August 16th at 6 pm: Wetland Restoration Information Session
Coarse Woody Debris, a.k.a. stumps, have been donated and collected at Xwaaqwum in preparation for wetland creation this August and September.
Come out for a Stqeeye' Learning Society Wetland Restoration at Xwaaqw'um Information Session on Wednesday August 16th at 6 pm. Starting last year, Stqeeye' and friends have been planning the exciting excavation work to create up to 20 hectares of new wetlands at Xwaaqw'um. Come out to see the maps, hear about the planned work and support the water cycle! Parking is limited at this first gate, so consider carpooling. Rain or shine!
This August, Stqeeye’ Learning Society and BC Parks are beginning the three-year phased restoration work in the old agricultural fields with Wetland Restoration Specialist Robin Annschild from Rewilding Water & Earth Inc. Guided by Quw’utsun Elders and Knowledge Keepers, specialists and consultants, restoration experts, and BC Parks staff, the work will restore up to 20 ha (49 acres) of the old agricultural fields into new and thriving wetland ecosystem habitat. The two restorations sites were chosen to improve both watersheds that drain into Xwaaqw’um estuary, with the long-term goal of improving fish habitat both in stream and in the ocean.
The first year of work begins this month, and as soon as August 16th, the public will see heavy equipment from Diggin’ It Excavating being delivered to the park through the first gate. Coarse woody debris that has been donated by Scott Royal and trucked to the park by Ken Tara Excavating is being staged on the edges of the two work areas. This salvaged wood is being diverted from burn piles, and is required to build a healthy new wetland. The large stumps add structure and habitat to the new wetlands, and are partially submerged to help hold soil and bring needed shade and hiding places to the new pools. This is where the magic of wetland chemistry begins, where the wet dark soils from previous wetlands that have been buried by 150 years of slash and burn forestry, agriculture and settler development have moved and disturbed the ancient lake bed that Xwaaqw’um once was, further sequestering more carbon back into the exposed soils that remain.
Once the new wetlands are constructed, deer fencing will go up around the new areas in preparation for planting. 22 species of native plants are being grown at our partner nursery in Cowichan, Ken’s Native Plants. Over 20,000 new wetland trees and shrubs are being lovingly tended by Stqeeye’ staff and these new plants will be coming to live in the new wetlands by October of this year.
The established nursery has abundant water available with irrigation and shade infrastructure already in place.
Tony George potting up Black cottonwood plugs into 1 gal pots.
Planning for Year 3-5 has already begun, and once these new wetlands are created, the hard work of planting, mulching and monitoring them for the next several generations begins. Stqeeye’ has five Indigenous Land Stewards who are in training and are committed to seeing these little plugs turn into trees at Xwaaqw’um. By late fall 2023, staff will begin to prepare cuttings for the next wave of planting in 2024.
Jordan Jack has one of our Canada Summer Jobs student positions. He is repotting Black Cottonwood so that the roots have more room, as this fast growing species would root right through the landscape cloth at the nursery.
This project is funded by ECCC Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk, BC License Plate Fund, Indigenous Watershed Initiative and Public Conservation Assistance Fund
For more information or to volunteer, please email rachel@stqeeye.ca or call 778-901-2308.
For information on how to donate, please visit our Donations Page.
