Concerns focus on whether blue lighting, that will illuminate the bridge, might also illuminate salmon making them easier for seals to catch
City of Victoria engineers are looking into a potential problem with the new Johnson Street Bridge -- whether blue lighting that will illuminate the bridge will also illuminate salmon, making them easier for seals to catch.
"When we're adding new lights that could be directly impacting the wildlife, I think it's something we need to be aware of and make sure we're finding solutions for," says councillor Jeremy Loveday. He raised the concerns at a recent project update meeting.
Salmon travel through Victoria's Harbour and under the bridge on their way to spawning grounds at Colquitz and Craigflower creeks.
Gorge watershed advocate Dorothy Chambers says it's a real concern and there are examples of problems from right here on Vancouver Island. She points to Courtenay, where they lit-up a bridge over the Puntledge River. "It's well documented - the issues that happened following lighting of that bridge. It took a long time and a lot of money to remediate the problem. Salmon were damaged. Seals were eventually culled."
Johnson Street Bridge Project Director Jonathan Huggett says city engineers are looking into solutions. "I think the easiest way is - let's find out when the sensitive times are. Let's turn the lights off for those few days when they're active."
Huggett says they're also looking into reflectors to stop the light from shining into the water.