Development threatens the Heart of the Fraser
A precious stretch of the river between Mission and Hope, the Heart of the Fraser provides prime spawning habitat for salmon and white sturgeon and serves as a nursery for millions of baby salmon every year.
The Heart of the Fraser is under threat from agricultural and urban development and is subject to heavy use by recreational vehicles that destroys fish habitat.
Development threatens the Heart of the Fraser
A precious stretch of the river between Mission and Hope, the Heart of the Fraser provides prime spawning habitat for salmon and white sturgeon and serves as a nursery for millions of baby salmon every year.
The Heart of the Fraser is under threat from agricultural and urban development and is subject to heavy use by recreational vehicles that destroys fish habitat.
Defend the Heart of the Fraser
Sign the pledge to Defend the Heart of the Fraser
With your support this precious stretch of the river between Mission and Hope has narrowly avoided the threat of development but degradation continues. In 2019 we were successful in ensuring the permits for bridges to Herrling Island were denied. As part of his decision, the Provincial decision maker cited a rejection of the project by eleven Stó:lō communities as the main reason for rejecting the proposal. He also said the project was not in the public interest . If approved it would have led to the ditching, draining and diking of these islands, removing them from the Fraser floodplain forever. Unfortunately, trees have continued to be cleared on Herrling as the owners continue to prepare the islands for development. Due to public pressure the owners of Carey Island dropped their application.In early 2021 incredibly disturbing footage was released of recreation vehicles storming through Gill Bar in their trucks ripping up the river bed and destroying salmon and endangered sturgeon spawning habitats.
This region provides prime spawning habitat for salmon and white sturgeon and serves as a nursery for millions of baby salmon every year. The in-river islands and side channels provide a large amount of vital fish habitat and are an important area for responsible fishing and outdoor recreation.
Lack of action to protect this region is still a huge concern.
There is now a major effort by BC’s conservation community in partnership with local First Nations to secure, protect and restore this stretch of river. Stand with us to protect the Heart of the Fraser.
Two actions are needed:
- Work with lower Fraser Indigenous communities to protect the Heart of the Fraser
- Push all levels of government to consider this region for protection
The future of the Fraser as one of the world’s great salmon rivers depends on its success.