With progress being made on the Kus-Kus-Sum restoration project, the focus will be shifting this fall.
According to the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society, their vision of turning the site into a thriving habitat is now taking shape, with the project seeing some progress in the past few weeks.
The progress includes re-contouring another third of the terrain and creating an island with a stream channel and deep pool features.
While the island will host alder, cottonwood, and Sitka Spruce trees, the pool will be used as a refuge for salmon.
Despite these changes, Executive Director Caitlin Pierzchalski says there are still some challenges affecting the project.
“Our biggest challenge at present is soil quality,” said Pierzchalski. “Legislation concerning soils has changed and now the level of chlorine in the soil we have excavated is too high for convenient disposal, even though it is from naturally occurring sea salt.”
In the meantime, she says their society will focus on habitat complexing and planting some native species this fall.
More info on this project can be found on the society’s website.
