Our Water, Our Future

The Healthy Watersheds Initiative is creating jobs and bringing communities together to protect fresh water, restore salmon habitat, and adapt to climate change. 
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Recent Stories

We Are of Water

"We Are of Water", illustrated by Chenoa Gao, provides visuals connected to voices and knowledge shared by Indigenous Elders, youth, and community members through HWI projects on the significance of watersheds and water.
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Unpaving Kus-Kus-Sum: Restoring and Recycling

The Kus-Kus-Sum Unpaving Paradise project is decommissioning and restoring a historic sawmill site along the Courtney River.
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Symposium & Celebration Dinner

On February 23, 2023, project team members, First Nations leaders, provincial and local government representatives, and community members came together to celebrate the outcomes and learnings from the HWI.
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$100 million invested in Watershed Security Fund to be co-developed with First Nations

The BC Government and BC First Nations Water Table has announced an investment of $100 million towards creating a Watershed Security Fund and a commitment to co-developing the Fund with First Nations.
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60+
projects
700+
jobs
$27M
investment
270+
community partners
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Supported Projects

Comox Valley Project Watershed Society’s “Kus-kus-sum” project (Photo: Rick Ward)
Kus Kus Sum Unpaving Paradise - Estuary Restoration
Lead Organization
Comox Valley Project Watershed Society
Grant Amount
$ 700,000.00
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Project Details
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Comox Valley Project Watershed Society’s “Kus-kus-sum” project (Photo: Rick Ward)
Description

Comox Valley Project Watershed Society, in partnership with K'omoks First Nation and the City of Courtenay, is dismantling and restoring Kus-kus-sum, a former sawmill site on the Courtenay River, to its native estuary saltmarsh and riverside forest. Restoration of this site will benefit at least nine fish species, 145 bird species, and 281 plant species. The first phase of this project will support at least 40 jobs. (Photo: Rick Ward)

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(Photo: Kwakiutl First Nation)
Quatse (Gwa'dzi) Estuary Restoration
Lead Organization
Kwakiutl First Nation
Grant Amount
$ 100,000.00
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Project Details
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(Photo: Kwakiutl First Nation)
Description

Kwakiutl First Nation, in partnership with the Nature Trust of BC and all levels of government, is restoring coastal estuarine connectivity and habitat in the Gwa'dzi River Estuary. Through activities such as creating intertidal march benches, breaching a legacy forestry road, installing a footbridge, and conducting archaeological and water monitoring, this work aims to recover over two hectares of tidal marsh and mudflat habitat. This project supports 18 jobs. (Photo: Kwakiutl First Nation)

Lead Organization
Kwakiutl First Nation
Grant Amount
$ 100,000.00
Project Type
Organization Type
Region(s)View map of BC's Natural Resource District.

View map of BC's Natural Resource District.

Watershed(s)
Related Articles
(Photo: Cowichan Tribes)
Cowichan River and Koksilah River Sediment Removal
Lead Organization
Cowichan Tribes
Grant Amount
$ 2,300,000.00
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Project Details
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(Photo: Cowichan Tribes)
Description

Cowichan Tribes is performing extensive work to rehabilitate the Cowichan and Koksilah Rivers by focusing on sediment management and habitat rehabilitation. Work involves removing ~90,000 m3 of sediment across six sites, repairing the Hatchery and old Southside Dikes, excavating and reactivating side channels, and monitoring of sites for flood and drought management. This project supports 41 jobs and is an integral part of Cowichan Tribes’ 5-Year River Management Plan. (Photo: Cowichan Tribes)

Lead Organization
Cowichan Tribes
Grant Amount
$ 2,300,000.00
Project Type
Organization Type
Region(s)View map of BC's Natural Resource District.

View map of BC's Natural Resource District.

Watershed(s)
Related Articles
(Photo: Picture BC / Flickr)
148 Mile Marshes Rebuild Project
Lead Organization
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Grant Amount
$ 215,700.00
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Project Details
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(Photo: Picture BC / Flickr)
Description

Ducks Unlimited is collaborating with ranch owners and First Nations to rebuild interconnected wetland habitats at 148 Mile Marshes. This project will update aging water control infrastructure and will support 13 jobs. (Photo: Picture BC / Flickr)

Lead Organization
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Grant Amount
$ 215,700.00
Project Type
Organization Type
Region(s)View map of BC's Natural Resource District.

View map of BC's Natural Resource District.

Watershed(s)
Related Articles
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