The Kus-kus-sum restoration project is in its final stretch.
The Comox Valley Project Watershed Society says it will make its last fundraising push this month before the final payment for the property is due November 30th.
With this in mind, their goal is to raise $100,000 by November 28th.
“This will be our last big fundraising push for Kus-Kus-sum of 2020,” said Kathy Haigh, Fundraising Director, “once the site is purchased the remaining funds will be used to begin the restoration process. Imagine what the site could look like a year from now!”
The group has been working to purchase and restore the site next to the river, near the estuary. It plans to return it to a natural state, including removing 8.3 acres of concrete, recontour the land, and replant native species.
To help get to its final goal, it’s launching a fundraising blitz throughout November which will include a reverse telethon, an online auction, and a 50/50 raffle.
The society says they are in a position to have a large chunk of the restoration funding in place by the spring, especially if the fundraiser goes well.
The group has also received $120,000 from the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and has submitted grant applications to the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund, the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, and the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
“We are closer than ever before to unpaving paradise and restoring Kus-kus-sum” states Dan Bowen, Project Watershed Technical Director “everyone here is very excited for the next phase of this project to begin!”
To learn more about the Kus-kus-sum restoration project, or the Fundraising Blitz, visit www.kuskussum.ca.
