A new provincewide initiative will identify and assess water-control infrastructure on conservation lands and other ecologically important areas throughout BC.
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The province is providing $1 million to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) to lead the work. The resulting information will help guide future investments intended to improve habitat, reduce risks and support nearby communities.
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“Healthy ecosystems are critical to protecting fish and wildlife habitat, while supporting the communities and people who enjoy these spaces,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “Conservation lands are part of our natural ecosystem infrastructure. This work will help us better understand the condition of water-control structures so we can make informed decisions, and prioritize future improvements that protect and enhance the environment and recreational opportunities that people in BC rely on.”
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“Healthy ecosystems are critical to protecting fish and wildlife habitat, while supporting the communities and people who enjoy these spaces,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.Photo by Flickr/Province of British Columbia
As part of the initiative, HCTF and its partners will create a shared database documenting infrastructure such as small dams, dikes and other water-control structures. The database will track the condition of the infrastructure and potential safety risks while accounting for the ecological, cultural and community needs associated with each site.
“This funding represents a significant investment in the future of BC’s wetlands, small lakes and critical aquatic habitats,” said Dan Buffett, chief executive officer of HCTF. “By bringing together people, infrastructure and knowledge, HCTF and its partners, including the Province and Ducks Unlimited Canada, will collect the information and create the tools needed to better manage water resources on our conservation lands, inform decision-making and enhance the conservation of freshwater fish, wildlife and their habitats for generations to come.”
Protecting Habitat, Water & Public Access
Conservation lands primarily protect important fish and wildlife habitat, but they also provide opportunities for angling, hunting, wildlife viewing, day hiking, research and Indigenous traditional use.
These areas form part of BC’s natural infrastructure network. Wetlands, floodplains and managed water-storage areas can store water on the landscape, moderate flood peaks, lessen the effects of drought and improve watershed resilience while supporting biodiversity.
The initiative is expected to produce the first co-ordinated inventory and assessment of water-control structures on conservation lands. This will allow the government and its conservation partners to better understand infrastructure needs and determine where future upgrades should be prioritized.
The investment is part of the province’s ongoing work to protect biodiversity and improve climate resilience and ecosystem services throughout BC.Photo by Flickr/Province of British Columbia
No specific improvement projects have been identified yet. The assessments will help determine where future investments could provide the greatest environmental, cultural, recreational and community benefits.
The information will also support evidence-based decisions intended to protect regionally and internationally significant fish and wildlife habitat while continuing to accommodate recreational and cultural uses.
The investment is part of the province’s ongoing work to protect biodiversity and improve climate resilience and ecosystem services throughout BC.
Learn More
Learn more about conservation lands in BC.
Explore the province’s interactive conservation lands map.
Visit the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.