Annual Report -- 2008
Campbell River Salmon Foundation
The Campbell River Salmon Foundation (CRSF) has completed its first year in operation. This report is intended to update the membership and stakeholders on activities and accomplishments over this inaugural year and to provide readers with an idea of the direction the Foundation plans to take in the coming year.
The Society was formed to “promote salmon enhancement in watersheds between the Oyster River and south of the Salmon River estuary and the adjacent mainland coast”. It is the intention of the Board to partner with others as much as practicably possibly to ensure maximization of available funding sources.
To cover off a little bit of housekeeping, CRSF became a Society (#S-52336) on June 22, 2007. Charitable Organization Status was granted on January 8, 2008 (#852809417RR001). The inaugural Board meeting was held on May 23, 2007.
The current Board of Directors is comprised of:
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M.B. (Mike) Gage, Chairperson Kris Mailman, Vice-Chairperson J.E. C. (Ted) Martin, Treasurer Monique Hebert, Secretary Joe Painter, Director Don Bendickson, Director Kent Moeller, Director
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Martin Buchanan, Director Dale Blackburn, Director Bill Fitzgerald, Director and Banquet Committee Chairperson Mike Moscovich, Director George Stuart, Director Mark Gage, Director
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The First Annual Dinner Auction was held on March 22, 2008 and was attended by approximately 400 people. The Dinner Auction was a huge success, raising approximately $74,000 during the evening. Due to the success of the event, CRSF plans to hold The Second Annual Dinner Auction in March, 2009 and is committed to making the event an even bigger success. Watch for announcements and mark your calendars.
CRSF will be involved in two large projects during the summer of 2008.
Salmon River Fish & Game Association embarked on a Bridge Coastal Fish & Wildlife Restoration Program (BCRP) funded study in the Big Tree Creek area of the Salmon River. Northwest Hydraulic Engineering conducted the $25,000 study. As a result of recommendations arising out of the study, a 1.2 km channel will be constructed in the Big Tree Creek area of the Salmon River. This channel will connect with 2 kms of natural ground water (flood) channels that have become home to thousands of Coho fry each year. The juvenile Coho enter this area at high water in the spring of each year and then become stranded there due to a lack of high water until the fall season arrives. This newly constructed channel will provide both a steady water supply and also exits to the main stream of the Salmon River. This project should be underway by mid July, 2008. The total cost of the project is $300,000 with funding secured thanks to the following partners:
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BCRP British Columbia Conservations Foundation/Georgia Basin Living Rivers Habitat Conservation Trust Fund Western Forest Products (Forest Industry Account) With a 10% contingency, total= |
$185,000 $ 50,000 $ 25,000 $ 75,000 $335,000 |
Secondly, CRSF has been granted $275,000 by BCRP to build a reservoir that will improve the flow of water from the Campbell River into the Elk Falls #3 Channel. Last year, BCRP also funded $25,000 towards the engineering and design for this project.\ Elk Falls #3 was constructed about seven years ago and because the gradient is less than 1% it has not been very attractive to the juvenile Coho rearing that is was designed for. Several Beaver have also added to the flow of problems by installing their own form of flow controls (dams!).
Mission: To promote salmon enhancement in watersheds between the Oyster River and south of the Salmon River estuary and the adjacent mainland coast.