Fish Habitat Restoration

The Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (LFFA) is interested in improving the quality and integrity of fish habitat in the Lower Fraser River and want to work with Lower Fraser First Nations to ensure that this work is done. In 2016, the LFFA received funding from DFO's Fish Habitat Restoration Initiative (FHRI) to support 30 First Nations communities (from mouth of Fraser to Yale) to initiate and conduct fish habitat restoration projects within their territories. Our goal for this project is to protect and re-establish fish populations to a level where First Nations can continue or reinstate fishing, particularly in terminal areas.

Funding Opportunities

Below are some funding opportunities for habitat restoration projects. LFFA is happy to work with interested First Nations community and other groups to develop proposals for habitat restoration projects and provide communities with the support needed to conduct restoration work.

We encourage our member First Nations communities to get in touch with LFFA if they have any desired projects they will like to start and/or desire our technical support in putting together a project proposal. The list below is a "living list" and will continue to be updated as more information is gathered.

Organization	Closing Date	Contact
West Coast Energy/FHRI	Rolling deadline.	Murray Manson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. n/a
Environment and Climate Change Canada ECCC Funding Programs View website »	Check this website for any additional funding opportunities that may be added as funding changes from year to year.	ECCC BC office for general inquiries This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 604-664-9100
Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) View website »	The annual call for proposals for 2017-18 has ended. The next annual call for proposals for 2018-19 will take place in the fall 2017.	HSP Regional Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (604) 350-1989
EcoAction Community Funding Program from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) View website »	Previous Deadline Dec 2016.	British Columbia and Yukon Regional Office This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 1-800-567-1570
Environmental Damages Fund from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) View website »	BC Application Deadline: January 31, 2017.	EDF Regional Office This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 604-664-9093 1-800-667-7779
HCTF Enhancement & Restoration Grants View website »	Deadline: Nov 2nd, 2017, 4:30 PM PST.	Kathryn Martell This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 250-940-9785 Jane Algard This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 250-940-9781

External Engagement

Engaging with External Organizations (Government, NGOs, and Industry) on Fish Habitat Restoration Activities

LFFA works with our member First Nations to engage with non-First Nations organizations about fish habitat restoration. We support our member First Nations by assisting in coordination and communication between interested parties, and we provide technical support in preparing and developing restoration project proposals so that First Nations can contribute to, and be hired as part of, the project works, including post-project mitigation monitoring. LFFA aims to highlight First Nations presence in habitat restoration along the Lower Fraser River and aid in building capacity in the communities to plan and undertake the work. Although non-First Nations groups have been, and still are, active in habitat restoration activities, many have lacked First Nations engagement and thus may have been completed without the incorporation of First Nations values.

As part of our engagement work with First Nations and external organizations, LFFA is collecting information on past, present and potential habitat restoration projects along the Lower Fraser River. Our inventory of these projects will provide a regional perspective on habitat restoration activities and identify gaps where habitat restoration activities may be lacking. LFFA welcomes discussion with any groups to learn about habitat projects they have completed, as well as potential projects they will like to start.

Community Spotlight

Katzie First Nations

Katzie First Nations initiated four key habitat restoration projects in 2016/17 funded by the West Coast Energy/DFO-Fish Habitat Restoration Initiative. As part of the work, Katzie First Nations successfully restored habitat within the Widgeon Slough, as well as conducted preliminary scoping work for habitat restoration projects in Katzie Slough, Red Slough and Fish Hatchery Creek. In addition to their own initiatives, Katzie First Nations also engages with external organizations (i.e. BC Hydro, Watersheds-Watch) on salmon restoration and enhancement activities.

Sumas First Nations

Sumas First Nations launched their habitat restoration program in 2016/17 also funded by the West Coast Energy/DFO-Fish Habitat Restoration Initiative. In addition to hiring their own Fish Habitat Restoration Coordinator, Sumas First Nations have hired and trained an environmental field crew made up of Sumas community members to conduct habitat restoration work. Sumas First Nations conducted various invasive species removal and planting projects this year and will be expanding their work to include habitat assessment and habitat restoration identification within their traditional territories. In addition to habitat restoration projects, Sumas First Nations is also actively considering developing a water quality and flow monitoring program to protect fish and fish habitat.