2005 news releases

Comox Valley Echo
Tue 09 Aug 2005
Page: A4
Section: News
Source: Comox Valley Echo

The Comox Valley is about to experience an exponential growth in alternative new housing. Unlike the more traditional wooden structures, these will be made entirely of gravel, 5200 tonnes to be specific.

The new homes will be for the precious summer-run chinook salmon which are presently making their way up the Puntledge River.

Washed and graded gravel will soon be added to the Puntledge River creating a spawning area measuring approximately 6000 square metres. This will provide spawning habitat for about 600 pair of chinook.

This habitat restoration project is just one step in an overall attempt by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to re-build this once plentiful stock, which historically returned by the thousands. Impacts from industrial, urban and agricultural development in the watershed, as well as over-harvesting and predation has caused the summer chinook population to decline to critically low numbers.

The Puntledge River Hatchery, built in 1977, has been instrumental in conserving and maintaining the stock over the past three decades. However, it is recognized that the continued dependence on hatchery production will not ensure the genetic integrity and diversity, nor necessarily assure sustainability of the stock. According to Chris Beggs, manager at Puntledge Hatchery, "a key element to the successful re-establishment of the summer-run chinook salmon stock will be restoration of the historical spawning habitats."

The project is located approximately 3 kilometres downstream from BC Hydro's impoundment dam at Comox Lake in a section of the river known as the headpond. This section was historically the most important spawning area for summer-run chinook salmon and steelhead.

Following expansion of the hydro facilities in the 1950's, this habitat was destroyed through a combination of flooding, reduced velocities and altered hydrology. Although some spawning habitat is available below the diversion dam, it is insufficient to support an historical spawning salmon return of 3,000 (1,500 spawning pair). New efforts to improve conditions for spawning are focused on historical habitats between the two dams on the river.

The project is funded through BC Hydro Bridge Coastal Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program (BCRP) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

- For safety reasons, the public is being asked to refrain from using the recreational trails on the north side of the Puntledge River between the impoundment and diversion dams between August 8 and September 15 while the project is underway.