Campbell River Estuary Habitat Restoration

Sep 26, 2012

by SCBC

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Contributor: Shannon Anderson and Sara Muir
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Land Use: Coastal
Habitat Type: Estuary/Foreshore/Marine
Project Timeline:

Highlights

Establishment of an Estuary Management Plan and research documenting the conditions limiting fish production, such as estuarine carrying capacity, have been key to restoration undertakings on the Campbell River.

The restoration of estuarine habitat in the Campbell River provides techniques to increase the usable habitat and improve the productivity of existing habitat for salmonids. Continuing assessment and monitoring of the restored and protected areas provide valuable information on utilization by juvenile salmonids and success of re-vegetated areas.

Introduction
Challenges
Process
Actions
Results
Next Steps

“In general it is true that river mouths are not spectacular; one has to know and understand something of them to appreciate them. Even the youngest and wildest rivers tend to cushion their approach to immolation by building deltas of gravel and sand and mud. … This then, is likely to be the way of estuaries. Only when one has walked the flat places and heard the wind in the grasses, explored the sloughs and side channels, watched the tides and faced the storms, does a river mouth take on character and substance and reveal its dramatic power.”
– Roderick Haig-Brown, “Fisherman’s Fall.” Toronto. Collins. p.105. 1964.

Estuaries are a habitat of extreme variability, constantly changing water levels and salinity, and one of the most productive ecosystems on earth. Few plants and animals can withstand the constant changes associated with the estuarine environments, but those that do, flourish. Species adapted to the variable environment are provided with a rich food source, with some species such as juvenile salmonids using the habitat during specific life stages. The more plant production within the estuary (particularly amongst the marsh grasses, including sedges and rushes), the more invertebrate production provides for the higher levels of the food web. Estuaries comprise wetlands, both fresh and brackish water, tidal mudflats, gravel and sand bars, and intertidal islands – all supporting a rich and diverse flora and faunal community.

The Campbell River Estuary is located in the Discovery Passage on the East Coast of Vancouver Island. The Campbell River supports all five species of Pacific salmon – Coho, Pink, Sockeye, Chinook and Chum – as well as Steelhead, sea run Cutthroat Trout and resident Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout. A major federal enhancement facility, the Quinsam River Salmon Hatchery produces Chinook, Coho, Pink, Steelhead and Cutthroat that are released to the Campbell system.

From the early 1900’s to 1977 nearly ninety percent of the Campbell River estuary had been extensively modified through bank protection, marina development, float plane docks, ship repair facilities, barge loading facilities, log storage and gravel removal. The loss of this important intertidal estuary habitat has impacted the river’s ability to support juvenile salmon during their critical juvenile life-cycle stage.

Only 6.5 km long from the impassable Elk Falls to the estuary, the mainstem of the lower Campbell River has by nature a limited area available for anadromous salmon rearing and spawning. In addition, the high energy of the lower river restricts freshwater rearing areas for juveniles at certain times of the year. The nature of this flow makes the estuary even more significant rearing habitat, as well as critical transition to salt water for juvenile salmonids migrating to the ocean. Alongside these challenging natural conditions, the impoundment of the river system since the late 1940’s for hydroelectric generation has effected the river dynamics resulting in minimal opportunities for gravel and organics to be added to the lower river habitat.

Recently, the Nature Conservancy of Canada acquired and protected an additional 18 hectares of previously industrial use estuary land increasing the Campbell River’s estuarine carrying capacity. Funding for the $1.8 million purchase was raised through Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Habitat Restoration Salmon Enhancement Program (HRSEP), BC Hydro, the District of Campbell River and local community groups.

Project Objectives
The overall objectives for the Campbell River Estuary Habitat Restoration Project are to
1. restore highly impacted areas to productive habitat, improving the carrying capacity of the estuary to support juvenile salmonids by development of intertidal marsh bench habitat important for increased fish food production
2. improve existing habitat and provide future protection to the estuary through planning, land and foreshore use changes and controlled development directed by the Estuary Management Commission and the Campbell River Official Community Plan
3. provide improved habitat for other wildlife species
4. increase public awareness of the importance of a healthy estuarine ecosystem.
Working within strict ‘fisheries windows’ to allow in-stream activities in specific habitats, as well as dealing with the complexities of tidal habitat were challenges of the estuary restoration project. To address these challenges, project planning and detailed scheduling of events were carried out in advance.

Aspects of this project that may help others overcome similar challenges include:
1. enhancing consultation to establish a working group of all interested and affected parties
2. addressing the issues specific to the habitat, the impacts to the habitat, whether past or continuing
3. developing protocols and strategies to protect habitat (changes to zoning, placing under restrictive covenants or designation as fish and wildlife preserves)
4. incorporating changes into local Official Community Plans to reflect project goals where possible
5. planning for future restoration should be based on data that defines the limiting factors. Establish a prioritized schedule of enhancement that will address the limits to production within the estuary
6. establishing an estuary management plan with local government participation. More importantly, support has provided a template for others undergoing a similar process
7. increasing awareness and the high profile of activities in the Campbell River to generate support for other projects to restore habitat in the area.
The habitat restoration projects on the Campbell River system are the result of community initiative to deal with issues regarding present-day pressures on fish stocks. In 1994, in response to industry’s request to dredge in the lower river to allow tugs and barges more access, a commission was formed of all stakeholders to review all concerns and determine a vision for the estuary. The Campbell River Estuary Management Plan (CREMP) was developed to address the issues of relocation of incompatible industry, restoration of habitat, as well as protection and management of the estuary lands. The CREMP is administered through the District of Campbell River and is part of the local Official Community Plan (OCP).

The Campbell River Interim Flow Management Strategy (CRIFMS) was formed in response to the high flow events of 1995, which caused a loss of spawning habitat. CRIFMS has been incorporated into BC Hydro’s operational plan for the Campbell River, as part of their water license. Issues raised in CRIFMS will also be further addressed and expanded under the Water Use Planning (WUP) process. A schedule outlining in-stream fisheries flows and constraints was developed by the Vancouver Island Hydro/Fisheries Technical Committee to provide a more natural hydrograph for the river and set criteria for ramping rates and a system of consultation for any unscheduled changes to flows.

Targets and direction for the monitoring, management, and protection of salmon habitat have been established and implemented by the Campbell River Hydro/Technical Committee through the CRIFMS and the Campbell River Estuary Management Commission administering CREMP (both of these organizations are made up of local representatives from federal, provincial and municipal agencies, industry, and local citizens) as well as input from stewardship groups. These organizations also provide a protocol for activities relating to salmon habitat on the Campbell River system. Basing restoration and development strategies for the Campbell River on documented limiting factors and systematically working toward a common vision focuses the activity and provides a framework for potential project screening.
To create more productive habitat for juvenile salmonids in the estuary and to increase the production of prey species, the removal of fill and rip rap material from approximately 10,000 square meters of upland area has lowered the elevation to intertidal habitat. Construction of intertidal benches at an elevation favorable to brackish marsh grasses by filling along steep riprap slopes of a log sort pocket has provided an additional 10,000 square meters of marsh and slough habitat. Marsh plants especially sedges and rushes have been transplanted to improve habitat quality on the newly developed intertidal habitat. Riparian species have been planted on the banks of the higher elevation restored habitat. To provide fish access to the improved estuary habitat from the river, existing islands and remnant dykes have been channeled through, as well as bank stabilization and habitat complexing.

To follow up on this first phase of the restoration project, baseline data on plant growth, fish food production and fish utilization has been gathered and will be used to assist in the overall assessment of habitat carrying capacity. Construction of trails following the lower river from tidal freshwater to estuarine habitat allows public access and appreciation of this important ecosystem. To assist in increasing public awareness of the importance of a healthy estuarine ecosystem, kiosks housing interpretive signage on salmonid life history, estuarine habitat and waterfowl, have been placed on the trails.
Although the actual areas restored within the estuary, through construction, breaching and planting, represent a small percentage of the estuary lands, a much larger area has benefited from the changes brought about by these projects. Providing access to areas that were previously difficult for salmonids to enter, and the improved water quality has resulted in enhanced productive habitat to a significant portion of the estuary.

The first phase of the project resulted in the development of two hectares of intertidal marsh habitat. And, the carrying capacity of the estuary increased as a result of the restoration work to date. Considerable productive habitat has been enhanced or restored decreasing the rearing densities for juveniles and providing increased production of food sources for fish.

Overall, the increased carrying capacity of the estuary has improved juvenile survival, and as a result, increased the fish production of the Campbell River. With the additional restored and protected two hectares of habitat in the Nunns Creek estuary, the 18 hectares of the Nature Conservancy land purchase and the plans to return areas of the Tyee Spit to a natural state, the Campbell River estuary has gone from nearly all habitat alienated to a much more productive ecosystem.
Additional intertidal marsh restoration work is planned for the Campbell River Estuary, and monitoring will continue for the next four years to assess plant growth, fish food production and fish utilization of the newly developed habitat. The overall carrying capacity measurements and estimates will help to assess whether remedial works are required and will assist in determining how much additional restoration work should be undertaken in the future. Proposed construction of a channel providing access and mainstem fresh water flows to the western portion of the estuary and other improvements to the Nature Conservancy lands are planned, further addressing the issues of carrying capacity and water quality.

Acknowledgements

A special thanks to the community of Campbell River for their support and generous financial contributions. Additional thanks to our other important project partners, including

Habitat Conservation Trust Fund
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Resource Restoration Division
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Habitat Restoration and Salmon Enhancement Program
Ministry of Environment Lands and Parks
BC Hydro
District of Campbell River
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service
Tyee Club of British Columbia
Pacific Salmon Foundation
Steelhead Society of BC
Fisheries Renewal BC
Forest Renewal BC
Campbell River Tide Guide Association
Timberwest
Campbell River Fish and Wildlife Club
The Raven Group
North Island Fisheries Initiative
Rotary Club of Campbell River.

A resource used to develop this case study includes the HCTF Progress Report 1998.

Contacts

Fisheries and Oceans
Oceans and Community Stewardship
Shannon Anderson
Biologist
4217 Argonaut Rd.
Campbell River, BC Canada
V9H 1P3
Phone: (250) 287-9564
Fax: (250) 286-0261
Email: andersonsh@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Habitat Conservation Trust Fund
Rod Silver
Manager, HCTF and Sp
780 Blanshard St.
Victoria, BC Canada
V8W 2H1
Phone: (250) 356-6124
Email: Rod.Silver@gems2.gov.bc.ca

Partners

The community of Campbell River is very supportive of restoration in the estuary, and has provided generous financial contributions. Other project partners include: