From Sewage Lagoon to Wildlife Haven: Airpark Restoration Crew Wraps Up a Great Season

Every Thursday from April to October, a dedicated group of green-thumbed heroes gathered at the Courtenay Airpark around the Estuary Lagoon. Rain or shine, these volunteers rolled up their sleeves to care for the thriving restoration site – what was once a sewage lagoon has become a cornerstone of local conservation.  

Project Watershed isn’t the only organization that has been looking after nature around the lagoon. In the 80’s, the City of Courtenay, Town of Comox and Department of Fisheries and Oceans cleaned out the sewage, opened the area to the estuary and built it into publicly accessible habitat.  A few years later, volunteers from Comox Valley Nature began maintaining and enhancing the area. In 2015, Project Watershed drastically improved the habitat quality of the lagoon by installing a culvert that brings fresh river water into the north end of the lagoon.  While we continue to focus on the area inside the fenced off Airpark, Comox Valley Nature continues to work outside the fence. In this way the whole area is being stewarded by the community. 

Big thanks to lead volunteers Tannis Baker and Steve Latta, whose expertise and enthusiasm kept our team on track all season. This summer, we were also joined by the Youth Climate Corps, who added great energy to our weekly restoration efforts — thank you for your hard work! 

What did we do this year? 

The team focused on native plant maintenance and invasive species removal, hauling away about two truckloads of reed canary grass, blackberry, and common tansy. In their place, volunteers planted dune grass and other native species to strengthen the shoreline. Along the way, the team cleaned up a significant amount of plastic and debris, leaving the site in great shape. 

Patches of the blue-listed Henderson’s Checkermallow are now thriving and continue to be carefully monitored. Volunteers also kept new plants watered through the summer drought and installed wire fences to protect them from voracious rabbits.  

Why is it important? 

This restoration work helps rebuild the natural balance of the lagoon ecosystem, creating healthy habitats for fish, birds, and native plants that once struggled to survive here. Today, salmon, herons, geese, kingfishers, and ducks are regular visitors. By removing invasive species and re-establishing native vegetation, volunteers are strengthening the shoreline, improving water quality, and supporting biodiversity in the heart of the Comox Valley. The site’s transformation from a former sewage lagoon into a thriving wetland shows how hands-on community stewardship can heal damaged environments and create lasting benefits for both wildlife and people. 

What’s happening next? 

The group will be taking the winter season off and planning the continuation of restoration work next spring. This is likely to include more native species planting around the lagoon, and the ongoing removal of invasive blackberry and reed canary grass. More information and volunteer registration will occur in the spring.