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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We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

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60+
projects
700+
jobs
$27M
investment
270+
community partners
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Supported Projects

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
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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
To learn more about the health of a wetland, the LEPS Wetland Crew collects water samples to test for environmental DNA (“eDNA”) to check the number and type of species (bugs) present in the water. (Photo: Langley Environmental Partners Society)
Wetlands Workforce
Lead Organization
BC Wildlife Federation
Grant Amount
$ 5,055,000.00
View Details
Project Details
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To learn more about the health of a wetland, the LEPS Wetland Crew collects water samples to test for environmental DNA (“eDNA”) to check the number and type of species (bugs) present in the water. (Photo: Langley Environmental Partners Society)
Description

BC Wildlife Federation is collaborating with First Nations and conservation organizations to restore, stabilize, and monitor BC's wetlands. These activities will improve wetland inventories, management, and decision-making. This project will support over 100 jobs and will provide training for workers in Wetlands Ecosystem Enhancement Protocol and Wetland Inventory. (Photo: Langley Environmental Partners Society)

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woman standing on gravel next to a blue glacial-fed lake
Indigenous-Led Watershed Restoration in the Upper Pitt Watershed
Lead Organization
World Wildlife Fund Canada
Grant Amount
$ 375,000.00
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Project Details
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woman standing on gravel next to a blue glacial-fed lake
Description

World Wildlife Fund Canada is supporting Katzie First Nation in the next phase of restoration work on four critical salmon habitats in the Upper Pitt watershed. This work includes installing intakes, creating new channels for smolt habitat, reconnecting historical hydrological systems, and constructing bio-berms to protect spawning habitat. This project supports 28 jobs. (Photo: Claire Sauvage-Mar / WatershedsBC)

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Squamish River, Squamish. (Photo: Adarshana Thapa / REFBC)
Central Estuary Restoration Project to Restore Chinook Salmon Populations
Lead Organization
Squamish River Watershed Society
Grant Amount
$ 250,000.00
View Details
Project Details
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Squamish River, Squamish. (Photo: Adarshana Thapa / REFBC)
Description

Squamish River Watershed Society, in partnership with Squamish Nation and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is continuing work on restoring fish passage and access to over 300 hectares of habitat in the Squamish estuary. This project focuses on modifying the lower section of the training berm and installing flow control structures. This project supports 26 jobs. (Photo: Adarshana Thapa / REFBC)

View Project Website
Lead Organization
Squamish River Watershed Society
Grant Amount
$ 250,000.00
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
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