Question Period Note: Squamish spit

Squamish spit

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) addresses threats to coastal and aquatic habitats by funding restoration projects and partnerships through the Coastal Restoration Fund.

My department provided the Squamish River Watershed Society with $1.67 million to support its Squamish Central Estuary Restoration Project, which is scheduled for completion late February.

This project will address impacts to estuarine connectivity, and improve habitat access for juvenile Chinook salmon that are being caused by a historic jetty that was constructed on the Squamish River estuary floodplain in 1971.

This project is strongly supported by the Squamish Nation.

Recreational Industry (incl. kite surfers)
We are aware of the concerns raised by some members of the wind-sports community.

The Department and the Squamish River Watershed Society have been working with all stakeholders throughout the various stages of the project.

• Pacific salmon, including Squamish River Chinook stocks, have been declining in abundance throughout their range.
• DFO staff continue to work with the Squamish Nation, District of Squamish, Squamish Terminals, Squamish Windsports Society, Squamish River Watershed Society and provincial agency staff to finalize plans for the Squamish Central Estuary Restoration Project.
• Removal of a 300-meter section of the Squamish Spit was forecasted to begin in the Fall 2021, pending receipt of in-process regulatory approvals. The project construction has been delayed (by a still-pending Provincial permitting approvals). Despite this delay, the removal works are expected to be completed prior to closure of the least risk work window (15 November - 15 February, annually).
• This work builds on earlier efforts to improve juvenile salmon access to the Squamish River estuary by installing culverts.
• The Squamish River Watershed Society Coastal Restoration Fund Project was initiated in 2017, and DFO has been working in partnership with these and other stakeholders for many years on a wide variety of restoration initiatives in the Squamish River and estuary.
• The Windsports Society has been a participant in regular technical working groups as part of the Squamish River Watershed Society Coastal Restoration Fund project and participated in a workshop where the project partners developed an “interim access” plan that would maintain the launch pad at the southern end of the spit. The District of Squamish and the Squamish Nation are leading a public engagement process concerning a longer term access plan.

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