After more than two months, the Squamish Spit Training Berm road is now reopened to the public.
Originally slated to reopen May 31, it reopened early, on May 29, after the fourth and final fish-friendly culvert—designed to allow safe fish passage—was installed ahead of schedule across the Squamish River Training Berm.
This work completes Phase 1 of the Central Estuary Restoration Project (CERP), which involves extensive restorative work undertaken by a partnership of organizations: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Squamish River Watershed Society.
According to a news release, beyond some replanting and seeding of disturbed areas that will continue into the fall of 2025, the majority of Phases 1 and 2 of the CERP project are now complete.
Visitors are asked to avoid stepping on newly planted vegetation, which remains vulnerable as it establishes.
“We are so pleased to be completing this phase of the project,” said Edith Tobe, project manager of CERP, in the release. “We are already seeing a multitude of salmon fry utilizing the area and travelling between the river and the estuary. It’s very encouraging for the overall and long-term health of this critically important and ecologically rich habitat.”
The project now enters its third and final phase, which involves looking to refresh historical connections between the central channel of the estuary and the degraded habitat on the east side of the CN Rail spur line, the release states.
CERP began in 2019 and 2020 with the replacement of two of four "undersized and under-performing" culverts across the Squamish River Training Berm.
From 2021 through 2023, project partners focused on the removal of the Spit—850 metres at the southern end of the training berm. Work on the final two culvert replacements was done from 2024 to 2025.
Gone wild
As the District of Squamish has noted this week on social media, there is an increased risk of human-wildlife conflict in the estuary, and due to the project closing access to an area of the estuary, it has been more peaceful for animals.
"Birds, mammals and amphibians are nesting and rearing their young at this time of year. The public is asked to be extra vigilant and mindful of their impact in the estuary as they return to this area after the two-month construction closure,” the release states.
"There are two sets of mother black bears with very young cubs in the area, for example."
The Skwelwil'em Squamish Estuary is a designated Wildlife Management Area, which is governed by the BC Wildlife Act. This means that the priorities for the area are conservation and the management of fish, wildlife and their habitats.
The estuary is also an International Birding Area.
Dogs must be leashed at all times within the estuary.
For more information on the project, go to www.restoretheshore.ca
(Video courtesy of Patricia Heintzman/Squamish River Watershed Society.)
