Leading aquatic habitat monitoring in the Upper Fraser
In the streams and lakes of the Upper Fraser, an aquatic habitat monitoring program is taking place. The Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance (UFFCA) is a First Nation organization that supports the advancement of Upper Fraser First Nations collective interests related to fish, habitat, and fisheries. Collaboratively, with partnering First Nations, they developed and continue to manage a network of 29 flow gauging and water quality stations. They also support other Indigenous organizations with an additional 20 stations.
The monitoring program is led by two First Nations women, the Aunties of the Streams. Ashley Raphael and Rebecca Broadbent, Project Coordinators with UFFCA are supporting and mentoring partnering First Nation communities to participate in data collection at sites on their traditional territory which includes streamflow, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and specific conductance.
“Every time I turn around, it’s like there’s another Nation saying, we need to get into your program, and we want stations on our territories. If we could keep expanding that would be great.”
– Rebecca Broadbent, Project Coordinator, UFFCA (Aunties of the Streams)
Watch Aunties of the Streams to learn more about UFFCA’s Aquatic Habitat Monitoring project.
The first stations were built in 2015. Prior to this, most of the information available to decision makers on aquatic habitat in the area was focused on larger streams and rivers. The smaller streams and tributaries were mostly overlooked, which impacted decisions being made for salmon, aquatic habitat, and landscape management. The impacts of climate change and landscape alterations are more immediate and severe on these smaller systems in comparison to larger bodies of water.
Small streams are critical to watershed health.
- They are the primary source of water, nutrients, and sediment for larger downstream rivers
- They provide critical spawning, incubating, and rearing habitat for salmon
- They support unique, diverse ecosystems
- They provide habitat for aquatic invertebrates, insects, fish, amphibians, and salamanders
The data collected from the 29 monitoring stations, including the real time water temperature and streamflow data, is shared directly with Fisheries Managers and Natural Resource Managers at 18 Nations via an online portal with dashboards set up for each stream. The dashboards show both current conditions and long-term trends. This data is also shared with crown government and academic partners for project-specific purposes and trends are discussed with all of the Upper Fraser First Nations during regular UFFCA technical meetings.
“A really big part of what we wanted was independence for these Nations. The thing I am most proud of is the Indigenous Sovereignty. I like it when our people are the ones that come to the table with the numbers and the facts. They have all the information that they need.”
– Ashley Raphael, Project Coordinator, UFFCA (Confluence – Indigenous Collaboration in Watersheds)
The Aunties of the Streams, Ashley Raphael and Rebecca Broadbent (in left photo), support and mentor partnering First Nation communities to participate in data collection on their traditional territory. Photos provided by UFFCA.
The data from these stations is integral in numerous watershed management and salmon recovery planning processes. The program centers First Nations leadership in water governance and management and provides timely high-quality data – all of which is critical in providing proactive decision making on water and responding to climate change and other impacts on fish, habitat, and overall watershed health.
“The health of the river and the salmon populations go hand in hand with the strength of our communities. We are salmon people, we just live off of it.” (Aunties of the Streams)
Indigenous Collaboration in Watersheds
The Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) has partnered with UFFCA and the Aunties of the Stream to provide training and data management to support TNG’s aquatic habitat monitoring program in the Chilko/Chilcotin watershed. This program is complimentary and follows the same standards as UFFCA’s program. TNG’s data sovereignty is supported by the use of industry standard data management and dissemination software Aquarius, made available through a license that was awarded to the UFFCA on behalf of Upper Fraser First Nations.
“It’s interesting the way people talk. It’s how are they going to utilize the land, whereas within our group it is how we are going to help the land in order to get help back.”
– Paul Grinder, Compliance and Enforcement Coordinator, TNG (Confluence: Indigenous Collaboration in Watersheds)
Watch Confluence | Indigenous Collaboration in Watersheds to learn more about TNG’s water quality and quantity monitoring program and their partnership with UFFCA.
The water quality and quantity monitoring program was identified by Tŝilhqot’in leadership as a priority and is focused on three systems with critical salmon nursery areas: the Tŝilhqox (Chilko), Dasiqox (Taseko), and Cheẑqox (Chilcotin) river systems. The site locations complement existing stations operated by crown government agencies and contribute to more comprehensive water monitoring in the region.
“We are raised to think seven generations ahead, having the same resources, whether it may be environmental or water or fish. We think about seven generations ahead and that is your grandchildren’s grandchildren.”
– Jimmy Harry, Ranger, TNG (Confluence: Indigenous Collaboration in Watersheds)
From site selection to field work, to data ownership and management, the water quality and quantity program is designed and led by and for the Tŝilhqot’in Nation and member communities, not just for this generation, but for the generations to come.
“I love being a part of something that is bigger than myself. It’s not just me out here working. It’s tons of people trying to make sure the salmon come back for the future.”
– Ashley Raphael, Project Coordinator, UFFCA (Aunties of the Streams).