Cleaning Up Wood Waste on Esquimalt Harbour's Sea Floor
Official title: Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Wood Waste Remediation Project - Esquimalt Harbour
The Department of National Defence wants to cover up decades of wood waste sitting on the sea floor in Esquimalt Harbour. Old logging and sawmill operations left debris that's now releasing toxic byproducts and harming marine life. The plan is to cap about 139,000 square metres of the worst areas with clean material.
Why This Matters
Live near Esquimalt Harbour or care about BC's marine ecosystems? This project aims to restore the sea floor after decades of industrial damage. Healthier bottom-dwelling creatures mean a healthier food chain for local fish and wildlife.
What Could Change
If approved, DND will place remedial material over the contaminated sea floor in northern Esquimalt Harbour. This is Phase 1 of a larger cleanup effort. Long-term monitoring will track whether marine life recovers as expected.
Key Issues
- Is capping the wood waste with remedial material the right approach to restore the sea floor?
- What impacts might the remediation work have on marine life during construction?
Indigenous Consultation
This consultation requires engagement with Indigenous communities under the Crown's duty to consult.