Fish Habitat Restored With Mosaic’s Help

Mosaic Forest Management’s donation of more than $40,000 in materials and labour have helped improve fish habitat along the Englishman River near Parksville.

“It would have been difficult to complete this project without Mosaic – especially sourcing the large trees with intact roots,” said Jeramy Damborg, British Columbia Conservation Foundation’s Senior Project Biologist in charge of the Englishman River project.  

Mosaic provided critical components – trees with roots intact, logs, and 15 loads of large boulders and rip rap – for the recently completed project. A total of five woody debris sites were restored, and another six were created along the river. Intact roots on the trees provide better fish habitat, while boulders keep the logs in place and help scour out the riverbed to provide additional habitat for juvenile and adult salmon. 

The large Douglas firs are hard to come by for projects like the one on the Englishman River. Mosaic’s expertise in falling the trees with roots intact and providing the larger trees needed was critical to the project. 

Designed to last 15 or more years, the woody debris sites will catch other wood as it comes down the river, and provide a habitat for insects that become a food source for fish. They also help stabilize the riverbanks. 

The Englishman River is a major salmon and trout-bearing stream and is home to Steelhead and Cutthroat Trout, and Coho, Chinook, Chum, and Pink Salmon runs.  

“These woody debris sites will help maintain a more natural ecosystem on the Englishman River, something that will benefit the fish and local communities for years to come,” added Damborg.  

Only one of the restored sites was damaged in the heavy rain and high waters that hit the Island over the past weeks. All the other sites – including the new ones – remain intact. 

In addition to Mosaic’s donation of labour and materials, the $140,000 project was made possible by funding from the Pacific Salmon Commission – Southern Fund and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. 

Thanks to the Central Island and Northwest Bay crews of Kevin Ashfield, Sam Stanko, Mark Bowater, Mazio Battistuz, Greg Hawkins, Joseph Beausoleil, Mark Slocum, Dave Bortolotto, Tony Norris for their efforts to help make the project a reality. Sadly, since the project was completed, one key member of the team, Log Load Operator Brad Green, passed away on November 21.