The plan is to restore the site back to natural grading. They determined the natural grading by looking at historical aerial photos and by surveying the Hollyhock Marsh. The marsh is in a natural state and also serves as an example for the types of vegetation they will plant. The iconic hum of vehicles rolling over the metal grate on the 17th street bridge reverberates over the piles of logs and dirt. But walk into the Hollyhock marsh area, and the noisescape lightens. The thick roots from the many Sitka spruces sprawl along a forest floor that is bare of delicate plants. At times of high water, this area floods. The river flows across the feet of alders, cotton1940-1969
woods, and Sitka spruce as it has forever. This is what naturally happened at the Kus-kus-sum site as well. One third of the site will be low-lying, while the other two thirds closer to Comox Road will be slightly higher in elevation and either flat or sloping. There are no plans to have a park-like setting or paths. This will be a natural site not made for humans. The steel wall along the river was built in the late 20th century and replaced the former retaining wall of pilings and boards. Pierzchalski says the wall removal is planned for 2024. The site will provide climate change mitigation in the carbon catching trees. But also provide salmon habitat and habitat for other animals. The trees they plant on the site will grow and “it will slowly restore itself over the next 20 years,” says Pierzchalski.
1970s
For Richard Hardy and KFN the site’s restoration
a mud-covered log between its claw and bucket. There’s
means a circling back and a chance to re-establish their
an odour of fragrant yellow cedar mixed with dingy
ties to an area that they’ve always maintained as a site
soil. The site is wet, and the old sawmill’s steel retaining
of importance. “To me,” says Hardy, “this is a prime ex-
wall holds back the river. The huge machine struggles
ample of reconciliation because of the close ties that
to pull the old-growth cedar from where it sat lodged in
we had to that area, having it taken away from us, and
the mud for the last seven decades or so. With a crack
now, through this particular project, the ability to have
and splinter, the former piling breaks free to be added
it come back to K’ómoks’s hands.”
to the pile of other pulled logs.
As the tide rolls in and out of the estuary one more
The logs and other compounding factors have slowed
time, this place will begin to take on its old face and
restoration work, explains Caitlin Pierzchalski. She’s a
look more like it has for the past few millennia. Hope-
watershed steward, restoration ecologist, and Project
fully, it can live in peace for a few thousand years until
Watershed Society’s executive director. Established in
the inexorable circles back, and a new ice age renews it
1993, Project Watershed Society and its members are
again.
watershed stewards. They purchased the former mill site from Interfor in November 2020 and are holding it in trust for K’ómoks First Nation and the City of Courtenay, who will become joint title owners. 1 0 | C O M PA S S M A G A Z I N E | I s s u e 4 1
Interested in helping out? There are several ways to contribute to the restoration, like sponsoring a salmon, donating a used car, or by e-transferring to donate@projectwatershed.ca. Check out projectwatershed.ca for more information.
W W W. C O M PA S S M A G A Z I N E . C A