Habitat Restoration
In partnership with local First Nations, government, ENGOs, and multiple partners from other sectors, the UFFCA is using bioengineering techniques to repair and restore sensitive riparian areas along the Chilako River, Blackwater River, and McMillan Creek to improve and increase available fish habitat.
The Chilako River, Backwater River, and McMillan Creek are ecologically and culturally important waterways due to their historic salmon runs, but agriculture and forestry impacts since the 1920s have led to significant bank erosion, silt and sedimentation, and degradation of critical salmon spawning and rearing habitat. Since 2016, the UFFCA and the Nechako Environment and Water Stewardship Society (NEWSS) have been working with local First Nations, government, and numerous other partners to repair and restore these critical salmon habitat areas.
Our habitat restoration work has been conducted the past several years with field technicians from the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. In its earlier years we’ve also worked with technicians from the Tl’azt’en, Saikuz, and Takla Nations and the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council. Our crew is using innovative bioengineering techniques including riparian planting, bank stabilization, strategically reconnecting fence lines previously lost to erosion, and placing large woody debris structures along delicate river banks. We’re now seeing the benefits of this work through increased vegetative cover, reduced sedimentation, and cleaner gravel for spawning beds in critical salmon spawning areas. We’re also working directly with land owners to promote sustainable agriculture practices and help sustain delicate riparian ecosystems to protect and improve fish habitat.
The UFFCA hopes to expand our work and research into other systems in the Upper Fraser region that may benefit from habitat restoration in the future.
Mike Frederick and Conrad Fredrick from Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and Darren Raphael from CSTC placing large woody debris structures on the Chilako River.
Darren Raphael and Aaron Raphael from CSTC planting willow stakes on the bank of the Chilako River.
The crew working on Chilako River bank stabilization.
Biologist Pete Nicklin working with willow stakes on the Blackwater River.
The crew working on the Chilako River.
The crew installing a sign with information about the UFFCA’s habitat restoration project on the Blackwater River.