A large area of salmon habitat impacted by the Ruskin dam upgrades on the lower Stave River will be be restored.
Channels extending off the main river will be created of help young coho, chum and Chinook salmon grow, and several spawning channels that were cut off from the main river will also be re-connected.
“This is a great project because the Stave River was naturally inhabited by all Pacific salmon species, but changes to the river due to dam construction and diking have reduced habitat for salmon to spawn and for their offspring to grow and survive,” said Dr. Brian Riddell, president and CEO, Pacific Salmon Foundation, who along with the Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition and the federal government are partnering to spend $132,108 on the project.
The Stave Valley Enhancement Society, B.C.Hydro, Kwantlen First Nation and the provincial government are also supporting the project.
“Recreational fishing is a popular leisure activity in our communities that not only brings family and friends together, but also contributes to our economy by attracting tourists and creating jobs,” said MP Kamp. “By partnering with our local groups who work on the ground to conserve fish habitat, the Government of Canada helps promote investments in recreational fisheries habitat restoration in our province, for the benefit of our communities in years to come.”
The federal government is providing $55,000 from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnership Program for the project. The first round of government grants will help 104 projects in Canada to restore, rebuild and rehabilitate recreational fisheries habitat at a cost of $6.5 million.