BC’s most endangered rivers
Destination BC
Bc’s endangered rivers list 2022
The Endangered Rivers List is coordinated by ORCBC and released to media outlets across BC and Canada every other year. It provides a current snapshot of the health of BC’s waterways and is based on nominations from ORC’s member organizations, resource professionals, outdoor recreation and conservation groups, as well as the general public. It receives significant media attention, highlighting the rivers and issues that are most important to British Columbians.
Nominations are reviewed by a committee knowledgeable and familiar with the specific threats to BC’s rivers.
The 2022 Endangered Rivers List was released on October 27 and highlighted that the “Heart of the Fraser”, a key part of the river between Hope and Mission, is in dire need of protection.
Samples of Media coverage received:
Mike Pearson photo
Heart of the Fraser
The lower Fraser River is one of the most productive networks of fish-friendly channels, islands and wetlands stretching 80 kilometres between Mission and the town of Hope. As a spawning site for threatened white sturgeon, a rearing area for chinook salmon, habitat for more than two dozen other finfish species and a provider of benefits to recreation, ecotourism and Indigenous communities, this area has tremendous value. However, development, logging and a private bridge proposal is threatening the most productive salmon and sturgeon habitat in all of Canada.
The majority of the foreshore wetlands, marshes and islands have been logged, diked, drained and converted to farming, and only few un-diked islands remain however three of these islands – Herrling, Carey and Strawberry – were bought up by developers in 2017 and extensively clear cut which has taken a severe toll on the river and destabilized and diminished key fish habitat. Unless governments take immediate action, this important ecosystem will be destroyed.
Take action to protect the Heart of the Fraser
Raincoast photo