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The summer of 1998 marks the beginning of the work on the ground
for Phase 2 of the Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek Restoration Project. It
involves digging a new one-kilometer-long stream channel, with habitat
complexes, through property being provided by a neighbouring private developer, and through the Haig-Brown property, named Above Tide, in the north end of Campbell River, BC, on Vancouver Island.
The new channel will allow waters from both the creek's East and
West Branches to be diverted out of culverts, and will restore an
important floodplain wetland, eventually returning the creek to a more natural state. Valuable spawning habitat will be provided for returning coho. Rearing habitat for coho salmon will also be provided in new back-channels and pools in the wetland.
Phase 1 of the project began in the final years of
Roderick Haig-Brown's (Link to Haig-Brown Site) extremely productive life. Roderick was a pioneering conservationist, author and flyfisher who was an early champion of habitat restoration. He dreamed of restoring the culverted creek that once flowed through his property, but sadly died before he could see it happen.
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Friends working on the project have succeeded in providing a new channel through the farm for the west branch of the Creek in 1984, an accomplishment requiring a dedicated core of volunteers and a supportive community.
The goals that Haig-Brown pursued remain the objectives of the project today. Essentially, they are to enact Roderick Haig-Brown's philosophy by maintaining and enhancing the fish and wildlife resources, natural setting, and social value of the Haig-Brown property and the Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek watershed. This work currently involves the creation of greenway systems, the development of stream stewardship initiatives, and the negotiation of habitat restoration plans in new urban development.
In the past few years, much attention and energy has been attracted to the creek's restoration. This is thanks to countless dedicated individuals who have appreciated the value of Roderick Haig-Brown's dream. They have enabled us to begin again the job of creating new habitat for coho salmon in Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek.
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