Chilliwack River Off-Channel Habitat


Year 2006
Proponent Fraser Valley Regional Watersheds Coalition
Project type Habitat
FSWP funding source Living Rivers
Grant amount $29,000
Total project value $159,100
Other project funders

Pacific Salmon Commission
BC Ministry of Transportation
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Pacific Salmon Foundation’s Community Salmon Program
Fraser Valley Regional District
Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve Society
Habitat Conservation Trust Fund
City of Chilliwack
ID number 2006 LR H 17

Location: Fraser Valley, Chilliwack River

Project Summary

The Fraser Valley Regional Watersheds Coalition created two new off-channel habitat sites for salmon along the Chilliwack-Vedder River in 2006. Land development of the Lower Fraser Valley has resulted in the loss of many deep side channel ponds that provided rearing habitat for juvenile coho. While the projects were designed primarily to provide habitat for juvenile coho salmon, other wildlife and fish species, especially the endangered Salish sucker, will benefit. The first habitat site involved the development of groundwater ponds and spawning channels connected to Pierce Creek, a tributary to the Chilliwack River. The second habitat site is located adjacent to the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve and connects to Salwein Creek. A number of deep ponds were developed on land that had been used as a pasture. The Fraser Valley Regional Watersheds Coalition and the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve Society plan for further riparian planting at this site in the next year or two as funds and labour become available. Interpretive signage has been installed and a path connecting the site to existing trails in the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve was roughed in.

Before - Creation of Coho Rearing Ponds in Chilliwack


Final Results

The project created a new off channel habitat at 2 sites along the Chilliwack-Vedder River. On the first site, 7000M2 of new pond habitat was developed and connected to SalweinCreek, riparian vegetation was planted along the pond edges by volunteers, interpretive signaga was installed and a path connecting the site to an exsisting trail netwoek at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve was roughed in. The larger project involved the development of a series of groundwater ponds and spawning channels connected to Pierce Creek.