Looking north to the slide site
FVC acquired the Auchenway Property in January 2011. The property is located along the Chilliwack River and connects Provincial parkland to Crown land and is home to several species at risk. FVC came into possession of the property thanks to the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) which was looking for a conservation organization to look after the property.
In January of 2009, snow melt and heavy rain on top of frozen soils caused a clay slide that plugged a portion of Ryder Creek. During the emergency Ryder Creek was returned to its original channel but the flooding, property damage, and the increased risk of further slides led to the permanent evacuation of the property’s residents. The hillside remains unstable and its surface waters continuously carry silt into Ryder Creek which degrades the valuable salmon habitat. To mitigate this, native vegetation with root systems of various depths will be planted to stabilize the slope thus reducing the amount of silt entering Ryder Creek. Reducing siltation and the risk of further slides are important tasks as Ryder Creek, part of the larger Chilliwack River system, supports all five pacific salmon species, trout, and even Steelhead.
To accomplish this, the FVC has partnered with the Chilliwack River Action Committee who has successfully undertaken many restoration projects on similarly affected sites. Some tasks will include monitoring for species at risk, removing invasive plants, removing dilapidated sheds and anthropogenic debris, installing bird and bat boxes, and replanting the whole site with native vegetation. Once restoration to both riparian and terrestrial habitats is complete, a significant wildlife corridor will be created that connects crown land to the north and provincial park land to the south. This corridor will enable wildlife to migrate naturally between their different seasonal habitats.
To aid in the rehabilitation and re-establishment of habitats FVC needs to raise $20,000 and has set up the Auchenway Habitat Management Fund. You can help the Fraser Valley Conservancy reach this goal for the endowment fund through donations, memberships and corporate sponsorship.
Restoration work has begun at this site, read the story & see some pictures: Restoration Project Underway
Click on a thumbnail below to view larger images:
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