The Marine Spit at the outlet of Beach Creek has been keeping work crews busy once again.
After the construction of the estuary last year, engineers have been monitoring it to see how it weathers winter storms.
As a result of the findings, crews are re-orientating materials to optimize the design of the spit and estuary. For more details visit the Town of Qualicum Beach website at www.qualicumbeach.com/beach-creek-estuary-project .
The project re-establishes an artificial estuary for Beach Creek that will restore natural conditions to a creek outlet, enhance fish access and reduce predation on salmon returning to spawn. It will also install an upland sediment control structure in Beach Creek to eliminate the clam shell dredging, detrimental to fish habitat, currently employed in the golf course irrigation pond.
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The structures will allow sediment collection and deposition to the foreshore. Also, increase resiliency to extreme weather events and sea level rise by constructing a “soft” shore armouring approach as identified in the Waterfront Master Plan.
The next piece of work expected at the spit is landscaping and the construction of a viewing deck. This work will occur following the roundabout construction, set to start later this year. For more details on the Memorial Roundabout go to www.qualicumbeach.com/memorial-avenue-roundabout.
— NEWS Staff