Big News from Project Watershed: A Soil Solution at Kus-kus-sum! 

We are thrilled to share some fantastic news – Project Watershed has found a sustainable solution for the “clean-but-salty” soil stockpiled at the southeastern end of the Kus-kus-sum site! 

In 2023, a change in soil classification regulations redefined our excavated soil as “contaminated” due to elevated chloride levels, chloride that came from naturally occurring sea salt. Although the soil posed no real environmental threat, it became prohibitively expensive to remove under the new regulations. This unexpected obstacle brought much of our site work to a halt. We couldn’t move forward with recontouring or replanting new areas, and the project faced significant delays. 

But that’s all changing as this long-standing challenge will finally be resolved! 

All permits are in place, and the planning is complete. The soil will be transported off-site and put to excellent use in another remediation initiative—right here in the Comox Valley. 

Knappett Construction moved heavy machinery on to the Kus-kus-sum site August 5th, and has started removing the soil stockpiles so that they can finish regrading the tidal marsh, channels, and riparian areas. Once that’s done, we’ll carry out one final round of native species planting this fall. 

And then—finally—the moment we’ve all been waiting for: 
The retaining wall will come down. 

We’re aiming to begin removal this winter, marking a powerful and symbolic step forward in the restoration of this vital estuarine habitat. We are about $300,000 short on funding for this final step, so let us know if you can make a donation to help us finally complete this epic project. 

This is a major turning point in the Kus-kus-sum journey, and we couldn’t have reached it without your continued support, patience, and belief in the power of ecological restoration. Together, we’re bringing life back to the heart of our community. 

Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come!