A management plan is being finalized to ensure the protection and restoration of the French Creek Estuary Nature Preserve (FCENP).
The Regional District of Nanaimo manages the nature preserve under the Electoral Area G (French Creek, San Pareil, Little Qualicum, Englishman River) Community Park Service through a 99-year renewable lease agreement with the BC Parks Foundation.
The regional district is responsible for protecting, preserving and conserving the natural state of the 23-acre land for ecological, environmental and aesthetic reasons. To ensure this is achieved, the RDN board in 2022 agreed to allocate $120,000 from the Area G Community Works Fun to develop a master site plan for the estuary.
The process was initiated in 2023 with the goal of creating a guiding document for the RDN’s Recreation and Parks Department, community stewardship groups, and the RDN board.
READ MORE: Nanoose Bay photographer set to release latest book, ‘A Year of Eagles’
A working group was formed and since January 2023, had been meeting regularly. It is led by RDN staff and also involves other stakeholders and groups that include the Save Estuary Land Society, Arrowsmith Naturalists, Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society, Friends of French Creek Conservation Society and Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve Research Institute. The collaboration staff indicated has been key in the development of the background report and management plan.
A draft of the plan will be presented to the Electoral Area G Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee, who will review the document before it is presented to the public for feedback and input.
Approximately $40,000 has been spent on the development of the plan with the balance of the funds to be used for capital projects that include signages, access control measures, design, archaeological impact assessment, viewing areas and many more.