A lot has happened since the January 24 Water Sustainability Act approval, the final approval necessary to go-ahead with modification of the Squamish River training berm.
During the first week, the site at the north end of the new island was prepped, the Squamish Windsport Society containers were moved, the Ron Anderson memorial bench was moved to the yellow gate so that is more accessible in the future, and road grading along the berm and road occurred.
By February 3, there was an opening in the spit joining the Squamish River and the estuary creating the new wind sport island. By February 9 the revetment (retaining wall) on the new island was completed and the removal of the spit was started in earnest.
It’s estimated that about 5 meters of berm are being removed per day. And as of February 16, an estimated 70 meters of berm have been removed.
Project qualified environmental professionals (QEP), engineers and DFO are on site daily. The site is being monitored closely. Should any herring spawn on the spit, works along the spit will halt until the spawn is done.
Discussions and site visits with Squamish Windsport Society representatives have been ongoing through the process. Solutions for boat access to the island are being finalized through a Squamish Nation and District of Squamish vision committee process.
A Squamish Nation ceremony to honour this accomplishment and usher the return of the estuary to its former abundance will be held in the next few weeks (TBD).
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