View Royal Park Tidal Marsh
The restoration of the View Royal Park tidal marsh, situated within the Craigflower Creek estuary, involved the installation of "ecocultural fencing" to help stabilize eroded materials while creating a protective plant enclosure for Lyngbye’s sedge and other marsh plantings. The fencing, made of native alder and willow branches, limits goose access while allowing other waterfowl, fish, and wildlife access, and also provides valuable instream structure and habitat.
A fallow field was transformed to marsh and riparian habitat through the creation of tidal channels (by excavation) and marsh platforms (by planting and amending soils). Excavated upland soils were placed on the front of the marsh and planted to establish areas lost to goose grazing and subsequent erosion.
Preserving Ecosystems, Building Climate Resilience, and Enhancing Habitat for Fish & Wildlife
The View Royal Park Tidal Marsh Restoration Project is part of an initiative focused on identifying strongholds of tidal marsh habitats in Portage Inlet.
What are tidal marshes and why are they important?
- Ecologically productive and diverse estuarine habitats, critical for coastal species across life stages including rearing coho salmon and cutthroat trout populations.
- Provide water filtration, blue carbon sequestration, and natural protection from storm surges and flooding, key components of regional and national climate action strategies.
Tidal marshes are regionally rare and increasingly under threat as they are drained, buried, dyked, or polluted from logging, farming, industry, and development. 70% of tidal marsh habitat has been lost.
The remaining tidal marshes in southern Vancouver Island are severely impacted by hyperabundant, introduced, non-migratory Canada geese that over-graze marsh vegetation, leaving banks exposed to erosion.
A short film by Pacific Salmon Foundation featuring our tidal marsh restoration work.
A Look at the project
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