30 Glacier PROBUS club members and our guest speaker Caila Holbrook met for our March General Meeting at Comox United Church.
President Alan Brown welcomed everyone. He asked if our contact information, specifically phone numbers, have changed to please let the MC team know.
PRISMA is going ahead on Saturday, June 28 and includes the return cruise, lunch, and concert. There are 50 tickets available but depending on other PROBUS clubs in the valley we may be able to get more.
VIce President Lorne Meyer introduced our guest speaker, Caila Holbrook who has been with the Project Watershed Project since November 2008. Caila has a Masters in International Nature Conservation and a BSc in Environmental Science. Caila is currently managing Project Watershed’s education and outreach activities.
Kus-Kus-Sum
Unpaving Paradise
Project Watershed (PW) is a local environmental group established in 1993. Their mission is “to promote community stewardship of Comox Valley Watersheds through education, information, and action.” One of their local projects was the Courtenay Airpark breech with a tunnel built under the pathway and the lagoon now able to cycle water bringing more fish and birds.
In 2008 PW held a public meeting where the idea of purchasing and restoring the old sawmill site to its natural habitat was voiced and supported by many. In 2011 PW supported a study that listed the restoration of the K'omoks Estuary as a priority to increase the health and productivity of salmonids. In honour of an ancient village on the opposite side of the river and with the permission of the K'omoks First Nation, the site was named Kus-kus-sum (meaning very, very slippery). In September 2017, the plan to purchase and restore Kus-kus-sum began with the support of the K'omoks First Nation and the City of Courtenay. The Kus-kus-sum is PW’s biggest project with a budget of $8M.
The Kus-kus-sum Estuary is one of the best on the BC coast. Estuaries are highly productive ecosystems providing habitat for waterbirds and wildlife as well as providing water filtration, detritus breakdown, and nutrient recycling. The K'omoks Estuary is a mega carbon sink sucking up ocean blue carbon which continues to be studied for its long term effectiveness to remove CO2.
In the late 1800s to 1918 the site was initially a First Nations Village. In 1946 it was a forested site. Then in the 1950s, Field’s Sawmill bought the site. The sawmill was very productive until the mid 1970s. In 2004 Interferon shut down the site. In 2006 they tested over 300 soil test holes for contamination and removed toxic soils from the site earning the highest standard of reclamation from the province. From 2004-2017 PW ran a fundraising campaign to unpave Kus-kus-sum and put up paradise. Their vision was to have trees by the road and grasses by the shore with a deep pool at one end, hoping that in 20-30 years the site will look like Hollywood Flats, a salt marsh with upland native Sitka spruce trees.
TIMELINE FOR PROJECT
2017 Launch Funding 2022 Phase II
2020 Purchase site 2023 Phase III
2021 Initial Phase
PHASE I - UNPAVING
All concrete, metal, and asphalt were removed (34 bins were recycled and 750 truckloads were taken away) and as much as possible recycled. It was soon discovered that there were 3 concrete layers as well as a concrete wall behind the metal wall.
Concrete was recycled for aggregate or sold to developers. There was constant archeology monitoring for possible mortuary trees or bones. There was also water quality monitoring above, at, and below the water level.
PHASE II - CONTOURING
The site is handled section by section with earth being moved so as to make varying elevations. In April and October 2022, 5000 plants were planted. 10,000 plants remain to be planted. The plants all require compost and mulch. Willow will be planted on the slopes to hold the banks and wooden debris will make the habitat more complex.
PHASE III - REMOVING THE METAL WALL
As the wall is buried approximately 20 feet into the ground, it will be removed by vibrating the panels out. A barge will come up the river when the timing is right (high tide with no fish running). It was hoped that the wall would be removed this fall but it is more likely to happen next year. The company removing the metal wall is doing it pro bono.
Caila ended by noting that 84% of the total cost has been raised with 75% going to restoration. Three ways to raise money are:
For more information check out:
Kuskussum.ca
support@kuskussum.ca
250 753-2871
QUESTIONS:
Caila reported that PW has some fun activities planned for Earth Day, April 22, 2023 such as shoreline clean-ups and watershed walks.
Check out their volunteer page on their website: projectwatershed.ca
Vice President Lorne Meyer thanked Caila for her talk and noted that Caila asked that her honorarium be donated to PW.
President Alan Brown also thanked Caila for clarifying what exactly was going on at Kus-kus-sum as we all wonder when we drive by it.
Winners of The Mill Coffee gift certificates were: Gil Moore, Alan Brown, Sandy Dreger, and David Pendlebury who generously gave his certificate to Caila.
Photos of VP Lorne, guest speaker Caila, and winners Gil and David with President Alan Brown picking a ticket were taken by Ian Thompson.
Next General Meeting will be April 6, 2023.
President Alan Brown welcomed everyone. He asked if our contact information, specifically phone numbers, have changed to please let the MC team know.
PRISMA is going ahead on Saturday, June 28 and includes the return cruise, lunch, and concert. There are 50 tickets available but depending on other PROBUS clubs in the valley we may be able to get more.
VIce President Lorne Meyer introduced our guest speaker, Caila Holbrook who has been with the Project Watershed Project since November 2008. Caila has a Masters in International Nature Conservation and a BSc in Environmental Science. Caila is currently managing Project Watershed’s education and outreach activities.
Kus-Kus-Sum
Unpaving Paradise
Project Watershed (PW) is a local environmental group established in 1993. Their mission is “to promote community stewardship of Comox Valley Watersheds through education, information, and action.” One of their local projects was the Courtenay Airpark breech with a tunnel built under the pathway and the lagoon now able to cycle water bringing more fish and birds.
In 2008 PW held a public meeting where the idea of purchasing and restoring the old sawmill site to its natural habitat was voiced and supported by many. In 2011 PW supported a study that listed the restoration of the K'omoks Estuary as a priority to increase the health and productivity of salmonids. In honour of an ancient village on the opposite side of the river and with the permission of the K'omoks First Nation, the site was named Kus-kus-sum (meaning very, very slippery). In September 2017, the plan to purchase and restore Kus-kus-sum began with the support of the K'omoks First Nation and the City of Courtenay. The Kus-kus-sum is PW’s biggest project with a budget of $8M.
The Kus-kus-sum Estuary is one of the best on the BC coast. Estuaries are highly productive ecosystems providing habitat for waterbirds and wildlife as well as providing water filtration, detritus breakdown, and nutrient recycling. The K'omoks Estuary is a mega carbon sink sucking up ocean blue carbon which continues to be studied for its long term effectiveness to remove CO2.
In the late 1800s to 1918 the site was initially a First Nations Village. In 1946 it was a forested site. Then in the 1950s, Field’s Sawmill bought the site. The sawmill was very productive until the mid 1970s. In 2004 Interferon shut down the site. In 2006 they tested over 300 soil test holes for contamination and removed toxic soils from the site earning the highest standard of reclamation from the province. From 2004-2017 PW ran a fundraising campaign to unpave Kus-kus-sum and put up paradise. Their vision was to have trees by the road and grasses by the shore with a deep pool at one end, hoping that in 20-30 years the site will look like Hollywood Flats, a salt marsh with upland native Sitka spruce trees.
TIMELINE FOR PROJECT
2017 Launch Funding 2022 Phase II
2020 Purchase site 2023 Phase III
2021 Initial Phase
PHASE I - UNPAVING
All concrete, metal, and asphalt were removed (34 bins were recycled and 750 truckloads were taken away) and as much as possible recycled. It was soon discovered that there were 3 concrete layers as well as a concrete wall behind the metal wall.
Concrete was recycled for aggregate or sold to developers. There was constant archeology monitoring for possible mortuary trees or bones. There was also water quality monitoring above, at, and below the water level.
PHASE II - CONTOURING
The site is handled section by section with earth being moved so as to make varying elevations. In April and October 2022, 5000 plants were planted. 10,000 plants remain to be planted. The plants all require compost and mulch. Willow will be planted on the slopes to hold the banks and wooden debris will make the habitat more complex.
PHASE III - REMOVING THE METAL WALL
As the wall is buried approximately 20 feet into the ground, it will be removed by vibrating the panels out. A barge will come up the river when the timing is right (high tide with no fish running). It was hoped that the wall would be removed this fall but it is more likely to happen next year. The company removing the metal wall is doing it pro bono.
Caila ended by noting that 84% of the total cost has been raised with 75% going to restoration. Three ways to raise money are:
- Sponsor a Salmon - wooden salmon made by local school children cost $25. Check out
Sponsor a Salmon at Kus-kus-sum- Project Watershed. - Businesses can also sponsor a salmon.
- Government, grants, and big foundations.
For more information check out:
Kuskussum.ca
support@kuskussum.ca
250 753-2871
QUESTIONS:
- Does PW test the soil? Caila reported that there is a lot of soil testing based on the rate of removal and area of soil. There are some pockets but for the large area it is mostly clean. Soil goes to either local businesses or Brown’s River Soil area.
- Where will people park? At the far end of the site is the sewage pump house and a block of asphalt. How much public access will be decided by the Komoks First Nation and the City of Courtenay. Perhaps a boardwalk and interpretive board? The goal of restoration is to have a functioning natural habitat in the Estuary and the site will be mostly wet and marshy in concentrated areas at times. The area was also once a burial ground that needs to be respected. Caila did note that there will always be kayak access.
- Which end will they start removing the metal wall? Caila reported that they will start at the bridge end and work their way down river. She also said that some “green armouring” will need to be done near the bridge as the water is going around a corner.
- Why is there lots of dirt on site again now? Caila reported that roughly one half of the site has been sculpted and as noted above it is done section by section. Trucking is the biggest cost.
- Where do the plants come from? Streamside Native Plants in Fanny Bay.
Caila reported that PW has some fun activities planned for Earth Day, April 22, 2023 such as shoreline clean-ups and watershed walks.
Check out their volunteer page on their website: projectwatershed.ca
Vice President Lorne Meyer thanked Caila for her talk and noted that Caila asked that her honorarium be donated to PW.
President Alan Brown also thanked Caila for clarifying what exactly was going on at Kus-kus-sum as we all wonder when we drive by it.
Winners of The Mill Coffee gift certificates were: Gil Moore, Alan Brown, Sandy Dreger, and David Pendlebury who generously gave his certificate to Caila.
Photos of VP Lorne, guest speaker Caila, and winners Gil and David with President Alan Brown picking a ticket were taken by Ian Thompson.
Next General Meeting will be April 6, 2023.