Testimonials

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Newsletter

Winter 2003

Floating Boardwalk Higher and Drier

Officers of the Pacific Naval Construction Troop watch as the crew wrestles a new flotation billet into place

The Sanctuary's floating boardwalk system got a much-needed lift this fall, with the help of the Pacific Naval Construction Troop. The Esquimalt based group of military engineers and construction workers were looking for a community project in celebration of their centennial year. They approached the Nature Sanctuary in 2002, around the time we were developing plans to replace the failing flotation system under the walkway and two wharves.

We made an appeal for funds from the community to supply the new flotation, and were ready to proceed with the project in September of 2003. Just as the military crew was to start on the project, they were called away to assist with fire-fighting efforts in the interior, and the project was put on hold.

Work got underway in October, and by the end of three weeks, this efficient and enthusiastic crew had removed the old waterlogged floats, and replaced them with large Styrofoam billets encapsulated with a thick protective plastic cover, on 25 open-water sections of boardwalk and the two wharves.

The improvement to the walkway was dramatic, with a much more stable feeling, and with all of the wood now well above water.
--The -Sanctuary is indebted to the many-contributors to this project, including the Friends of the Nature Sanctuary, Provincial Capital Commission, TD/Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation, the Public Conservation Assistance Fund, Enviro Float Manufacturing, the Vancouver Island Trails Information Society, and many individual donations.

Now that the boardwalk is floating, we have a new challenge. The disposal of over 200 waterlogged tire floats is a concern. As these tires are packed with styrofoam, they cannot be recycled in the usual manner. Anyone who may have a solution is encouraged to contact our Site Manager, Willie MacGillivray. At the moment they are taking up considerable space at our work yard!