Salmon Recovery Initiatives by the Squamish Nation

The Past, Present and Future

Presentation by:

Randall Lewis

Squamish Nation

Bettina Sander

Golder Associates Ltd.

Acknowledgements:

Melissa Evanson

Katerina Kwon

The Past, Present and Future

Squamish River Watershed

Largest watershed within the Strait of Georgia

Squamish River drains into Howe Sound

Supports significant aquatic species:

Fish – Pacific salmon, trout, euchalon

Marine mammals – seals, river otters

Waterfowl – Great blue heron, sandpipers

The Past – Previous Initiatives

Historical Land Use Poor forestry practices and land

use planning resulted in: Increase urban runoff Changes to channel morphology Loss of tributary habitat Degradation of habitat quality

Habitat restoration initiatives started in the 1970’s in Chief Jimmy Jimmy Slough

Controlled by DFO MOE and MOF worked

independently on habitat restoration initiatives

The Past

Squamish Nation Historical Ties to Salmon

Food, Social and Ceremonial ‘Commercial’ (trading) purposes Culture

tradition of returning salmon bones to the river to ensure that the salmon will return

Environment Salmon are key in supporting entire

ecosystem function• Nutrient inputs • Food source - eagles, bears, etc.

The Past

Historical Fisheries Management

Pre-settlement (Before Contact) traditional territory fully functional with Mother Nature Avoided over-fishing, resulting in ample resource

availability for generations to come

“We took what we needed.”

Post-settlement (Post Contact) Squamish Nation territory changed forever at the

expense of Mother Nature Colonization prosperity changed the ecology, resulting

in species going extinct

Late 1880’s Squamish Nation fisheries restricted by DFO Resulted in a very poor relationship based on lack of

trust and common objectives

The Present

Squamish Nation Community Values Protect land and natural resources for future

generations Achieved through:

Habitat restoration programs Sustainable fisheries management Stock enhancement initiatives Salmon population recovery Building community awareness around

Squamish Nation fisheries through the mandate of Council.

Key to Achieving these Objectives is through Partnerships at all Levels

The Present

Squamish Nation Partnerships

Squamish Nation was instrumental in initiating the partnership process and getting people to work towards a common goal

Government – DFO, CN RailProvincial – BC MoE, BC HydroMunicipal – District of SquamishCommunity – Squamish River Watershed

Society, local StreamkeepersIndustry – Ledcor on Ashlu Creek IPP

(habitat restoration on Ashlu Creek), partnerships with local developers

The Present – Recent Partnership Initiatives

Squamish Nation/DFO Annual Salmon Enumeration Program (1996-present)

Partnership with DFO, Golder

Compendium of the Status of Coho in the Squamish River Watershed (2004)

Partnership with DFO, Golder

The Present – Recent Initiatives

BC Hydro Water Use Plan (2004)

Partnership with BC Hydro

Squamish River Watershed Salmon Recovery Plan (2005)

Partnership with Pacific

Salmon Foundation,

Squamish River Watershed Society, BC MoE, DFO,

stakeholders, Golder

The Present – Recent Initiatives

Salmon Assessment Framework for the Squamish River Watershed (2006)

Partnership with DFO, Pacific

Salmon Foundation, Golder

Synthesis of 11 Years of Salmon Spawner Enumeration Data in the Squamish River Watershed (2007)

Partnership with CN Rail,

DFO, Golder

The Future

Squamish Nation Fisheries Prospective Goals

Continue to protect the land and resources for future generations

Habitat restoration Sustainable fisheries

management Stock enhancement Pacific salmon recovery

programs Continue to develop long-term,

sustainable partnerships to be carried into future generations

The Future

Squamish Nation Fisheries Prospective Goals

Address knowledge gaps regarding watershed processes

e.g. climate change? Identify Squamish Nation as

leaders in the community Government works with

limited resources Community and

partnerships need to step up to the plate and collaboratively work to protect natural resources

The Past, Present and Future

“If we fail, we fail our children.” - Randall Lewis