Innovation Summer 2025

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS | 2024-2025

RESTORING SALMON HABITAT IN HIŁSYAQƛIS The legacy of industrial forestry on the West Coast of Vancouver Island has degraded salmon habitats making in-stream restoration challenging in remote watersheds with rainfall-driven flows and high-sediment loads. Between 2021-2024, Redd Fish Restoration Society, in collaboration with Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and Inter-Fluve, Inc., constructed 13 engineered log jams in a 400-m reach of hiłsyaqƛis (Tranquil Creek). The jams used approximately 500 trees, were designed to withstand flows up to 250 cms, are as large as 40 m by 60 m, and occupy half of the active channel in places. These structures will enhance channel complexity in the short term and influence hydrogeomorphology and floodplain reconnection in the long term. These structures consist of the largest engineered log jam installation in BC and are an innovative approach to rehabilitating salmon habitat in coastal watersheds. Company: Redd Fish Restoration Society

Participants: Redd Fish: Jessica Hutchinson; Tom Balfour, R.P.Bio.; Sean Lindsay; Daphnee Tuzlak, P.Geo. Inter-Fluve, Inc.: Luke Swan; Peter Benchetler, P.Eng.; Mike Rafferty, P.Eng. Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation: Saya Masso. P hoto : T om B alfour

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Summer 2025

Innovation