Who Is Playing the Game?

Following the legacy of Roderick Haig-Brown, the Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek Society was formed with the idea of creating a park focusing on educating the public about salmon. The Society completed Phase 1 of the project in 1984, with a new channel for the West Branch of the Creek.

Carrying on is a group of individuals dedicated to restoring Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek to the salmon rearing potential it once had. An "Ad Hoc committee for Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek/Sequoia Springs West Greenway Proposals" was formed in 1996. The key role of this committee has been the planning of mitigation, enhanced fisheries values, and the creation of a neighbourhood greenways system, as part of the process of creating a housing development, while alleviating the current flooding problems in the watershed.

Navigating through the different agendas and policies of those involved has been a continual challenge for the committee. The principal players in this project are:

• Sequoia Springs West Development Corporation:
  This company is the major land owner in the upper watershed.

• Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek Society:
  A non-profit society dedicated to continuing the late Roderick Haig-Brown¼s legacy by restoring Kingfisher Creek back to a major salmon producing system.
• Vancouver Island Highway Project:
  The VIHP is mostly concerned with restoring fish habitat along its right of ways, but is also responsible for the pedestrian bridge that crosses the new highway.
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the BC Ministry of Environment Lands and Parks:
  These two governmental organizations are responsible for ensuring that fish and other related habitat is not compromised throughout the development and restoration process.
• District of Campbell River:
  Future urban development and flooding concerns are the main issues which necessitate the district¼s involvement.
• A design team of Highland Engineering, Consulting Engineers; G. Vardy, Consulting Biologist; and Lanarc Consulting, Landscape Architects:
  Working together, these companies are providing a comprehensive watershed management design for the restoration project. They are also organizing the planning of the instream works.

Although there have been many agencies involved since the beginnings of this project, the groups mentioned above are currently the largest stakeholders involved in the process. Through the next few months, issues of the Creekside News will explore topics involving these agencies in greater detail.

Top of page.