Postponed! - Wetland Restoration Begins
Robin working with Diggin’ It Excavating to plan the first phase of the work starting November 2023
Update November 23, 2023 - A few more threads need to be pulled in together before we can bring machines to the land! We have our contractors working hard and our partners at BC Parks supporting us as we work through the last few details this week. Machines are expected on the land between December and Feburary, exact dates to be announced.
As we wait, you will see us out cutting broom. We are cutting it now while it is outside the bird nesting window for Salt Spring and the Gulf Islands, while it is safe to burn, and safe to move since the seeds have all fallen where it grew. The crew is able to work in safer conditions that during the extreme heat conditions of the August 15-Sept 15 blooming season when it is okay to cut after birds have fledged from any nests that they have made. The broom has been piled to be removed in dumpsters.
Rewilding Water & Earth Inc. leads this exciting project where the first 7 hectares of the final 20 will be manipulated and restored to have multiple pools and braided channels creating off-channel habitat for fish, amphibians and birds at Xwaaqw’um.
Over 8000 native plants will be planted in the two sites, the Nature Smart Project Area 1 site and the AFSAR Project Area 2 site. Both these sites will be fenced to protect the young plants from deer browsing, and to prevent feet from trampling through the sensitve habitat while the soil loose and fragile and the plants are not yet rooted.
Stqeeye’ staff will be out in all weather helping to direct the public away from the heavy machinery and to explain the work to park users. All the staff and equipment operators are connected by radios, to help with communication during the loud work times. Even so, if your dog is off leash and runs out into the work area, the heavy machine operators can only see what is directly in front of their bucket, and they cannot hear anything outside the machine. For this reason, we ask that you please stay out of the work area and please leash your pets while in the park.
In anticipation of this work, Stqeeye’ staff have been removing broom and bringing wood chips and rock to the sites. If you want to volunteer during wetland planting or invasive species removal, please email the Restoration Coordinator!
