Squamish River Watershed Society is alerting user groups and the public to upcoming work to replace a culvert along Spit Road that will temporarily alter access to the area.
The society has received funding to improve fish accessibility between the Squamish River and the central estuary.
This multi-phase Central Squamish Estuary Restoration Project includes replacing culverts that are inaccessible to out-migrating juvenile salmonids with fish-friendly structures.
Last year, the society replaced Culvert No. 3 with a fish-friendly box culvert and this summer is replacing the next culvert downstream with another fish-friendly box culvert.
"The work schedule is planned so that the site can be prepped, trees cleared from the site, removal of the existing culvert, and everything ready for the installation of the new culvert to coincide with a summer low tide period," said the society's Edith Tobe in an emailed statement to The Chief.
The aim is to start prepping the site in the next few weeks to be ready to install the new culvert during low tide around Sept. 14.
There will be single-lane closures Aug. 10 to 31, as crews remove the vegetation and prep the site to remove the existing culvert.
Full closure to pedestrian, bike, and road traffic from Sept. 1 to 24 to remove the existing culvert and install the new culvert.
The work schedule is subject to change.
"We appreciate your patience while we proceed on this project to help restore the ecological diversity and function to the estuary," said Tobe.
