Work has started on North Saanich’s Chalet Road and the stream below to fix damage caused by rain storms last November.
Northridge Excavation was awarded the contract to repair the road and stream and will be working alongside the Peninsula Streams Society to help bring back fish displaced during the storms.
Peninsula Streams Society executive coordinator Ian Bruce says re-building the area is crucial for the local community.
“There have been decades of community involvement in improving the ecological condition of this creek and re-introducing fish back into it…” Bruce told CHEK News.
Bruce says shutting down the creek for the summer gives his crew enough time to recreate the fish habitat.
He says fish will be released from the Goldstream Hatchery with help from Pacific Salmon Foundation once the water starts to flow.
They expect to have fish swimming in the waters again as early as November, and for repairs on the road to be finished by mid-September.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that with the work that we’ll be doing that stray fish will be coming in,” added Bruce.
However, Bruce notes that real population gains in the creek will be seen in three years after the fish brought in this year begin to spawn.
Mohammed Hussain
