WHAT IS RESILIENT WATERS?

Resilient Waters reconnects vital wild salmon habitat by upgrading aging flood control infrastructure to allow fish to access these habitats along the Lower Fraser River. We provide capacity, expertise, and resources where the need to replace infrastructure aligns with salmon and community needs. See more below on how we are doing it.

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Why Does it Matter

At the beginning of one of the most prolific salmon rivers in the world, over 1,500 kilometers of crucial salmon habitat are blocked by aging floodgates, pumps, and dikes. At the same time, many of these structures need to be upgraded to prepare communities for climate change impacts such as flooding and sea level rise. The increased risk of flooding and loss of salmon impact First Nations hardest with loss of food security, socio-economic development, and flooding of communities and cultural sites of significance. Farmers and the local food we rely on are also increasingly at risk from flooding. Resilient Waters hopes to do its part by collaborating with all who are affected to accelerate solutions that benefit salmon, ecosystems, and people.

FIXING FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FISH AND COMMUNITIES

Watershed Watch Salmon Society's Connected Waters campaign revealed 1500 km of disconnected waterways adjacent to the Fraser River blocked by 156+ aging flood control infrastructure like pump stations, flood boxes, and dikes.

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Since we launched we are continually working to identify and move high priority opportunities alongside our partners and collaborators. Our objective is to remove or upgrade flood infrastructure to allow fish passage to sites that are most important to salmon and communities in a way that benefits all involved.

WORKING TOGETHER

We are guided by and collaborate with a broad collective of First Nations, local governments, all other levels of government, ENGOs, stewardship groups, and academics. We are reaching out to everyone that has an interest in reducing flood risk and helping to recover salmon. We convene local governments and First Nations to facilitate solutions that benefit everyone. See more about us and who we are talking to.

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If you have an interest in this project please contact us using the form below or email dan@resilientwaters.ca

RESEARCH

We look to fill crucial capacity and knowledge gaps in farm, fish, and climate friendly infrastructure solutions.

To better understand the ecological potential of individual tributaries and flood plain blocked behind flood infrastructure, Pearson Ecological is collecting baseline conditions and effectiveness monitoring data at high opportunity sites. Our first year of field work begins in March 2021 at our shortlist of opportunity sites.

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We've also gathered lots of resources related to the lower Fraser watershed, Fish Passage, and Flood Infrastructure, and we host a webinar series bringing local and international experts together to talk solutions.

CONTACT RESILIENT WATERS

On lands of Coast Salish First Nations

604-812-9676