Water-Centric Planning

Cowichan River Stoltz Bluff Restoration Project Construction Part II (Summer 2006)

Craig Wightman of the Provincial 'Living Rivers' Program and the 'Stoltz Team' describe the project through the summer construction window of 2006.

Cowichan River Stoltz Bluff Sediment Issue & Project Planning Part 1 (2005-6)

Click here to watch Part II Stoltz Bluff Restoration – summer of 2006.

Background:

The Cowichan River was attacking the toe and eroding the face of a 0.8 km long Stoltz Bluff situated mid way down the Cowichan River.
An estimate of 10,000 to 20,000 cu./m. of sediment was being washed into the Cowichan River annually and impacting salmonid spawning and rearing areas downstream to the estuary.
In 2005-6, the Cowichan Stewardship Round Table arranged to have funders pool resources ($800,000+) and develop an innovative restoration plan.
In the summer of 2006, during July and August, Phase II was implemented and the Cowichan River was moved away from the eroding bluff using innovative submerged bendway weirs and a terraced access roadway berm.
When the big winter storms returned in 2006-7, the new terrace and bendway weirs survived major flood events and the Stoltz Bluff erosion has been arrested in aid of one of Canada's Heritage Rivers.
The next phase is bioengineering – stay tuned.