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. 
Learn More

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.
Read More
news

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.
Read More
news

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.
Read More
news

$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.
Read More
news
1 2 3 11
Stronger BC logo
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

Sign up to our newsletter

60+
projects
700+
jobs
$27M
investment
270+
community partners
a jumping salmon icon

Supported Projects

CWCFS Training Youth Group at Clayoquot. (Photo: Lora Tyron)
Clayoquot Sound Watershed Recovery Initiative
Lead Organization
Central Westcoast Forest Society
Grant Amount
$ 1,140,000.00
View Details
Project Details
view page
CWCFS Training Youth Group at Clayoquot. (Photo: Lora Tyron)
Description

Central Westcoast Forestry Society is supporting Hesquiaht, Ahousaht, and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations’ initiative to restore critical salmon populations in the Clayoquot Sound by reconstructing rearing habitat. The work involves implementing bioengineering approaches (woody debris structures, riparian planting) to stabilize banks, reduce erosion, and create habitats supportive of migrating salmon. This project will support at least 25 jobs and provide technical training and certification to workers. (Photo: Lora Tyron)

(Photo: Picture BC / Flickr)
First Nations-led Flows Management on the Endako River
Lead Organization
Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance
Grant Amount
$ 688,000.00
View Details
Project Details
view page
(Photo: Picture BC / Flickr)
Description

The Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance and Carrier Sekani First Nations will work with governments and communities to build a weir on the Endako River. After constructing the weir, their team will monitor water flows and mitigate de-watering during low flows to protect the spawning habitat of important Chinook and Kokanee salmon populations. (Photo: Picture BC / Flickr)

group gathered on the banks of a large lake
Capacity Building for Water Leaders Through Learning and Development
Lead Organization
BC Freshwater Initiative (Makeway)
Grant Amount
$ 453,000.00
View Details
Project Details
view page
group gathered on the banks of a large lake
Description

BC Freshwater Legacy Initiative, a project of Makeway, is providing tailored training, peer learning, and coaching support to Indigenous and non-Indigenous water leaders in communities that are leading on innovative approaches to watershed management, governance, and security. This project, which supports 10 jobs, will enable shared learning between organizations and regions and to advance the use of different knowledge systems in informing good watershed decision-making. (Photo: REFBC)

Lead Organization
BC Freshwater Initiative (Makeway)
Grant Amount
$ 453,000.00
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)
Koh-Learning in our Watershed: Transforming Education; Connecting Students to Communities and Waterways
Lead Organization
School District 91 (Nechako Lakes)
Grant Amount
$ 50,000.00
View Details
Project Details
view page
(Photo: Picture BC / Flickr)
Description

School District No. 91 (Nechako Lakes) is expanding its experiential summer conservation employment program between UNBC and Ft. St. James Secondary School to employ and train two students in a range of salmon conservation, restoration, and monitoring initiatives being led by the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, Nechako Environment and Water Stewardship Society, Mid and Upper-Fraser Salmon Conservation Collaborative, and BC Parks. The students will participate in short-term work at multiple sites in the Nechako Watershed, including Nahounli Creek, and will assist with establishing at least one long-term ecological monitoring project in Mt. Pope Provincial Park. This project supports four jobs. (Photo: Picture BC / Flickr)

View Project Website
1 2 3 16
View All Projects

HWI Newsletter Subscription

Healthy Watersheds Initiative Logo
By subscribing to our newsletter and providing your email address, you are expressly giving your consent to receive news, projects information and important updates from the Healthy Watersheds Initiative (administered by the Real Estate Foundation of BC). You can withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the ‘Unsubscribe’ link on any emails you receive or by contacting the Foundation directly at hwiprogram@refbc.com.
* indicates required

By checking this box, you're consenting to receive emails from the Healthy Watersheds Initiative.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

cross