Salmon Habitat Restoration Bridge Project

Cowichan EstuaryCowichan Valley Enviro...Estuary ConservationEstuary Restoration

Mar 31

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After a year of dedicated hard work CERCA's flagship project of installing a bridge along the man-made causeway in the Estuary has been completed! With funding and in-kind contributions from:The Pacific Salmon Foundation, Government of Canada, Sidney Anglers Association, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Western Stevedoring, Pacific Industrial Marine (PIM), Harold Engineering, Ryzuk Engineering Duncan Paving, and the Nanaimo Foundrythe project was made possible. The new bridge will enable flow from the North side of the Cowichan Estuary to enter the South side and allow for salmon fry to travel from the eelgrass beds in the South through to the Cowichan River. As another benefit - kayakers and other recreational users can now have a shortcut to the North side of the estuary without having to circumnavigate the entire causeway. The bridge is a first step to further restoring the critical ecosystem in the Estuary that will have an impact on the entire Cowichan watershed. Prior to the opening ceremony CERCA's chair Dr. Goetz Shuerholz witnessed salmon fry already making use of the new passageway, confirming that all the hard work by everyone involved was worth it.Opening CeremonyOn March 28th CERCA officially opened the bridge in a ceremony held on-site. Representatives from CERCA's board and membership as well as the CVRD, North Cowichan, Cowichan Tribes, Western Stevedoring, PIM, and the community as a whole were there to witness the ribbon cutting. After talks from all the different parties the buzz about the project and future rehabilitation work was obvious laying the groundwork for very productive years ahead.CERCA would like to extend our deepest thanks to all those involved in the project as well as for the continued support of our members and the community.