Restoration Project: Bull Island Side Channel (2002-2005)

Bull Island is located in the falls reach or Reach C of the Puntledge River, approximately 300 m upstream of the Comox logging bridge. This side-channel was known to be used historically by summer-run Chinook salmon, but had suffered through loss of natural processes that replenish spawning gravel due to the construction of the diversion dam on the Puntledge.

Bull Island was the main focus of a two-year habitat restoration project that saw the addition of 2,165 square metres of spawning habitat to this side-channel. The project also included the construction of three Newbury-style rock weirs, two downstream of a large log jam and one upstream, to aid in ensuring stable water levels for salmonid habitat.

To also help address water flows, especially during high river flow, a large rock deflector or "groyne" was constructed at the upstream entrance to the Bull Island side-channel to reduce high river flows into the channel during floods.

Using a "biostandard" (a biological measure used to define a benchmark or standard) of 10 m2 of habitat required for each spawning pair of Chinook salmon, it is estimated that the project provided spawning habitat for at least 216 pairs of salmon - a tenfold increase in the number that could spawn in this channel previously.

In 2005, post-construction monitoring of the side-channel confirmed summer-run Chinook salmon continue to utilize the re-introduced spawning habitat.