An estuary restoration project in the Fraser River Delta will now be completed thanks to funding from the federal government.
Delta MP Carla Qualtrough was in Richmond late last month to award $2 million over four years to Ducks Unlimited for the project which comes from the $75 million federal Coastal Restoration Fund Investment.
“This project will improve fish access to tidal marsh habitat in the Fraser River South Arm by modifying existing jetties and flood control infrastructure,” said Qualtrough. “It will also help improve the early marine survival of juvenile Chinook salmon and contribute to the rebuilding of salmon populations from across the Fraser watershed. By re-connecting previously separated habitat through dike breaches and improvements to water control structures, the amount of accessible brackish marsh habitat currently available for fish and other aquatic organisms will increase.”
Qualtrough said in the last election, the Liberals committed to protect 10 percent of our marine and coastal areas by 2020 – an area about the size of the four Atlantic provinces. The Coastal Restoration Fund is part of the federal Oceans Protection Plan and backs up this commitment, Qualtrough said.
“One of the many reasons why this work is so important is because Chinook salmon is a key food source for Southern resident killer whales which are struggling to find enough prey to eat,” she said. “I’m confident that this habitat restoration project will help improve the amount of Chinook and Chum salmon in the southern resident’s adjacent coastal foraging areas and contribute to their long-term recovery.”
While making this funding announcement, Qualtrough also said government is accepting a second call for proposals and is accepting submissions.
Under this second round of funding, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will take a more targeted approach that focuses on key geographic areas and restoration priorities that have not already been addressed by the program.
To date, this initiative has funded more than 30 projects on all three coasts for a total of more than $45 million. All approved projects include Indigenous involvement in their planning or implementation.
Submitted Photo
Delta MP Carla Qualtrough was in Richmond late last month for a funding announcement for a Duck Unlimited project in the Fraser River Delta.
