2024 Year in Review

2024 Year in Review

Connected Waters

Connected Waters

Connected Waters

Securing our floodplains for salmon and people

Over 1,700 kilometres of salmon habitat in the Lower Fraser is disconnected by outdated flood control structures that are also putting people at risk. We are bringing together the communities most impacted by floods to build solutions and restore habitat.

Highlights from 2024

  • We organized field trips and learning sessions for First Nations and farmers in the Lower Mainland, fostering trust and sharing practical, fish-friendly flood control solutions to build resilience in the communities most impacted by floods.
  • During the provincial election, we pushed all parties to commit to sustainable funding for flood management and restoration to keep our communities safe and our salmon thriving.

Agriculture Minister Pam Alexis, Al Stobbart of the North Nicomen Dyking District, and Fin Donnelly, Parliamentary Secretary of Watershed Restoration cut the ribbon at the new flood box at Joe Lake,

Leaders from Indigenous, local and provincial governments cut the ribbon at the new fish-friendly flood box at Joe’s Lake.

connected-waters-paragraph-2

Watershed Watch’s habitats program director Lina Azeez speaks with Chilliwack dairy farmer Janice Balakshin during a farmer and First Nations floodplain tour we organized this spring.

atmospheric river port coquitlam

A pump works to move water off of a flooded residential street in Port Coquitlam during the atmospheric river in October 2024.

Connected-Waters-is-working-to-reconnect-hundreds-of-kilometers-of-rearing-habitat-for-juvenile-salmon-in-the-Lower-Fraser-op

Connected Waters is working to reconnect hundreds of kilometres of rearing habitat for juvenile salmon in the Lower Fraser. (Photo: Tavish Campbell)

Highlights from 2024

  • We organized field trips and learning sessions for First Nations and farmers in the Lower Mainland, fostering trust and sharing practical, fish-friendly flood control solutions to build resilience in the communities most impacted by floods.
  • During the provincial election, we pushed all parties to commit to sustainable funding for flood management and restoration to keep our communities safe and our salmon thriving.
Joe Lake Ribbon Cut

Leaders from Indigenous, local and provincial governments cut the ribbon at the unveiling of the new fish-friendly flood box at Joe’s Lake.

Lina and Janice during Farmer First Nation Tour

Watershed Watch’s Lina Azeez speaks with Chilliwack dairy farmer Janice Balakshin during a farmer and First Nations floodplain tour we organized this spring.

7

A pump works to move water off of a flooded residential street in Port Coquitlam during the atmospheric river in October 2024.

juvenile salmon

Connected Waters is working to reconnect hundreds of kilometres of rearing habitat for juvenile salmon in the Lower Fraser watershed. (Photo: Tavish Campbell)

Looking ahead, we will:

  • Crank up our public education campaign to highlight more effective solutions to the poor flood management practices that put our communities, farmlands, and fish at risk.
  • Continue lobbying our governments for faster and stronger floodplain management reform.
  • Open up more blocked fish habitats.

Keep reading our
2024 Year in Review

Follow Us!

Back to homepage