Project Watershed
Promoting community stewardship of Comox Valley Watersheds through education, information and action.
“A watershed is inclusive, incorporating not only air, water, and the natural resources, but also the human community that lives, breathes, works, and drinks within its rain-defined boundaries. During our history, we have learned that in order for the community to take responsibility for clean air, land, and water, people of all backgrounds must be encouraged to become involved in local stewardship activities and must be given the support required to make their efforts satisfying and effective.”
An environmental non-profit founded in 1993 in Comox Valley, BC- Project Watershed was started by citizens concerned about the loss of fish stocks, issues with water quality, and coastal developments in their community.
The organization has significantly grown over the years- now consisting of a team of staff, volunteers, and a Board of Directors. The groups work to protect, restore, and conserve local watersheds and other sensitive marine habitats.
This environmental stewardship group is project-based, with a variety of ongoing initiatives to restore and protect sensitive watershed habitats. Learn more about Project Watershed’s initiatives in the next section!
Project Watershed creates informative resources like environmental reports, interactive estuary mapping, and more! The group also provides educational material for kindergarten to Grade 12 students, as well as citizen courses/training, and a resource library.
Check out their projects below!
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Kus-kus-sum: Unpave Paradise
Creating a healthy, resilient ecosystem and connect it with Hollyhock Flats- one of the most productive areas of K’omoks estuary. Restoration of this area began in March 2021 and is ongoing.
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Coastal Restoration
Protection and restoration of nearshore habitat- or the Salish Sea, northeast Vancouver Island Salmon highway. This project works to restore salt marshes, eelgrass, and kelp.
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Reed Canary Grass
An invasive species, Reed Canary Grass is an aggressive kind of bunchgrass that can grow up to two meters in height, and easily dominate wetlands. This plant has little ecological benefit as it isn’t edible to most species and constricts waterways, altering the habitat and making it less hospitable to many native species.
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Forage Fish
Work identifying species of forage fish on the beaches of the Northern Salish Sea. Volunteers, citizen scientists and students from North Island College do research collecting sediment samples along spawning beaches, land analyzing what kind of eggs are present.
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Resident Goose Management
K’omoks First Nation Watchmen partnered with Guardians of Mid-Island Estuaries Society to help to restore estuaries after damage by Canada Geese.
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K'omoks Estuary Management Plan
Revision of the Courtenay River Management Plan to help manage the K’omoks estuary in the Comox Valley region.
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Dyke Slough Flap Gate Study
A tidal marsh restoration project in the K’omoks Estuary at Dyke Slough to mitigate issues with flooding and marsh habitat loss. The initiative worked to create a newly built marsh platform to replace lost wetlands.
“This video was created by Maddison Thomas of the Comox Valley Art Gallery's Youth Media Project. It gives a glimpse of what Project Watershed is doing locally to combat global issues such as climate change and habitat loss with the hope of encouraging others to get involved for a better future.”
Video Resources
“In this video, we explain the Kus-kus-sum project; a brief history of the site, our three year plan and an update with where we are today. You can read more about this on our website and provide feedback.”
“This is the Zoom recording of our 2022 Annual General Meeting. It includes a presentation form our keynote speaker Dr. Giles on her killer whale research.”
“Join our local "Bat-man" Tim Ennis as he shares his knowledge about bats. Restoring the Kus-kus-sum site will provide the type of habitat bats can utilize for roosting. Bats need all the support they can get as white nose syndrome spreads among them. Find out more about the Kus-kus-sum project at www.kuskussum.ca.”