Reconnecting habitats,
restoring wild salmon
Reconnecting habitats,restoring wild salmon
Connected Waters
Connected Waters is our campaign to reconnect 1500 kilometres of salmon habitat currently blocked by outdated flood infrastructure in the lower Fraser floodplain. This campaign was launched in 2016 and has already made some enormous strides.
About Connected Waters
The Fraser River and its tributaries, home to the largest number of salmon runs in the world, have been heavily degraded through urbanization and agriculture.
Much of the flood infrastructure, installed to protect homes and farms also blocks salmon from accessing valuable overwintering and rearing habitat.
About Connected Waters
The Fraser River and its tributaries, home to the largest number of salmon runs in the world, have been heavily degraded through urbanization and agriculture.
Much of the flood infrastructure, installed to protect homes and farms also blocks salmon from accessing valuable overwintering and rearing habitat.
Our Connected Waters campaigns aims to reconnect and restore these blocked waterways by upgrading to fish-friendly flood infrastructure, and undertaking restoration like riparian plantings and removing invasive species.
Restoring these waterways not only supports salmon populations, but also benefits local citizens by providing thriving natural spaces for recreation and learning, and improves flood protection for the surrounding communities and farms.
Our Connected Waters campaigns aims to reconnect and restore these blocked waterways by upgrading to fish-friendly flood infrastructure, and undertaking restoration like riparian plantings and removing invasive species.
Restoring these waterways not only supports salmon populations, but also benefits local citizens by providing thriving natural spaces for recreation and learning, and improves flood protection for the surrounding communities and farms.
Katzie Slough
Katzie Slough
Camp-Hope Slough
Watershed Watch is working with local First Nations, residents and community advocates in Chilliwack through a collective we call the Friends of Camp-Hope Slough. The aim of the group is to bring the Camp and Hope Slough systems back to good water quality and quantity so that the community can enjoy this historic waterway. We’ve hosted canoe tours, clean-ups, and provided support with monitoring and habitat restoration.
Camp-Hope Slough
Watershed Watch is working with local First Nations, residents and community advocates in Chilliwack through a collective we call the Friends of Camp-Hope Slough. The aim of the group is to bring the Camp and Hope Slough systems back to good water quality and quantity so that the community can enjoy this historic waterway. We’ve hosted canoe tours, clean-ups, and provided support with monitoring and habitat restoration.
Friends of Bell Slough
Friends of Bell Slough formed when a group of neighbours, whose property backed onto Chilliwack’s Bell Slough, decided to act on their shared concerns about the ongoing decline of Bell Slough. Since forming, the group have become active stewards of the Slough, hosting plantings and invasive removal events and advocating for the City of Chilliwack to invest in restoring the waterway. As one of the many waterways impacted by outdated flood control infrastructure, Watershed Watch supports the efforts of Friends of Bell Slough.
Friends of Bell Slough
Friends of Bell Slough formed when a group of neighbours, whose property backed onto Chilliwack’s Bell Slough, decided to act on their shared concerns about the ongoing decline of Bell Slough. Since forming, the group have become active stewards of the Slough, hosting plantings and invasive removal events and advocating for the City of Chilliwack to invest in restoring the waterway. As one of the many waterways impacted by outdated flood control infrastructure, Watershed Watch supports the efforts of Friends of Bell Slough.
We secured funding from the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund, with our partners at MakeWay Canada, to assess over 100 flood control structures, and to consult with First Nations and other experts to prioritize projects for fish-friendly upgrades. To date, 25 high priority sites were identified, one site has been upgraded and six more are scheduled to receive upgrades.
We secured funding from the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund, with our partners at MakeWay Canada, to assess over 100 flood control structures, and to consult with First Nations and other experts to prioritize projects for fish-friendly upgrades. To date, 25 high priority sites were identified, one site has been upgraded and six more are scheduled to receive upgrades.
Disconnected Waters
1700 km of salmon habitat is blocked by at least 186 pieces of flood control infrastructure
This interactive atlas identifies flood obstructions including details on structures present, fish presence and habitat quality. It is a living atlas and is being updated as we complete field work.
Much of the flood control infrastructure in the Lower Mainland is aging and outdated, leaving communities at risk of flooding. It also often blocks fish from moving between rivers and oceans to streams and wetlands they seek for food, refuge, and rest.
These data are up to date as of May 31 2024. However, WWSS is continuing to work with municipalities and landowners to confirm types and locations of flood control infrastructure, including whether the infrastructure is fish friendly.
Disconnected Waters
1700 km of salmon habitat is blocked by at least 186 pieces of flood control infrastructure
This interactive atlas identifies flood obstructions including details on structures present, fish presence and habitat quality. It is a living atlas and is being updated as we complete field work.
Much of the flood control infrastructure in the Lower Mainland is aging and outdated, leaving communities at risk of flooding. It also often blocks fish from moving between rivers and oceans to streams and wetlands they seek for food, refuge, and rest.
These data are up to date as of March 18, 2024. However, WWSS is continuing to work with municipalities and landowners to confirm types and locations of flood control infrastructure, including whether the infrastructure is fish friendly.
Connected Waters = Connected People
Tell Trudeau & Eby we need salmon-friendly flood defences today!
Outdated flood infrastructure is killing wild salmon and has blocked thousands of kilometres of their habitat across British Columbia.
Our provincial and federal governments have committed to upgrading our flood defences to better protect our communities from future floods, but we need to ensure this new infrastructure also protects our salmon.
Fish-killing flood pumps must be replaced with designs that are safe for salmon. Modern floodgates will keep communities safe when waters rise while keeping fish habitats connected when flood risk is low.
We need to make sure our leaders choose the right path now and don’t spend millions of our public dollars on failed flood solutions that needlessly kill our fish.
Send your letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Eby today. Your letter will also be copied to your MP, MLA, and relevant provincial and federal ministers. If you live outside of Canada, click here to send your letter.
The letter below is editable. We’ve provided a draft to inspire you but feel free to personalize your message.
