Connected Waters | Watershed Watch Salmon Society
Connected Waters2024-05-31T13:09:44-07:00

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Connected Waters is our campaign to reconnect 1500 kilometres of salmon habitat currently blocked by outdated flood infrastructure in the lower Fraser floodplain.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.

Tell Trudeau and Eby to invest in wild salmon 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.

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

Watershed Watch works with the Katzie First Nation and community members in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge to restore the Katzie Slough. Our work focuses on community engagement and science-based advocacy at the local, provincial and municipal levels. We are working with a local farmer along the Katzie Slough to restore his riparian zone to good habitat.

Katzie Slough

Watershed Watch works with the Katzie First Nation and community members in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge to restore the Katzie Slough. Our work focuses on community engagement and science-based advocacy at the local, provincial and municipal levels. We are working with a local farmer along the Katzie Slough to restore his riparian zone to good habitat.

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.

Before

Fish-unfriendly Top-mounted Flood Gate (Lower Agassiz Slough)

After

Fish-friendly Sluice Gate (Lower Agassiz Slough)

Before

Fish Un-friendly Pump Station (Tilbury Slough)

After

Fish-friendly Archimedes-style Pump Station (Yorkson Creek)

Before

Fish-unfriendly Top-mounted Flood Gate (Lower Agassiz Slough)

After

Fish-friendly Sluice Gate (Lower Agassiz Slough)

Before

Fish Un-friendly Pump Station (Tilbury Slough)

After

Fish-friendly Archimedes-style Pump Station (Yorkson Creek)

How flood control structures can help or hurt salmon habitat

Connected Waters = Connected People

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