Dear friends, supporters, and members, 

As we reflect on the past year, we are deeply grateful for the people who make our work possible. To our donors, volunteers, members, partners, and champions, thank you. Your dedication to healthy watersheds, thriving salmon, and resilient coastal communities continues to inspire and sustain everything we do. 

This year marks a truly historic milestone for Project Watershed: the completion of restoration at Kus-kus-sum. What began in 2017 as a bold, community-driven vision has become a reality we now witness every time we cross the 17th Street Bridge. Together with the K’ómoks First Nation and the City of Courtenay, and with the support of countless individuals and organizations, we have transformed eight acres of a former industrial site into tidal marsh and riparian habitat in the heart of the K’ómoks Estuary. With the removal of the 400-metre steel retaining wall along the Courtenay River this winter, tidal waters are once again flowing across the restored terrain, opening up habitat that has been inaccessible for generations to juvenile salmon and countless other species. 

Kus-kus-sum shows what is possible when an entire community comes together around a shared commitment to the land and water that sustain us. Over the past five years, more than 494 volunteers, 949 students, and 2,000 donors have helped bring this vision to life, alongside generations of K’ómoks stewardship and knowledge, the City of Courtenay, and the many staff and board members whose dedication made this project possible. 

As we are now completing our final restoration activities for the K’ómoks First Nation and the City of Courtenay at Kus-kus-sum, we see this is not an ending but a beginning. In the year ahead, we are excited to launch a new strategic planning process that will guide Project Watershed into its next chapter, based in listening to our community, deep collaboration with our partners, and steadfast commitment to the people and the ecosystems that sustain us. Just as Kus-kus-sum grew from a collective vision, so too will the work that comes next. 

 Looking ahead, we remain committed to advancing ecological restoration and research, fostering stewardship, and creating opportunities for people to connect with and learn from their watersheds. The challenges facing our ecosystems are complex and at times daunting, but the strength of this community gives us hope and momentum, guided always by our values of reconciliation, partnership, and inclusivity. 

Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you planted a tree, made a donation, shared your expertise, or simply cheered us on, you are part of the impact reflected in this report. We are deeply grateful to walk this path alongside you. 

With gratitude,