2005 news releases

4,200 tonnes of gravel placed in river
Courier-Islander (Campbell River)
Wed 17 Aug 2005
Page: A9
Section: News
Byline: Dan Maclennan
Source: Courier-Islander

The Campbell River Gravel Committee's latest project, one of its most ambitious, is being described as a success.

"It's gone well," committee chair Mike Gage said as the project wrapped up last Thursday. "It's the first time we've moved this much gravel with such a big machine but it's certainly the way of the future as far as I'm concerned whenever you've got good access like we've got here."

About 4,200 tonnes of gravel, less than originally anticipated, was placed over roughly two acres of riverbed off the end of Ebert Road, just upstream from the old bridge. It was the largest project undertaken by the Gravel Committee in about 10 years, since the Second Island Spawning Channel project.

Reports dating back 30 years showed the area was historic chinook spawning habitat.

"You might want to call them snobs," said Shannon Anderson, Fisheries and Oceans biologist monitoring the work. "They're pretty specific about their conditions. They like big water, flow and rocks. (They're) main stem spawners. Chinook really tend to spawn around rocks. They like that cover.

"The chum are in places like Second Island (Channel), big flat areas. They'll spawn side by side like cordwood. Whereas with the chinook, you'll usually see them in association with rocks and riffles that break up the surface.

"The rocks also add the complexity of the hydraulics, so when you have a rock there, the water hits it and it forces the water down, so it improves the subsurface flow and that improves the survivability of the eggs."

BC Hydro's Bridge Coastal Restoration Program (BCRP) put up more than $100,000 for the project. The Ministry of Transportation and Highways put up another $20,000. Other funding came from the Pacific Salmon Foundation.

"The Highways guys have been on side for about three years now," Gage said. "They've got an environmental fund and a fellow in charge of it named Sean Wong. He's very enthusiastic about projects, especially if they are related to highways, but even if they're adjacent to major highways he's still enthusiastic about it."