Al, you're bang on!
The mill has been very accommodating with regards to water needs for fish which have reached crisis levels by October in recent years, even coming withing a week of shutting down mill operations (at a huge daily cost to the mill & its employees)in 2004.
I could be wrong, but I beleive the mill is also a $$ contributing partner on the clay bank stabilization program that is underway.
The bigger issues for fish on the Cowichan is lack of water in the late summer and autumn, particularly as it realtes to Chinook migration in to the river.
Rumor has it, that a plan is in the works to raise the Cowichan weir by 18 in or so to enable more water to be stored to facilitate increased flows during critical times for fish. This is a good plan that will work IMHO.
The only challenge will be from waterfront landowners on the Lake who don't want their beaches shrunk for the sake of a few damn salmon. Their potential to derail this program shouldn't be underestimated - those who own summer homes with waterfront on Lake Cowichan can be politically connected, or so I've heard.
Anyway, if you hear about this program - support it! Sign petitions, heck, START petitions!
It'll help the fish - all of them.
GB