LOWER FRASER FLOODPLAIN COALITION
The Lower Fraser Floodplains Coalition (formerly Build Back Better Together Collaborative) is a group of experts working alongside the Indigenous-led Emergency Planning Secretariat. Our expertise ranges from floodplain management, law, ecology, and systems change with the shared goal to work towards a more principled and collaborative approach to flood resilience for the Lower Mainland.
5 Guiding Principles (Learn More):
1) Reduce risk and adapting to climate change
2) Advance reconciliation
3) Help salmon and ecosystems where they live to thrive
4) Support sustainable economies and resilient communities into the future
5) Ensure everyone is part of the solution
3 Action Areas:
1) Advocate for systemic change to the flood management paradigm
2) Convene people from across the Lower Fraser to build collaborative capacity and shared learning
3) Catalyze multi-stakeholder and multi-beneficial projects through supporting community leaders
Lower Fraser Floodplains Forum - June 9th 2023: Our third forum brought together leadership and senior staff from 16 local governments, 13 First Nations, many provincial and federal agencies, and Agriculture Associations to talk about our opportunities for regional collaboration. See a recording of presentations below. A report will be ready in summer 2023.
Farmer First Nations Forum - February 14th, 2023: A gathering of 8 Ag Associations and 8 First Nations discussed their shared values and priorities for reducing flood risk. Read the report
Build Back Better Together Forum July 14th, 2022 -
Recording of the Lower Fraser Floodplains Forum from June 9th, 2023
We are a collaborative group of B.C.-based organizations and experts with the shared goal of helping B.C.’s flood recovery and management efforts achieve the best possible outcomes. We offer support from a diverse range of interests, experience and networks, including Indigenous groups, conservationists, farmers, environmental legal specialists, researchers and natural resource professionals.
We hope to see B.C. move towards a more holistic, collaborative, and just approach to flood recovery and resilience that benefits people and other species, like salmon.
Organizations include:
Emergency Planning Secretariat (Indigenous-led)
UBC Coastal Adaptation Lab, School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
West Coast Environmental Law
Ebbwater Consulting
Sto:lo Tribal Council
Watershed Watch Salmon Society
Resilient Waters Project
Floodplains by Design
Kerr Wood Leidal Consulting Engineers
IN THE MEDIA
Abby News - June 29, 2023 - Leaders of Lower Fraser River chart path for flood management, resilience
CBC The Current - November 25, 2021 - How Floods - and how we fight them - affect salmon
Chilliwack Progress - December 8, 2021 - Indigenous-led action plan focused on flood management for entire Lower Mainland
Vancouver Sun - May 5, 2022 - Why B.C. can't always build its way out of risks
CBC On the Coast - June 14, 2022 - Stó:lō Tribal Council Chief Tyrone McNeil joins us to discuss the Abbotsford long-term flood mitigation and the work that's needed for the region.
CBC - June 12 2022 - Rebuild or retreat? B.C. communities face tough choices after catastrophic floods
Vancouver Sun - July 13, 2022 Local governments, First Nations on lower Fraser seek regional flood strategy
Agassiz Harrison Observer - July 15, 2022 - Flood recovery forum in Abbotsford focused on ‘breaking down silos’
Narwhal - September 12, 2022 - Restoring salmon habitat could help B.C.’s flood problems
APTN - October 27, 2022 - Senate report on B.C. flooding outlines flood mitigation and infrastructure issues
Narwhal - November 14, 2022 - More dikes and bigger dams could be a multi-billion dollar mistake: here’s how B.C. could ‘build back better’
Vancouver Sun - November 30, 2022 - Still no pathway to fund $165 million flood mitigation plan in hard-hit Merritt
Tyee - December 2, 2022 - First Nations Want Overhaul of Emergency Planning and Response
Times Colonist - December 8, 2022 - Premier David Eby creates new ministry to make sure B.C. is 'ready to go' for next disaster
Build Back Better Together for Lower Fraser - June 27th Info Session
WITH SUPPORT FROM
