Project Watershed Starts Concrete Removal Work Feb. 3rd at Kus-kus-sum
Concrete at Kus-kus-sum, 2021 ~ C. Holbrook
Crushed concrete coming off crusher ~ C. Holbrook
Excavator at work, Kus-kus-sum 2021 ~ C. Holbrook
Excavator at work, Kus-kus-sum 2021 ~ C. Holbrook
We are excited to announce that we are starting this year’s restoration work at Kus-kus-sum this Thursday, Feb. 3rd, 2022. We will be continuing with the work that happened last summer and fall which will entail excavating the remaining concrete, separating concrete and rebar, crushing concrete, and removal, repurposing, and recycling material offsite.
The contractors, Copcan Civil Ltd., will use excavators and other heavy machinery to remove and crush the concrete. Concrete will be crushed for re-use. Steel rebar and wiring from the surface will be separated out and recycled. After the crushing is complete, the crushed concrete will be available for re-sale throughout the Valley. This crush will be certified as 3-inch minus and can be used as road base or structural fill. We continue to remain committed to reducing waste and the overall footprint of this restoration project wherever possible. Throughout the restoration works this year, there will be noise associated with construction. We will adhere to noise reduction bylaws and keep construction noise limited to the hours 7:30am-5pm.
Once this initial piece of work is complete at the end of March, Project Watershed will begin further earth works and planting of native vegetation. This year, you will see many changes to elevation and shape of the site through the excavation of current substrate, the introduction of topsoil, and the planting of native plant species. We will continue to keep the steel piling wall intact and in place for the time being as it allows us to keep the works on site from impacting the adjacent river. Project Watershed will be hosting a community forum about this work later this year. More information and registration for that event will be shared through our website and social media platforms.
We welcome and celebrate the excitement of the community to see this project come to fruition. If you are interested in observing the work on site, please watch from the river walkway across the Courtenay River rather than parking adjacent to the site or across the road. This is to keep everyone safe, and traffic flowing along Comox Road and we thank you in advance for your understanding.
We are still raising funds for the restoration and welcome continued donations.
The Kus-kus-sum site is an active work zone, please DO NOT enter the site without personal safety equipment (hard hat, steel toed boots and safety vest) and specific permission from Project Watershed staff to do so.
Related Posts
Eelgrass Transplant Tying at Ships Point
We’re looking for volunteers to help prepare eelgrass shoots for transplant as part of our upcoming restoration work near Ships Point.
Spring and Summer Forage Fish Sampling
Spring and summer forage fish sampling is starting back up again in May!
Forage Fish Symposium and CFFN AGM
The Coastal Forage Fish Network is hosting their Annual Spring symposium via zoom on April 23, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 pm. It will be followed by an AGM. This gathering brings together researchers, experts and community science volunteers to share forage fish research highlights and from across Vancouver Island and beyond.
Kus-kus-sum Feature – Spring 2025
As spring kicks off, the first buds are beginning to appear on the newly installed plants down at Kus-kus-sum! Thanks to the efforts of our volunteers this past fall and winter we’ve been able to expand the now thriving tidal marsh and riparian ecosystems to 80% complete.
Spring Invasives Removal at Kus-kus-sum
We are looking for volunteers to assist us with our first weeding event of the spring at Kus-kus-sum to keep the invasives at bay and help our native plants flourish!
How To Report Herring Spawn Sightings on iNaturalist
Want to contribute to community science while walking the beach? Simply snap a photo of Pacific herring eggs or milt (milky-white water) when you come across them and upload your observations to iNaturalist! Keep reading for instructions.