Ducks Unlimited Canada works with partners to
advance research and on-the-ground restoration of Metro Vancouver's
critical coastal ecosystems.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 20,
2024 /CNW/ - Ducks Unlimited Canada applauds the
$5 million investment in conservation
from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Province of British Columbia through the British Columbia
Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF). The funds will
directly support the Restore Fraser River Estuary Salmon Habitat
(ReFRESH) project which will be delivered by partnering
organizations Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Asarum Ecological
Consulting, Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, and Ducks Unlimited
Canada. This landmark initiative aims to revitalize the Fraser
River Estuary, British Columbia's
largest and most crucial estuary, ensuring the sustainability of
wild Pacific salmon and other BC fish stocks.
The Fraser River Estuary (FRE) has experienced significant
habitat loss due to historical development activities such as river
training, dredging, dike construction, and land conversion over the
past decades, and these modifications have adversely impacted
Pacific salmon and other fish species that depend on the estuary's
intertidal habitats. The ReFRESH project builds on the successes of
previous initiatives, including other BCSRIF-funded projects to
restore connectivity and habitat in the estuary through innovative
methods like jetty breaches and sediment enhancement.
Funding for ReFRESH will see the delivery of four vital
components aimed at restoring and enhancing estuary habitats:
Long-Term Effectiveness Monitoring:
Previous restoration projects funded by BCSRIF will continue to be
monitored, to ensure long-term success.
Sturgeon Bank Sediment Enhancement Pilot
Project: A pilot project that sees reclaimed
sediment dredged from the Fraser River deposited on the Sturgeon
Bank foreshore to restore marsh and enhance coastal resilience
against sea-level rise is extended for an additional two years.
Process-based Marsh Establishment Pilot
Project: A study of natural marsh formation mechanisms will be
conducted to inform the creation of new habitats with a pilot
project conducted for innovative marsh establishment.
Juvenile Salmon Habitat
Improvements: The use of natural and created tidal
marshes by fish will be investigated to identify factors that
enhance habitat utilization, guiding the restoration of multiple
compensation sites.
The ReFRESH project addresses the urgent need to restore
juvenile salmon habitats in the Fraser River Estuary. By
implementing cutting-edge restoration techniques and conducting
comprehensive research, the project aims to create a legacy of
knowledge and improved restoration practices. These efforts will
benefit species listed under the Committee on the Status of
Endangered Wildlife in Canada like
Fraser River Chinook, coho, steelhead, and sockeye salmon
populations, along with other juvenile salmon species, white
sturgeon, and various wild BC fish stocks.
The ReFRESH project brings together an impressive coalition. In
addition to partnering organizations Raincoast Conservation
Foundation, Asarum Ecological Consulting, and Lower Fraser
Fisheries Alliance, the BC Ministry of Land, Water and Resource
Stewardship, BC Ministry of Forests, Environment and Climate Change
Canada, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Metro Vancouver Regional
District, National Research Council of
Canada, Pacific Institute for
Climate Solutions, Simon Fraser
University, and Northwest Hydraulic Consultants are also
collaborators on the project.
The outcomes will include scientific research articles,
conference presentations, and public communications to share the
results and guide future restoration efforts. "Ducks Unlimited
Canada is thrilled to continue our work in the Fraser River Estuary
with the support of this funding through BCSRIF. The ReFRESH
project will allow us and our partners to make significant progress
in the restoration of critical local salmon habitats." said
Eric Balke, senior restoration
biologist for Ducks Unlimited Canada's B.C. region. "This project
exemplifies the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing
environmental challenges and ensuring the sustainability of our
vital estuaries"
About Ducks Unlimited Canada: Ducks
Unlimited Canada (DUC) is the leader in wetland conservation. A
registered charity, DUC uses sound science and partners with
government, industry, non-profit organizations, Indigenous Peoples
and landowners to conserve wetlands that are critical to waterfowl,
wildlife and the environment. To learn more about DUC's innovative
environmental solutions and services, visit www.ducks.ca
About BCSRIF:
The British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund
(BCSRIF) is a 70 per cent federal, 30 per cent provincial
cost-shared program which supports projects that advance the
sustainability of wild Pacific salmon and other BC fish stocks,
fostering innovation and collaboration among conservationists,
scientists, and local communities.
SOURCE Ducks Unlimited Canada