KEPO Update on the Tekakwitha Island and Bay restoration project

09/23/2020

The Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office (KEPO) wishes to provide important updates to the community on the status of the Tekakwitha Island and Bay restoration project.

Unfortunately, given a number of on-going challenges, several project elements, including the dredging and aquatic plant harvesting, have been postponed until 2021. Our contractor, Rice Mohawk Landscaping (RML), was not able to secure a dredging subcontractor to complete this element of the work. Despite efforts to carry out the dredging using their own forces, on-going technical difficulties resulted in the timing window available for this project element in 2020 expiring with no work completed.

Additional delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic and an increased presence of invasive species on the island caused additional challenges that require the postponement of other project elements as well as final grading and planting of the two large natural zones.

RML and KEPO remain committed to completing the entirety of the project as quickly as possible and work continues through the Fall, weather permitting.

The current focus of work is on the turtle nesting ground feature. This element has taken shape and will be largely complete, with the exception of plantings, by the end of the year. Construction in this area of the island has resulted in a partial closure of the bike path. Community members can still use the remaining portions of the bike path but are required to turn around at the closure.

The beach and parking area, as well as shaping for the linear pond and marsh feature will also be completed this fall.

KEPO shares the disappointment of the community that we were not able to make more progress on the Tekakwitha Island and Bay project in 2020. We do believe that the finished project will be a real benefit to the community and the wildlife in the region and we thank you for your on-going patience throughout this process.

For more information on this or any other aspect of the Tekakwitha Island and Bay restoration project please contact KEPO at bayproject@mck.ca or 450-635-0600. Additional information on the project can be found on our website at www.kahnawakeenvironment.com or www.facebook.com/kahnawakeenvironment.