Photo: Wayne Moore

Shovels are officially in the ground at Mission Creek, as a project to widen and return it to its original condition begins.

The Mission Creek Restoration Initiative will increase the creek’s channel from 40 to 150 metres, reducing flood risks and expanding fish and wildlife habitat.

The first phase of the project is expected to be complete by spring, before high-water season. Proponents of the project say it will result in no harmful impacts to the quality of creek water.

During construction, the dike between Casorso Road and Gordon Drive will be closed.

A new dike that is being built is designed to withstand a one-in-200-year flood. It will require about 9,000 cubic metres of sand, clay and gravel, the majority of which will come from the old dike.

Four "meander notches" will be carved into the creek, and large trees will extend over the pools to improve fish habitat. This is part of what the initiative calls “re-naturalizing flow patterns.”

“As nature takes its course over time, and native trees and vegetation take hold, the view from the new dike across the naturalized creek will be stunning,” said Steve Matthews, MCRI project co-ordinator, in a statement.