Living Shoreline at Pittock Conservation Area
Building shoreline resiliency was the focus of a recent Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks funded project within the Pittock Conservation Area. Staff from the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) enhanced approximately 350 metres of the Pittock Reservoir鈥檚 north shore through the addition of a new living shoreline which provides protection from erosion and creates aquatic habitat. 听
Incorporating aquatic habitat into the project using fallen woody material and river stone offers additional benefits.
Due to the nature of Pittock Reservoir’s sandy soils, much of the reservoir’s shoreline suffers from ongoing erosion due to wave action from winds and seasonal boat traffic.听To create听the new shoreline, a rocky shoal or sandbank was built 4 to 6 metres out from the existing one. The area between the shoal and shoreline was then filled with soil to a create a water level close to summer amounts. This area will be covered with wetland sod mats comprised of native aquatic vegetation this summer. 听
A view looking east of a section of ‘wetland’ enhanced shoreline and ‘estuary-like area.
To further enhance the area, existing fallen trees together with river stone will provide additional aquatic habitat and will help maintain a shoreline that is erosion resistant. This included extensive lengths of shoreline and two estuary-like areas. In total about 500 metres of the north shore was protected and improved.听
The newly landscaped erosion resistant shoreline with area to be planted with wetland mats.
听听
Contact:听Greg Urquhart, Forestry and Restoration Technician听