Fraser River - A fine mess

Restoration of a riparian habitat

The Salmon River near Salmon Arm is a small but productive tributary of the Fraser, providing important agricultural, fish, wildlife, and recreational benefits to the city of Langley and the Fraser River valley. This little river's headwaters also provide the only known refuge in the Fraser system for the endangered Salish sucker. It also supports wild coho and steelhead salmon, and cutthroat trout.

Urban development in this rapidly growing area is posing an immediate threat to wildlife and fish habitats and destroying the quantity of water. Ranching, logging, and farming practices have damaged the environment. Septic systems, chemical fertilizers, and manure are the culprits. Water samples from wells are being analyzed for nitrate contamination as part of a hands-on rehabilitation project supported by the Fraser River Action Plan.

Fifteen kilometres of river bank have been planted with more than 18,000 trees, barriers to fish migration have been removed, and fences have been erected to keep grazing cattle from damaging the stream.

The involvement of stakeholders — concerned citizens, First Nations, industry, landowners, city and regional governments — in decisions about use of land and water, have made Salmon River a testing ground for other projects, and for new ways of managing both human and environmental needs.

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