Good news! 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 watershed conservation and restoration projects. This investment will create jobs, protect freshwater ecosystems, and help communities adapt to climate change.

The Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) is administering this funding through the Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI). In this role, REFBC will oversee granting, connect people and organizations, and share insights and project stories.

“I’m excited about the positive economic and community opportunities connected to the health of our watersheds,” says Mavis Underwood, a member of Tsawout First Nation who serves as an REFBC Governor and liaison to the HWI Indigenous Leaders Advisory Circle. “Watershed health and relationships underpin everything – from the health of our children, to salmon, to our culture.”

“Investing in watersheds is vital to the continued health of our land and rivers by ensuring our soil is protected and that our fish populations remain healthy,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, in a news release. “Through Nation-to-Nation consultation, we’re moving forward together on watershed rehabilitation and protection initiatives across the province that support people and build a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

HWI funding will support more than 60 projects to restore rivers and streams, protect salmon habitat, manage water flows, carry out water monitoring and data collection, and conduct watershed mapping and sustainability planning. These projects will improve the health of the watersheds we all rely on, create economic and skills development opportunities for communities impacted by COVID-19, and strengthen relationships with First Nations and Indigenous-led organizations.

Project examples:

• The Central Westcoast Forest Society will work with local First Nations to implement bioengineering approaches (woody debris, riparian planting) that reduce erosion and restore critical salmon habitat in the Clayoquot Sound. ($1,000,000)
• The Elk River Alliance’s Community-Based Water Monitoring program will gather data to monitor Elk River tributaries that are critical habitat for wildlife. By collecting data and identifying trends in ecosystem health, the Elk River Alliance will be able to create an early warning system to identify the effects of climate change and land use decisions. ($28,400)
• 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. ($250,000)

To implement the Healthy Watersheds Initiative, 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.

REFBC is working with project leads and partners to confirm plans and budgets, and to set up the infrastructure for the Healthy Watersheds Initiative. In the coming months, REFBC will share more project examples, stories and learnings from project teams, and resources for communities interested in watershed conservation and restoration.

To learn more about the HWI and supported projects, visit refbc.com/healthy-watersheds-initiative.

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

News release: Watershed, wetland projects create jobs, protect environment [Province of BC]

Media and information requests:

Stephanie Butler, Communications Manager, REFBC. (stephanie@refbc.com)

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Interested in learning more about REFBC’s work on freshwater sustainability?

• Grant Program, REFBC grants for freshwater projects, 2009 to present.
• Murky Waters, an REFBC report on progress towards freshwater sustainability.
• BC Freshwater Legacy Initiative, an REFBC-supported partnership to increase capacity for watershed leadership, governance, and sustainability.