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

Kyle Prince and Cara Adrain at the Columbia Wetlands. (Photo: Living Lakes Canada)
Community-Based Water Monitoring and Restoration in the Columbia Basin, Columbia Basin Water Hub
Lead Organization
Living Lakes Canada
Grant Amount
$ 1,250,000.00
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Project Details
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Kyle Prince and Cara Adrain at the Columbia Wetlands. (Photo: Living Lakes Canada)
Description

The purpose of this project is to ensure that Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and decision-makers in the Upper Canadian Columbia Basin will have the necessary knowledge, skills and tools to adapt and mitigate climate change impacts by better understanding water resources in their respective communities. The understanding of diminished water supply, drought and flood events assist decisions impacting community and ecosystem resilience as well as for the food security, ecosystem health and economic vitality of these communities. This project will help transition towards a green economy by training indigenous and non indigenous youth, and people displaced or transitioning from other impacted sectors. See the Project Map for locations and details of the work supported by this project. This project will support 25 jobs and training. (Photo: Living Lakes Canada)

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Port Alberni (Photo: Stephanie Butler / REFBC)
Port Alberni Wastewater Lagoon Restoration Project
Lead Organization
City of Port Alberni
Grant Amount
$ 195,000.00
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Project Details
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Port Alberni (Photo: Stephanie Butler / REFBC)
Description

The City of Port Alberni is decommissioning its wastewater treatment lagoon and restoring the area as a natural tidal marsh. This project will restore habitat in the Somass estuary, improve wastewater treatment and stormwater management, and support 15 jobs. (Photo: Stephanie Butler / REFBC)

Lead Organization
City of Port Alberni
Grant Amount
$ 195,000.00
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)
First Nations-led Flows Management on the Endako River
Lead Organization
Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance
Grant Amount
$ 688,000.00
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Project Details
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(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)

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
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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)

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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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