The Friends of French Creek Conservation Society (FFCCS) were busy helping out with a project they initiated and brought to fruition last week, to restore fish habitat and bank stability on 77 metres of private land in French Creek.
FFCCS raised close to $40,000 to complete the work at Claudean’s Meats/Hof Waldeck Farm, thanks to grants from a number of agencies.
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Technical Support Consultant Jack Newman was overseeing the project and said the goal was to stabilize the bank in order to stop erosion as well as sediment from covering important fish spawning grounds in the creek.
Owner and operator of the farm Claudia Bruyckere said the area where the erosion was taking place was near her irrigation site. Had the project not gone forward, installing rip rap and securing large woody debris, it would have meant huge structural changes at the farm, she said.
“It works in both our favors,” she said. “They want the fish habitat and I want my bank to stay still.”
The work is now completed and FFCCS will return in the fall to plant trees along the bank. FFCCS have completed two other projects to improve fish habitat in French Creek at the farm since 2006.
Grants for this project were provided by the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Fortis B.C., Epcor, B.C. Hydro, the Parksville Qualicum Fish and Game Association, the Coastal Credit Union, the B.C. Wildlife Federation, the Habitat Conservation and Trust Foundation and Island Timberlands.
For more information on the FFCCS visit their website www.ffccs.ca or call 250-752-4720.