the region assisted in the restoration of marine aquatic habitats previously impacted at historic log handling facilities.
The creation of productive habitat and resulting enhanced biodiversity values has allowed for the recovery of traditional use of the region.
Fund allocation: $1,162,263 over 3 years
Partners:
- BC Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
- Gwaii Haanas
Media Announcement:
Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection PlanNimpkish Watershed Lower River and Estuary Restoration Project
Recipient: 'Namgis First Nation
Project achievements: The project team assessed the Lower Nimpkish River and Estuary for existing chum spawning and rearing habitat. They developed a restoration plan and improved the habitat quality through restorative actions in the region.
The site assessments used LiDAR imagery collected over the 36 km2 region at the mouth of the Nimpkish River to establish baseline data for restoration work planning.
Namgis First Nations members participated throughout the project in the assessment, monitoring and rehabilitation methodologies, providing their knowledge and input towards all restoration planning processes.
Fund allocation: $482,505 over 3 years
Partners: N/A
Media Announcement: Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection Plan
Heart of the Fraser: collaborative partnership to restore Chinook and Chum Salmon habitat in the Harrison-Chehalis and Nicomen Slough river systems
Recipient: Fraser Valley Watershed Coalition
Project achievements: The project team provided actionable measures to restore, conserve and manage salmon habitat in the Heart of the Fraser (located in and around the Harrison River and its confluence with the Fraser River). This is a highly productive area for important Pacific salmon stocks, such as Harrison River Chinook. This work has strong ties to the Recovery Strategy for Resident Killer Whales as it relates to prey availability.
Together with First Nations partners, the restoration project:
- enhanced and restored juvenile and adult Chum and Chinook salmon
- improved ecological resiliency in the historic slough systems within the Harrison River, Nicomen Slough and the Fraser River area
Fund allocation: $1,283,983 over 3 years
Partners:
- Hemmera and Harrison Salmon Stronghold
- South Coast Conservation Land Management Program
- Pearson Ecological
Media Announcement:
Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection PlanNootka Sound Chinook Salmon River Habitat Riparian Project
Recipient: Nootka Sound Watershed Society
Project achievements: The project accelerated the recovery of riparian forest on 6 Chinook salmon streams in:
- Nootka Sound
- Sucwoa River
- Tahsis River
- Leiner/Perry River
- Little Zeballos River
- Chum Creek
Together with partners, the rebuilding of the West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook salmon populations in the Nootka-Kyuquot Conservation Unit accelerated the succession of riparian forest and ecosystem functions.
About 138.62 ha of habitat treatment and restoration was achieved throughout the project.
Fund allocation: $904,009 over 3 years
Partners:
- Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council
- Western Forest Products Ltd.
- Nuchatlaht, Ehattesaht
- Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations Fisheries
Media Announcement:
Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection PlanCollaborative salmon and salmon habitat restoration and research in the Nicola Watershed
Recipient: Fraser Basin Council Society
Project achievements: The project team:
- improved existing mapping and inventory of habitats (Nicola and Coldwater Rivers)
- determined appropriate sites for habitat restoration within the Nicola Watershed
The riparian planting of the Nicola River occurred along a 235 m length of the water, planting:
- Saskatoon
- Red-Osier Dogwood
- Interior Sitka Alder
- Prickly Rose
- Pacific Willow stakes
Fund allocation: $376,307 over 3 years
Partners:
- Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Region and Rural Development
Media Announcement: Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection Plan
Thompson Basin fish habitat restoration through collaboration and shared vision
Recipient: Shuswap Nation Tribal Council
Project achievements: The project team focused on a multi-species and ecosystems-based approach to protecting and restoring critical habitats for several salmonid species at risk in the Thompson Basin.
The flow monitoring program initiated during the project directly contributed to crucial in-season flow and temperature data to the Thompson-Okanagan drought response process.
The Sensitive Habitat Inventor and Mapping results are one of the tools now available for the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of water issues to prioritize future projects.
The project has successfully restored 3,785 m of creek corridor on Maiden Creek starting from the Allen Creek diversion, progressing downstream through the tributary into the Bonaparte Watershed.
Fund allocation: $428,282 over 3 years
Partners:
- Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
- Secwepemc Fisheries Commission
Media Announcement: Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection Plan
Restoring the Nanaimo River Estuary
Recipient: The Nature Trust of British Columbia
Project achievements: In partnership with the Snuneymuxw First Nation, the project team restored coastal estuarine processes and improved the connectivity of estuarine fish habitat in the Nanaimo River Estuary. The project:
- managed shoreline recontouring
- created low bench marsh habitat
- installed submerged large woody debris habitat features within the area of restoration
- transplanted eelgrass beds from nearby donor sites along the Nanaimo River
- erected goose exclusion fencing made of natural materials around the transplant sites for their protection
In total, 2,848 m of old berm (length) was removed from the Nanaimo Estuary and the project successfully restored approximately 26,750 m2 of aquatic habitat.
Fund allocation: $484,519 over 3 years
Partners:
- West Coast Conservation Land Management Program
- Snuneymuwx First Nation
- Log Storage Association
- Nanaimo Port Authority
- Simon Fraser University
- City of Nanaimo
Media Announcement: Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection Plan
Bessette Creek restoration and streamflow monitoring
Recipient: Okanagan Nation Alliance
Project achievements: During the length of the project, the team installed 2 real-time hydrometric stations at the lower Harris Creek and at Nicklen Creek.
Restoration efforts in the region increased the long-term stability of the watershed through bioengineering techniques and planting/seeding. This increased instream habitat and promoted sedimentation and vegetation growth.
The project team also addressed sedimentation issues by working with Farmland-Riparian Interface Stewardship Program and engaged with landowners in order to conduct the large-scale bank stabilization and instream restoration in the Bessette Creek watershed.
Fund allocation: $109,812 over 2 years
Partners:
- Ministry of Forest, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
- Farmland-Riparian Interface Stewardship Program
Media Announcement: Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection Plan
Restoring the Quatse (Gwa'dzi) River Estuary
Recipient: Kwakiutl First Nation and The Nature Trust of British Columbia
Project achievements: In partnership with Kwakiutl First Nation, the project team focused on the rehabilitation and restoration of intertidal marsh within the estuaries of the Quatse and Quatsese Rivers. This provided new fish habitat and improved tidal and riverine connectivity.
The combined restoration efforts throughout the length of the project resulted in the:
- restoration of 1,000 m2 of marine vegetation
- creation of 1,000 m2 of intertidal marsh benches
- increase of tidal circulation to 20,000 m2 of estuarine tidal marsh habitat
Fund allocation: $192,400 over 1 year
Partners:
- Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
- Province of British Columbia
- District of Port Hardy
- North Vancouver Island Salmon Enhancement Society
- The Nature Trust of BC/West Coast Conservation Land Management Program
- North Vancouver Island Salmon Enhancement Society
Media Announcement:
Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection PlanClayoquot Sound Chinook Salmon Recovery Initiative
Recipient: Central Westcoast Forest Society
Project achievements: Together with regional partners, the project team:
- planted 6,070 live willow cuttings and 1,000 alder cuttings to help stabilize the gravel bar within the region
- brushed 32 ha of riparian forest
- planted 9,700 conifers
- established riparian monitoring plots
- completed juvenile salmonid monitoring
The restoration of these Chum habitats, and the revitalizing of Chum populations as a result of these achievements, directly benefits Resident Killer Whale populations and estuarine and freshwater ecosystems.
Fund allocation: $336,700 over 1 year
Partners:
- Clayoquot Biosphere Trust
- West Coast Aquatic
- Clayoquot Salmon Roundtable
- Pacific Salmon Foundation
- Fanny Bay Salmonid Enhancement Society
- Hesquiaht First Nation
- Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation
- Ahousaht First Nation
- Strawberry Isle Marine Research
- Cedar Coast Field Station Society
- Raincoast Education Society
- Patagonia
- Ocean Outfitters
- Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
- T'aaq-wiihak
Media Announcement:
Government of Canada invests in aquatic habitat through the Oceans Protection Plan- Date modified: