cohochinook
Well-Known Member
Are you familiar with the area known as the Heart of the Fraser? It's the stretch of the Fraser River between Mission and Hope, and is critical to the survival of Fraser River salmon and sturgeon. Its gravel reaches are prime spawning habitat for salmon and the endangered white sturgeon, and it serves as a nursery for billions of baby salmon every year.
Today, two large islands in the Heart of the Fraser are in grave danger. Herrling and Carey Islands not only provide a large amount of vital fish habitat but are an important area for fishing and outdoor recreation. Developers want to turn this prime salmon and sturgeon habitat into subdivisions and industrial farmland.
The developers have applied to build bridges to these islands which, if approved, would clear the way for large scale destruction of the islands’ wetlands and side channels that provide important fish habitat. Developing these islands will also remove them from the floodplain, likely increasing flood risk in the surrounding communities.
Click on the link below to voice your concerns:
www.heartofthefraser.ca
The main thing we need people to do is call their MLA or Minister Donaldson’s office to demand that the bridge permits not be approved. The main issue isn’t with the direct impact of the bridges themselves, but what the bridges would enable: diking, draining, ditching, and shoreline hardening that would completely ruin these islands as fish habitat and mess up the surrounding spawning and rearing habitats for salmon and sturgeon by altering the natural processes. With 90% of these types of habitats in the lower Fraser already lost, we have to hold the line and not let any more get wrecked!
It seems insane that the Province and Feds would allow this destruction to occur while claiming to be taking serious action to rebuild Fraser chinook and SR killer whales.
BCWF is trying to purchase the islands for conservation but if the bridges get approved the price will skyrocket.
Today, two large islands in the Heart of the Fraser are in grave danger. Herrling and Carey Islands not only provide a large amount of vital fish habitat but are an important area for fishing and outdoor recreation. Developers want to turn this prime salmon and sturgeon habitat into subdivisions and industrial farmland.
The developers have applied to build bridges to these islands which, if approved, would clear the way for large scale destruction of the islands’ wetlands and side channels that provide important fish habitat. Developing these islands will also remove them from the floodplain, likely increasing flood risk in the surrounding communities.
Click on the link below to voice your concerns:
www.heartofthefraser.ca
The main thing we need people to do is call their MLA or Minister Donaldson’s office to demand that the bridge permits not be approved. The main issue isn’t with the direct impact of the bridges themselves, but what the bridges would enable: diking, draining, ditching, and shoreline hardening that would completely ruin these islands as fish habitat and mess up the surrounding spawning and rearing habitats for salmon and sturgeon by altering the natural processes. With 90% of these types of habitats in the lower Fraser already lost, we have to hold the line and not let any more get wrecked!
It seems insane that the Province and Feds would allow this destruction to occur while claiming to be taking serious action to rebuild Fraser chinook and SR killer whales.
BCWF is trying to purchase the islands for conservation but if the bridges get approved the price will skyrocket.