Our water, our future. Let's get to work.
The Healthy Watersheds Initiative is an economic stimulus program that’s creating jobs in British Columbia by investing in watershed conservation and restoration projects.
As part of the B.C. Economic Recovery Plan, the Province of BC has provided $27 million in stimulus funding for more than 60 pre-identified projects in communities across the province. The Real Estate Foundation of BC is administering this funding through the Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI).
HWI grants are supporting project teams working to restore rivers and streams, protect salmon habitat, manage water flows, collect data, and conduct watershed mapping and sustainability planning. Through these projects, teams are hiring and training local workers who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This investment will protect and restore critical freshwater ecosystems, help communities adapt to climate change, create jobs, protect our drinking water, and strengthen relationships with First Nations and Indigenous-led organizations.
The Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) is administering this funding through the Healthy Watersheds Initiative and will oversee the granting process, connect people and organizations, and share insights and project stories.
REFBC has partnered with Watersheds BC to provide additional support to project teams on learning and evaluation, project communications, and collaboration between the Province, First Nations, watershed organizations and community partners.
The Province of BC has invested $37 million (including $27 million through the Healthy Watersheds Initiative) for projects that support healthy watersheds, species, and ecosystems, and create new jobs in areas that are critical to help communities adapt to the effects of climate change. This funding is part of the Province’s $10-billion COVID-19 response to help people in hard-hit industries.
