This restoration work takes place within the hahuułi of ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ ḥawiiḥ (traditional territory of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s hereditary chiefs).

Background

Formerly named Central Westcoast Forest Society (CWFS), Redd Fish Restoration Society was established in 1995. For its first 15 years, the society focused exclusively on restoration of ʔaʔukmin (the Kennedy Watershed).

ʔaʔukmin is the largest watershed in Clayoquot Sound, measuring around 551 square kilometres. It encompasses the largest lake on Vancouver Island, Kennedy Lake, which is fed by the Clayoquot and Upper Kennedy rivers.  

Logging in ʔaʔukmin began in 1935 and peaked in 1988 when 600 hectares of forest was being cut down annually. 

Moses Martin served as Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s elected chief in the late 80s, when forestry company MacMillan Bloedel secured a permit to clear-cut Meares Island. 

Recalling the words of his late-father, Martin said “if we continue to allow this kind of behaviour to happen, we will be on the verge of self-destruction.”

A series of Tla-o-qui-aht led anti-logging blockades proceeded in 1993, becoming the largest act of mass civil disobedience in Canadian history ­– until the 2021 Fairy Creek blockades erupted on southern Vancouver Island. The monumental event in the 90s became known as the War in the Woods. Today, Meares Island’s old-growth remains intact is protected by ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ laws, rights, and title after being named a Tribal Park.

CWFS formed at a time of massive discord and change within the coastal communities of Tofino and Ucluelet. Founded by First Nations, fisheries biologists, foresters and community members, the society strives to bring people together to reverse the pattern of damage created by logging and development. 

While the impact of the War in the Woods carried over to the Kennedy Watershed and significantly decreased logging activity in ʔaʔukmin after 1994, extensive damage was done. 

Forest harvesting resulted in a loss of stream habitat complexity, off-channel and pool habitat. Logging activity increased the frequency of landslides, which reduced channel stability. Meanwhile, gravel quality and sources of high-quality large wood were also compromised.

Summary

Situated in low-lying terrain that was made accessible by Highway 4, the Kennedy Watershed was a logger’s dream. The ease of transporting logs out of the region led to widespread forestry operations and ecosystem degradation.

The founders focused on this watershed for the first 15 years of the society’s operation because thousands of kilometers of coho and chum salmon bearing habitat was compromised by extensive logging.

Since that time, Redd Fish Restoration Society has shifted its focus to work on Chinook-bearing watersheds as directed by the First Nations. The rapidly declining Chinook salmon populations in Clayoquot Sound demanded the society’s attention.

next steps

While the Kennedy Watershed remains a priority and Redd Fish feels an onus to return to the watershed to evaluate the work that was performed in the 90s, the organization is limited in its capacity.

“We’re spread very thin,” said Jessica Hutchinson, Redd Fish Restoration Society executive director. “We hope to one day have the funding and capacity to get back there.”