So what’s the big deal about our estuary? Someone has put signs up along the Dyke road suggesting the Estuary has to be saved? From what …?” Do nothing city councils? Huge industry developments scheduled to be built along its shores? As I am a retired University biologist, I have had many friends ask me what the estuary needs to be saved from.

Are there problems? Perhaps the estuary is taken for granted by the average resident as he/she drives along the Dyke Road. The Field Saw Mill is gone, so is the LeFarge Cement Tower and there is virtually no major industry along its shores.

What is the big deal? There seems to be little pollution or environmental disturbance; no sewage lagoon, no logs in the water, no dumping bark and land fill anymore, no yearly dredging…. What does it need to be saved from?

If we examine maps of our estuary from the early part of the 20th century, we can immediately see that huge portions of natural shore lines and riparian zones (50% or more) have been impacted by human development. A riparian zone or riparian area is the transition zone between a wetland and the surrounding upland.

The riparian zone is often referred to as the ribbon of life as it has many functions including: wildlife habitat, water filtration and erosion control. With the major industry gone along our estuary, we can facilitate the restoration of these natural zones. Land owners with property along the estuary shores can work with biologists from a number of local stewardship groups. To improve and restore their shoreline. This could protect and increase the value of their property. With community effort we could restore a significant percentage of the shoreline which will help to allow the estuary to return to the abundance it once possessed.

Another problem is shoreline development which in part is due to zoning. Over the years we have learned much about the function and value of shoreline habitat. Some uses are incompatible with estuarine health. Unfortunately much of the zoning is antiquated and does not reflect this new information. There are land parcels along the estuary and Courtenay River that are zoned commercial and industrial without any requirement for environmental setbacks. The Comox Valley Regional District has frozen all development on their portion of the estuary until a plan has been produced with recommendations for rezoning

Most of the water, whether it be rainwater or stream water, passing through the Valley drains into the estuary. This water carries pollution from vehicles, houses and people.

So the big deal is that our estuary is still a pretty special place, but with some community effort and pride, we can go a long way to making it even more special and move towards recovering a major portion of the restorable shorelines.

All we have to do is watch U.S. television and follow what is happening to the Louisiana estuaries and shorelines. The environmental importance of estuaries as one of, if not the most important natural systems on earth, has since April been featured on our TV screens nightly. There is certainly no doubt in anyone’s mind that investigates the natural wonders of the Comox Valley, that indeed the Courtenay River estuary is the heart of our Valley’s natural systems and truly the “jewel in its crown.

Paul Horgen – Retired Biologist (Area B)

Read the article in the Comox Valley Echo or on www.keepingitliving.ca.