2006 news releases

Gravel project begins Aug. 1 on upper Campbell River
Courier-Islander (Campbell River)
Wed 26 Jul 2006
Page: A6
Section: News
Source: Courier-Islander

The Campbell River Gravel Committee will be placing spawning gravel on the upper Campbell River from Aug. 1 to Aug. 15.

The committee will also be constructing a ramp into the river from the helicopter pad on the road into the John Hart Generating Station. Spawning gravel will be placed using an excavator in an area of the river between the upper Island (across from the old John Hart office) and the John Hart side of the river.

Access to the river upstream of the project site will be restricted for swimmers, tubers and kayakers during the project, due to safety concerns. The Canyon View Trail will remain open, however, users will be re-routed to the road around the work site.

The project is being led by the Campbell River Gravel Committee, a sub-committee of the Tyee Club of B.C. The committee's focus is on returning the historical spawning habitat to the salmon of the Campbell River. The project is funded by the Bridge Coastal Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program (BCRP), a BC Hydro initiative to address issues on watersheds that have BC Hydro facilities.

Much of the lower Campbell River is lacking the quality and quantity of gravel that Campbell River chinook salmon prefer. That preferred gravel has been washed downstream over the past 60 years. With no new gravel able to move from the upper watershed naturally, due to the series of dams, it is important, says the committee, to replenish the spawning habitat through period additions of gravel.

The gravel will be screened and washed before it is loaded on the gravel trucks, greatly reducing the potential for silt downstream during placement. Levels of sediments will be monitored and operations will be in place to ensure a minimum environmental impact. Only environmentally-friendly lubricants will be used.

Questions can be directed to Mike Gage of the Campbell River Gravel Committee at 287-4368, biologist Shannon Anderson with Fisheriess and Oceans Canada at 286-5807 or Graham Hill, engineer with Northwest Hydraulics Consultants at 250-758-6425.