At their Wednesday September 25 Board meeting, the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board unanimously voted to support a We Wai Kai application for funding to make a feasibility study for the Caddisfly Wetlands Restoration project, south of Campbell River.
This had been a topic of some debate a month ago, when the Board decided to defer making a decision on this project.
Salmon once spawned in Caddisfly Creek and if they return, it could trigger a need for setbacks along the banks. This could directly impact building projects in Campbell River, as it is one of the sources of Caddisfly Creek.
As CAO David Leitch explained, “There was some discussion at a previous board meeting about supporting this application and the folks from Campbell River had some hesitancy and anticipation that it possibly would interfere with some development applications they had in the works. We’ve attached some correspondence from the city staff which says there aren’t issues and they would support the application.”
Robyn Mawhinney, Regional Director for Area C, responded, “I’m really happy to see this request for resolution of support on the agenda. I am 100 percent in support of a resolution to support the We Wai Kai Nation’s application to undertake wetland restoration planning activities for Caddisfly Creek.”
John Rice, Regional Director for Area D, added, “I’m also quite happy to see this back on. I know that for Area D, where Caddisfly Creek is, the wetlands behind it have historically been a problem. We do have a problem with high water.”
“I also want to point out that it’s Area D’s Stream Keeper (Greg Roberts) that has been working quite hard on Caddisfly Creek. There’s still lots of things to do and I think I’m very thrilled to see Campbell River supporting this. I think if you’re going to be the Salmon Capital of the World, you have to be able to support creeks that could possibly have Coho.”
One of the Campbell River Directors who originally called for deferment, Ron Kerr, made the motion that all the SRD directors supported:
“That a resolution of support be provided for the We Wai Kai First Nation’s application to the 2024 Disaster Resilience Innovation Fund Grant Program to undertake wetland restoration planning activities for Caddisfly Creek.”
Links of Interest:
- Caddisfly Wetlands Restoration Funding Application Proceeding
- SRD Defers Feasibility study for Caddisfly Wetlands Restoration Project
Top image credit: Chum Fry in a creek – Photo by California Sea Grant via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
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