This film gives a glimpse of what the old Field Sawmill site (Kus-kus-sum) could look like once it is transformed into nature.
Imagine Kus-kus-sum
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Our Projects
CBC promotes Kus-kus-sum!
If you haven’t already seen it, CBC did a radio interview and a post about our Kus-kus-sum project. Thank you, CBC! We’d also like to acknowledge the importance of the collaboration of the City of Courtenay and K’ómoks First Nation in moving toward our vision for this spot!
COVID-19 won’t stop Kus-kus-sum
Some of you may be asking what effect COVID-19 will have on the Kus-kus-sum project. Even though we do not know the full extent of the effects of this pandemic, we remain committed to unpaving paradise at Kus-kus-sum and confident of success.
Airpark Lagoon Breach Project Background and Rationale
Slide Show – Presented by Lora (Tyron) McAuley, R.P.Bio, M.Sc.
Courtenay River
The Courtenay River is the shortest navigable river the world. It starts where the Puntledge and Tsolum rivers converge and occupies a prominent central location in the heart of the City of Courtenay.
Simms Park Native Plants
Riparian areas include the native trees, shrubs and grasses growing alongside water-courses. These native plants provide vegetative cover to help moderate water temperature.
Off Channel Habitat
Off-channel habitats provide lower water velocity, moderated water temperature, and enhanced food availability. They are important because they have been shown to benefit juvenile salmon growth and survival, decrease their competition for food and space, help keep larger predators away and provide important refuge.
Riparian Habitat
A riparian area is the interface between the land and a river or stream. Riparian areas link water to land. They boarder streams, lakes and wetlands and encompass the trees, shrubs and grasses growing along these water bodies.
Simms Park Habitat Improvement Interactive Map
Over 2017- 2018, the Project Watershed team completed a habitat improvement project. The endeavour included the removal of an old culvert connecting the Courtenay River through the park into an inner pond area.
Simms Millennium Park Habitat Enhancement
When Simms Millennium Park opened in 2000 it included off channel habitat for fish and other riparian species. This was one of only three off-channel habitats for juvenile salmonids along a three km stretch of the upper ecotone of the K’ómoks Estuary.
Resident Geese Overgraze
These resident geese overgraze the vegetation and grub the roots of the ‘marsh platform’ – a thick accumulation of nutrient-dense soils from land, freshwater aquatic and marine sources bound together by vegetation.
The KFN Guardians are preventing rich soils from being eroded
By reviving cultural practices and innovating restoration techniques, the Guardians are preventing rich soils from being eroded and washed away with the tides.