COMOX, B.C. — B.C. officials have announced plans to completely rehabilitate the site of an abandoned sawmill near the Comox estuary to its natural state.
“We are committed to reconciliation with the K’ómoks First Nation and purchasing this site will support the restoration of an environmentally and culturally significant estuary to benefit the entire Courtenay-Comox community,” said Katrine Conroy, minister of forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development, in a statement.
The province announced it would be contributing $650,000 on top of a $1-million 2019 commitment to purchase of the former industrial site for the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society, so it can be returned to saltmarsh, side-channel and riparian habitats. Restoration and remediation will be covered by the society with funding support from various sources, including local communities and philanthropists.
The project site was named Kus-kus-sum to honour the historic First Nation ancestral burial site that once called it home.
“Restoring the cultural and historically significant site of Kus-kus-sum is a vision K’ómoks First Nation shares with Project Watershed and the City of Courtenay, and we appreciate the B.C. government for providing the additional bridge funding to aid in this restoration,” said K’ómoks First Nation Chief Nicole Rempel. “Being stewards of the lands and waters, it is inherently our duty to restore and assist in the rehabilitation of the natural habitat of the salmon and various marine and wildlife in this area.”
Tim Ennis, senior project manager with Project Watershed, called the project one of the most important salmon habitat restoration projects happening on the coast of B.C. right now.
“This recent investment unlocks our ability to move forward with the transformation of an industrial site in the heart of one of B.C.’s most important estuaries back to natural saltmarsh and other habitats,” he said. “The benefits of this project will be felt for generations to come.”
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