Municipal agencies and non-profit organizations partner to restore a segment of shoreline in Esquimalt Gorge Park
Green Shores for Shoreline Development (GSSD) Demonstration Project
Esquimalt Gorge Park | Esquimalt, British Columbia
As part of the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s Resilient Coasts for Salmon (RC4S) project, the Stewardship Centre for BC is partnering with the Capital Regional District (CRD), including Esquimalt Parks and Recreation, to develop a Green Shores demonstration site along a section of the Esquimalt Gorge Park shoreline. Other partners include the Gorge Waterway Initiative, World Fisheries Trust, Gorge Waterway Action Society and the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation.
Project Location
Located on southeastern Vancouver Island, in the residential neighbourhood of Esquimalt, the project site is on the south shoreline of the Gorge Waterway, near the parking lot at Sioux Place. It is within the traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) People, known today as the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation. The area proposed for restoration is outlined below in red.
The map above shows the proposed project area of the Esquimalt Gorge Park Green Shores for Shoreline Development demonstration site. Map credit: Sara Stallard, Fish-Kissing Weasels Environmental.
Historically this area looked much different. For example, see the map of the Esquimalt Area in 1854 (University of Victoria Digital Records).
Project Objective
Using a Green Shores® nature-based approach, restoration of this shoreline will help to reclaim the ecological and cultural values of the site, including the restoration of vital nutrient and sedimentary processes that support all salmon species found in this area. Considered options for restoration include re-grading, shoreline stabilization, and planting with native riparian and upland species to provide habitat for amphibians, insects and birds. Additional options include removing non-native vegetation and rock riprap as well as nourishing the beach with a sand-gravel mix of small rock pebbles, pea gravel, and sand. These sediments are well suited to provide a spawning habitat for potential forage fish which support salmon. The beach nourishment will also help stabilize the backshore against erosion and help to prevent coastal squeeze.
First Site Visit
The project was launched with a site visit in October 2021. Attendees included representatives from Capital Regional District, Esquimalt Parks and Recreation, the Stewardship Centre for BC, Pacific Salmon Foundation, Gorge Waterway Initiative, and World Fisheries Trust. On-site activities included a viewing of the different areas of the park, including nearby habitat that is currently within a World Fisheries Trust project area and discussions about possible ideas for restoration.
DG Blair, Executive Director of SCBC, leading a discussion about restoration options. Photo credit: Kelly Loch, Resilient Coasts for Salmon project coordinator with the Stewardship Centre for BC.
The Esquimalt Gorge Park GSSD demonstration site, selected in part due to its popularity and accessibility, provides an outstanding opportunity for education. After restoration, it will showcase a healthy shoreline and protection of salmon habitat through the application of Green Shores as a nature-based solution framework.
Signage in Esquimalt Gorge Park that describes the history and current use of this popular park area. Photo credit: Kelly Loch, Resilient Coasts for Salmon project coordinator with the Stewardship Centre for BC.
Design Workshop
Ideas for project design were further discussed at a Design Workshop held in Esquimalt in December 2021. Participants included those from the site visit, along with representatives from Golder, Lees and Associates, and the Gorge Waterway Action Society. The objective of this workshop was to review site conditions and context and to consider possible Green Shores design concepts such as planting native vegetation and bank stabilization. These ideas will be taken forward by the design team of Lees and Associates while using coastal engineering studies by Golder.
Overview Site Presentation by Sara Stallard of Fish-KW Environmental at the Design Workshop.
Creating Green Shores for Shoreline Development concept designs.
Site Design Exercise.
Design workshop photo credits: Maria Catanzaro, Resilient Coasts for Salmon project coordinator with the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
More Information
We look forward to working with our partners on this exciting project. Stay tuned for more updates from our Resilient Coasts for Salmon team! In the meantime, explore our Resilient Coasts for Salmon project page and find additional content on the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s Resilient Coasts for Salmon website.
