KWIKWETLEM FIRST NATION 2-65 COLONY FARM ROAD, COQUITLAM, B.C. V3C 5X9 CANADA
+1 (604) 540-0680
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Kwikwetlem First Nation is involved in a number of environmental stewardship and fisheries restoration projects. The Nation works with a number of partners and has been involved with various projects:
The Wilson Farm project, a negotiated highway construction mitigation project funded by the provincial Gateway Transportation Project, has deepened and expanded existing channels for juvenile fish, replaced old tidal pumps with newer and fish friendly pumps, and added cool groundwater to allow fish to survive better. The project was planned with help from experts from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the private sector, and input from the public. It was also designed to have minimal impacts on the old field habitat of Colony Farm Park and its associated wildlife.
The project, located on the “Wilson Farm” portion of Colony Farm Regional Park, has built a vital habitat for juvenile salmon and restored tidal function to a part of a river traditionally ranked high in the Outdoor Recreation Council’s ‘Endangered Rivers List’. “This project went a long ways to addressing a major limiting factor to the production of salmon in the Coquitlam River,” said Dr. Craig Orr, environmental consultant to the Kwikwetlem First Nation. “Urbanization has claimed much of the juvenile salmon habitat in the lower Fraser River area, and this project aimed to restore a large part of that critical habitat.”
Kwikwetlem First Nation supports and participates in the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable, an independent multi-stakeholder group that works to promote and protect the long-term sustainability of the Coquitlam River Watershed. The Roundtable undertakes a variety of projects and activities related to environmental quality monitoring, mitigation and/or restoration, education in the watershed, dialogue around the watershed, and more.
Kwikwetlem First Nation is an ongoing funding sponsor of the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable.
Read an article in the November 2015 issue of Municipal World about the Roundtable: here.
Kwikwetlem First Nation has been involved in a habitat restoration project for small animals in an area of Colony Farm Regional Park known as Sheep Paddocks.
Members of Kwikwetlem First Nation are still involved in habitat conservation and environmental monitoring as an ongoing part of this project.
The Sturgeon Telemetry project was undertaken in partnership with Watershed Watch Salmon Society, LGL Consulting Ltd. and the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society. It involved tagging and telemetry to study the movement of sturgeon and their key habitat. This study indicated the importance of protecting Eulachon as a key food source for the Fraser River Sturgeon.
A detailed study and report was produced by LGL Consulting Ltd. and Terra Remote Sensing to provide Kwikwetlem First Nation and Watershed Watch Salmon Society recommendations on how to proceed with Eulachon protection.
Kwikwetlem First Nation is one of six Lower Fraser First Nations (including Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, Tsawwassen and Tsliel-Waututh) involved in a collaborative venture to mitigate the impacts of highway developments on fisheries in the region. The fund established $2 million to be administered by the partners on projects that would support the enhancement of fish habitat.
The Surrey Bend habitat enhancement project was completed as a joint venture between Matcon and Tsawwassen First Nation. It provided a 3.5km meandering-channel salmon habitat and berms. Internal roads and pathways have also been installed, and the Surrey Bend Regional Park is anticipated to be opened in 2015.
Kwikwetlem First Nation Councillor Ed Hall has been the Nations representative to the First Nations Fisheries Legacy Fund, and can be seen here (second from the right) in a blanketing ceremony from when the fund was established: