Update: 12,000 m2 of salmon habitat restored at Second Island
To help Chinook, Steelhead, Coho, and Chum populations, A-Tlegay Fisheries Society, in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and BC Parks, have restored a side channel in Campbell River.
By removing a gravel plug at the entrance to the channel, along with modifying three rock weirs, the project re-established surface water flows in the Second Island side channel. The weirs were contributing to excess gravel accumulation that eliminated spawning habitat and stranded juvenile salmonids.
Now that the gravel has been removed, approximately 8,000 m2 of habitat has been restored within the side channel. In addition, the gravel was re-used in the mainstem to improve 4,000 m2 of Chinook spawning habitat.
It is anticipated that, over the long term, the work will allow gravel to move more freely though the system during high flow events and the natural channel function will be restored.