Silverdale Creek Wetlands Project Begins

After two years of red tape phase 2 of the Silverdale Creek Wetlands Project has started.  Spearheaded by DFO, the project will use funding from the Ministry of Transportation, Pacific Salmon Foundation and Mission Rotary to build approximately 500m of cold water low gradient channels as well as constructing extensive shallow water aquatic benches  and varied elevation terrestrial habitat.  All of this will be built in an area that currently consists of a monoculture of canary grass in a long abandoned farm field.

Spoil from the excavated channels will be used to construct islands of vegetation including cottonwood, alder, cedar, and spruce trees.  Terrestrial elevations will range from 4m to 7m.

Today construction of the eastern most channel neared completion and wildlife poles were placed on the east back while machine access will still possible.  In total five wildlife poles were place, one of which supports a Red tailed hawk / Great horned owl nesting platform.  

Enhancement will continue on the site until at least March 15, 2009.