(1946-1986)
The attached document is interesting as the earlier decimation of salmon stocks in the early 1950’s coincides with the mining of gravel from the Tsolum River by to extend the runway at CFB Comox to 10,000 feet. These gravel bars were essential habitat for the annual salmon spawn. The Mt Washington Mine developed in the mid 1960’s further degraded the river by increasing the dissolved Cu to levels that were fatally toxic to fish. A third significant contribution to the decimation of fish stocks was the clear cut logging on the Mount Washington slopes. Because of a lack of forest growth to absorb the heavy winter rains over wide areas, a practice that continues to the present day, the severity of water run-off events tends to wash away the undeveloped eggs and salmonids. Currently a growing fourth challenge is the increasing number of shallow water wells and volume pumped to support cattle ranches, horse farms, golf courses, residences which are lowering the water table in the river during the dry summers when salmonids are most at risk.