Salmon Steward

Spring 2021

Salmon Steward is the official publication of the Pacific Salmon Foundation in British Columbia, Canada

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salmon Steward magazine 7 PARTNERING TO RESTORE KEY SALMON HABITAT T he Pacific Salmon Foundation ended 2020 strong with 170 grassroots salmon projects in 65 communities funded through Community Salmon Program grants of almost $1.9 million. With added leveraging of volunteer time and in-kind donations, the total value for salmon and communities was more than $17 million. These funds supported thousands of volunteers working to restore salmon habitat in streams, rivers and estuaries; to operate conservation hatcheries and related enhancement programs; and to facilitate community education and engagement for salmon. The Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (LFFA) and the Katzie First Nation received a grant for $100,000 to restore habitat at Corbold Creek in the Upper Pitt River Watershed. Rick Bailey manages fish and wildlife, aboriginal title and rights, treaty negotiations and justice for the Katzie First Nation. "Sockeye are a key food source for the Katzie," he says. "But for the last two years, there haven't been a harvestable amount. 2018 was the last bumper year and right now we are living off of what we managed to can from that year, but the situation is pretty dire. Corbold Creek is a really important Sockeye creek." Roughly 7,100 square metres of habitat will be added for spawning Sockeye; and spawning Chinook and Chum will benefit as well. The project will furthermore add 85,000 square metres of habitat for growing Coho, which have also experienced declines. Adds Bailey: "We know if we give them a good home to return to, they will. One creek we worked on was so dry it looked like a gravel road. So we did the work needed to replenish the creek and Coho were returning that fall to spawn. It was beautiful." One less tangible, but crucial upshot of the project will be the strengthening of partnerships between local indigenous groups, the DFO Resource Restoration Unit and Salmonid Enhancement Program, the Pitt River Lodge, and other local stakeholders all working together for these salmon. "What local streamkeepers and the First Nations groups do is a vital component in managing the ecosystem," says Ian Hamilton, biologist for the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, "and the best way to do this is to look to keystone species in an ecosystem, in this case salmon. The Community Salmon Program helps support the core mandates of the LFFA, which is to assist First Nations communities in managing local resources and executing vital projects in the area." n Proceeds from sales of the Salmon Conservation Stamp form the backbone of community grants. But travel restrictions preventing fishing tourists from visiting the province will mean a shortfall of about $300,000 this year. Donate at psf.ca today to support volunteers in your community. Every $1 donated is actually $7 through community leveraging! COMMUNITY SALMON PROGRAM CURIOUS ABOUT UPCOMING PROJECTS in your community? Scan here for a full list of initiatives funded for Spring 2021. Ian Hamilton (far left) and Benny-Jean Cytrynbaum (centre) of the Lower Fraser Fish- eries Alliance prepare to set seine nets to trap fish for assessments, alongside Mike Leon, a technician with Pearson Ecological. THANK YOU!

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