| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
The Englishman River estuary has lost significant habitat complexity and productivity for rearing salmonids as a result of urban/agricultural encroachments, dyking, over-grazing of sedge vegetation by Canada Geese, and the historic conversion of upper watershed old growth forests to second and third growth conifer plantations. Consequently, BC Conservation Foundation (BCCF) and other organizations are interested in rehabilitating the estuary and improving rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids. In support of this objective, a better understanding of the range of characteristics and habitat preferences of salmonids for available rearing space in the estuary is a prerequisite to development of a detailed rehabilitation plan. In this project, the British Columbia Conservation Foundation (BCCF) investigated the distribution and habitat preferences of juvenile salmonids that rear in the Englishman River estuary. Their investigation sought answers to fundamental biological questions about the current habitat condition and complexity of the estuary, its utilization by salmonids of different species, and specific physical characteristics of the preferred habitat type(s). This investigation is the first stage in a feasibility assessment examining the biological need, benefits, constraints and alternatives for improving habitat complexity in the estuary. If the feasibility assessment recommends that improvements to habitat are warranted, then the investigation and assessment will provide the biological basis, rationale and, potentially, design criteria for a rehabilitation plan to improve the quality of salmonid rearing habitat in the Englishman River estuary. Any rehabilitation plan that may be developed in the future must be multi-disciplinary and consider the current ecological uses of the lower river and estuary habitat by various native wildlife species. In addition, the plan must consider or comply with designated land uses, flood protection requirements, and other community priorities. Development of the rehabilitation plan will therefore involve working in close cooperation with organizations including City of Parksville, Guardians of Mid Island Estuaries Society, Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society (MVIHES), The Nature Trust of BC (TNT), Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (BC Fish & Wildlife Branch), Ministry of Environment (BC Parks), Regional District of Nanaimo, local First Nations and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. This project was co-funded by Living Rivers-Georgia Basin/Vancouver Island (2006-11), a program of the BC Living Rivers Trust Fund. |
