Important headwaters of the Morrison Creek will be purchased by the Comox Valley Land Trust through funding from the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program.
According to the program’s Coastal Region board, $325,000 was approved towards the land trust’s purchase of a 714-acre parcel of wetland and riparian habitat. They say it is home to many large animals native to Vancouver Island like elk, bear, deer and beavers, along with birds, salmon and 14 at risk species.
The area also supports reliable runs of salmon and the Morrison Creek lamprey, which is found nowhere else in the world.
The funding and purchase of land follows actions taken since 2017 that identified wetlands in the Puntledge River watershed as having high conservation values. Fifty-four acres of land was then purchased in 2019 with program funding, and this new purchase protects the entire headwaters.
“Land securement is a top priority in our Puntledge River Watershed Action Plan, and the Morrison Creek headwaters is very important fish and wildlife habitat,” said Coastal Region manager Julie Fournier.
“Supporting the securement of this property will further our mission to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife in watersheds impacted by BC Hydro dams.”
The program is a partnership between BC Hydro, the province, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and public stakeholders, according to the program. They add their board approved $2.4 million for 28 projects in 2023–24.
