BC’s endangered rivers list highlights threats to Fraser and Cowichan rivers near Chilliwack and Vancouver Island, with conservation efforts underway
B.C. Releases Annual List of Most Endangered Rivers
B.C.’s annual list of the most endangered rivers has been released. The Outdoor Recreation Council compiles this list. While there are concerns, some encouraging progress has been reported.
Top Rivers on the List
This year, the Heart of the Fraser, located between Hope and Mission, and the Cowichan River on Vancouver Island are tied for the top spot. Mark Angelo, the Rivers chair of the Outdoor Recreation Council and founder of B.C. and World Rivers Day, commented on these waterways in a blog post.
“The Fraser is one of the most productive rivers on the planet. The Cowichan is an important salmon stream, culturally significant to the Cowichan people, and a recreational asset for anglers and paddlers. All this is at risk. But on both rivers, we are seeing glimmers of hope,” said Angelo.
Concerns for the Fraser and Cowichan Rivers
The Fraser River faces threats from urban encroachment, agricultural expansion, and industrial development. The Cowichan River is experiencing low summer flows and leaching of toxic chemicals from construction waste and illegal dumping.
“Illegal dumping is an issue that is impacting the river, but our report this year really wanted to focus on the climate change, low flow aspect, because that’s had a devastating impact on the river for many years now,” Angelo told Global News.
Future Plans for River Management
Plans are underway to raise the level of a small dam on Cowichan Lake. This will help regulate the Cowichan River’s levels better. Meanwhile, there is positive news for the Fraser River, as a conservation group recently purchased Carey Island, an important salmon and sturgeon area near Chilliwack.
Other Rivers of Concern
Other rivers and issues of concern include the Elk River in the Kootenay region, Kettle River in the Okanagan, Stikine River in the northwest region, Similkameen River in the Southern Interior, and the Thompson/Chilcotin rivers’ steelhead populations in the Interior.
The Outdoor Recreation Council noted that the Thompson/Chilcotin rivers are not primarily a river health issue but a fisheries management failure. The expected population of steelhead returning to spawn in the Thompson River is only 19 this year, with as few as nine expected in the Chilcotin. This is a significant decline from thousands returning in previous years.
The organization expressed little hope for this issue, stating that the federal and provincial governments have yet to find a solution. “To date, there has also been an unwillingness to curtail indiscriminate, non-selective commercial fishing rather than focusing on more selective methods that allow non-target fish to be released alive and healthy,” the organization stated in a release.
“The result is the imminent extinction of the Interior population of steelhead stocks.”
| River | Location | Concerns | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart of the Fraser | Between Hope and Mission | Urban encroachment, agricultural expansion, industrial development | At risk, some progress noted |
| Cowichan River | Vancouver Island | Low summer flows, toxic leaching, illegal dumping | At risk, plans for dam raise |
| Thompson River | Interior | Steelhead population decline | 19 expected to spawn |
| Chilcotin River | Interior | Steelhead population decline | As few as 9 expected to spawn |
