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

Clear view at the Kootenays. (Photo: Nick Davies / REFBC)
Nature-Based Planning and Natural Asset Analysis in Watersheds in Rural RDCK Area E Communities
Lead Organization
West Kootenay Community EcoSociety
Grant Amount
$ 450,000.00
View Details
Project Details
view page
Clear view at the Kootenays. (Photo: Nick Davies / REFBC)
Description

West Kootenay Community EcoSociety is working with First Nations and communities in Central Kootenay to assess natural assets and develop nature-based plans for two key watersheds. WKCES will prepare a plain language risk and opportunity analysis, and will develop an interactive map describing the current condition of the watersheds for residents who rely on them for drinking water. This project will support up to 21 jobs. (Photo: Nick Davies / REFBC)

View Project Website
(Photo: Noémi Pomerleau / REFBC)
Monitoring of Agricultural Effluent Impact on Anadromous Fish in the Merritt Area
Lead Organization
Scw’exmx Tribal Council
Grant Amount
$ 58,800.00
View Details
Project Details
view page
(Photo: Noémi Pomerleau / REFBC)
Description

Scw'exmx Tribal Council is conducting water monitoring to track agricultural effluent along the Nicola and Coldwater Rivers. Communities and decision makers will use this data to understand how water quality may be impacted by agricultural activity during the spring freshet. This project will support two jobs. (Photo: Noémi Pomerleau / REFBC)

Lead Organization
Scw’exmx Tribal Council
Grant Amount
$ 58,800.00
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
Alaksen fish sampling. (Photo: Ducks Unlimited)
Alaksen National Wildlife Area Dike Breach and Salmon Monitoring Project
Lead Organization
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Grant Amount
$ 150,000.00
View Details
Project Details
view page
Alaksen fish sampling. (Photo: Ducks Unlimited)
Description

Ducks Unlimited is completing planning and evaluation to restore marsh habitat in Alaksen National Wildlife Area, part of the Fraser River Delta. Planning includes stakeholder engagement on draft project concept, archaeological impact assessment, salmon monitoring, and invasive plant management. This project will support four jobs. (Photo: Ducks Unlimited)

Koksilah Watershed (Photo: Taylor Roades / Narwhal)
Koksilah Watershed Water Sustainability Planning
Lead Organization
Cowichan Tribes
Grant Amount
$ 501,380.00
View Details
Project Details
view page
Koksilah Watershed (Photo: Taylor Roades / Narwhal)
Description

Cowichan Tribes is working with community partners to gather data and scope options for a water sustainability plan for Xwulqw’selu Sto’lo (the Koksilah River) watershed. In recent years, summer flow rates have been exceptionally low at times when demand for water (from domestic, agricultural, and industrial users) is greatest. This project includes technical work and analysis to support sustainable, long-term land and water management, in order to restore water flows for fish and water users. This project supports 12 jobs. (Photo: Taylor Roades / Narwhal)

View Project Website
Lead Organization
Cowichan Tribes
Grant Amount
$ 501,380.00
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
1 2 3 16
View All Projects

Follow us on Social Media

Latest Tweets

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.

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