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[clarki]

https://www.raincoast.org/2019/02/breaking-new-estuary-ground-on-the-steveston-jetty/

This is interesting. A project to breach the Steveston Jetty in places to allow migrating smolts easier access to the foreshore marshes and flats of Sturgeon Bank, immediately north of the jetty.

I never realized the impact of how the jetty restricts/limits access to habitat and how it sweeps smolts out into the depths of Georgia Strait before they are ready.

Great idea.     

[96XJ]

That is interesting, thanks for posting

[RalphH]

For those who have bothered to look into it, the most effective solution identified for reducing seal on salmon predation in the Courtney River back in the late 90s and early 00s was to turn off the street lights on the 5th street bridge at night. Almost all real salmon conservation problems are man made. The rest is just scapegoating.

[CohoJake]

For those who have bothered to look into it, the most effective solution identified for reducing seal on salmon predation in the Courtney River back in the late 90s and early 00s was to turn off the street lights on the 5th street bridge at night. Almost all real salmon conservation problems are man made. The rest is just scapegoating.

Yep.  Juvenile sockeye survival in Lake Washington has plummeted as lighting on the shoreline has increased.

[halcyonguitars]

This may seem obvious, but...is it because predators can then see prey better at night?

[CohoJake]

This may seem obvious, but...is it because predators can then see prey better at night?

Yes, in the case of Lake Washington, it is bass and perch eating the juvenile salmonids.

[halcyonguitars]

Most interesting...

[clarki]

Based on the success of the breaching of the Steveston/South Arm jetty, a project to similarily breach the North Arm jetty is planned for Fall, 2021   

Online Information Session
You’re invited to join Dave Scott, Raincoast’s Lower Fraser Salmon Program Research and Restoration Coordinator, for an online information session about the upcoming North Arm Jetty Breaches Project and the importance of improved connectivity in the Fraser River Estuary. The session will include an opportunity for participants to ask questions and provide input on Raincoast’s project.
When? Thursday, May 27, 2021 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Where? Online Event (Zoom)
 
Register here
https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttp-3A__subscription.metrovancouver.org_sites_LiquidWasteEngagement_SitePages_Home.aspx-3Fjg-3D68585812-2D2b89-2D4e03-2D88f5-2Dfd13bda6b4ae-26eg-3Dc4385f51-2D8a91-2D4246-2D8599-2D2b41f210c738-26lg-3D28ec1ec5-2Da096-2D4eac-2D881f-2Db18c7c03c9e4-26ltp-3Dc%26d%3DDwMGaQ%26c%3DDDPRwrN9uYSNUDpKqPeD1g%26r%3DxbTYAAPi75bhixtxGI8hRK62GbBjtnIYsgaQuf6m2_U%26m%3D48_juNiWotVnbzcWGUm-Y9dzif6Ix5mLQBZFrUBIEuA%26s%3D4ftTMpRF8-tPZs0bOx4b0o1YdAa0NGvHKbp7nxx_k2I%26e%3D&data=04%7C01%7Cscott.hill%40gov.bc.ca%7C674a5c6945ac4263bdf208d916fcb593%7C6fdb52003d0d4a8ab036d3685e359adc%7C0%7C0%7C637566096913061471%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=BfRItk7rLR%2BmQCwVbJAsMu4ktSZ3gz0Wf%2Fijg5RJzQI%3D&reserved=0

About the project
Raincoast Conservation Foundation is working with Ducks Unlimited Canada and the South Coast Conservation Land Management Program to restore Fraser River Estuary tidal marsh habitat and improve access to this critical habitat for the benefit of juvenile salmon. With funding from the Environmental Damages Fund and potential funding from the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund, they plan to create up to three breaches (openings) in the Fraser Estuary North Arm Jetty, starting in fall 2021. The jetty extends from the northwestern tip of Iona Island, along the north arm of the Fraser River. This work builds on Raincoast’s recent success creating three breaches in the Steveston Jetty in the main arm of the Fraser River. Visit their webpage to learn more.
Shared goals
The North Arm Jetty Breaches Project is aligned with the ecological restoration goals of the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Projects. Metro Vancouver is supporting Raincoast’s project in several ways, including co-hosting this information session and sharing modelling information and data.
Feel free to share this invitation with colleagues and friends who may be interested in the project. We look forward to your participation!
If you have any questions about the online information session, please email IonaWWTP@metrovancouver.org.

[Knnn]

Is this a similar primes to the proposed plan to remove the spit in Squamish?

[clarki]

The linked articles below don't reference any plans to remove the Squamish spit/training berm

However, work has been completed (even as recently as summer, 2020) to improve access to the estuary by replacing culverts through the berm. Yes, very similar to work being completed on the Fraser jetties

https://www.squamishwatershed.com/training-berm-upgrades-cerp.html
https://www.squamishwatershed.com/updates/july-august-update




   

[firebird]

It is discussed in this article ... https://www.squamishchief.com/local-news/talks-underway-about-removal-of-the-spit-3346861

[clarki]

A four year old article, but from this this link https://www.squamishwatershed.com/updates, it seems to still be on the table.

"Collaborative discussions to help all stakeholders and interested parties achieve a positive outcome for themselves have been ongoing since 2017 including a District of Squamish-led workshop in January 2020. The workshop was to address the removal of a portion of the lower Spit and outlined short and long-term alternatives for wind sport access.  The result of that workshop was a list of actions that included direction for the SWS and the DOS to begin developing access plans that consider the removal of the spit and begin to raise funds for the alternative."

It appears that a (partial?) removal of the spit is still in long term planning and that the three phases of the Central Estuary Restoration Project are to improve access and water flow in the short term.
Phase 1: Upgrade existing culverts in the training berm to improve fish access
Phase 2: Modify the lower section of the training berm to reconnect the lower estuary
Phase 3: Install a flow control device under the CN rail spur to re-water historical channels

Edit to add: I'm just reading what's been put out there. If others have first-hand knowledge that differs, I'd be curious to learn more   

[iblly]

Breach of the North arm jetty was completed about a month ago.

[clarki]

Good to know, ibilly. Thanks for the update.

Similar work is also happening on the Squamish jetty. https://www.nsnews.com/local-sports/removal-of-the-squamish-spit-has-begun-5006558

Although, instead of breaching it, they are removing it!     

[wildmanyeah]

For those who have bothered to look into it, the most effective solution identified for reducing seal on salmon predation in the Courtney River back in the late 90s and early 00s was to turn off the street lights on the 5th street bridge at night. Almost all real salmon conservation problems are man made. The rest is just scapegoating.

I think this is the most effective solution

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/biggs-whale-numbers-1.6405526