Community Advisor - Upper Skeena

"It is my pleasure to continue on with the initiatives developed in the Upper Skeena region. The 'Stream to Sea' program continues to thrive and community groups continue to do their part in conserving and enhancing salmon and their habitat. The Ft. Babine CEDP launched a pilot natural resource interpretive centre this season and stream survey crews continue to monitor fish habitat in the Babine watershed. The Chicago Creek Environmental Enhancement Society is operating the Mission Creek Counting Fence, the trap and transport program of Mission Creek Coho salmon and stewardship activities in the Hazelton Area. Our involvement in the east portion of the watershed continues with environmental groups in the Houston Area."

– Natalie Newman, A/CA

Community Involvement Groups

Chicago Creek Environmental Enhancement Society

Gladys Lemky
PO Box 26, South Hazelton V0J 2R0
250-842-5164
glemky (at) yahoo.com
Number of Members/Students - 30
Initiated 1993. Hatchery and Streamkeepers on Waterfalls Station and Mission Creeks.

Cindy Verbeek

Cindy Verbeek
250-845-2222
ckeeper (at) telus.net
20 groups
Initiated 2006. Partnership with other environmental groups regarding Earth Day display in Houston, BC.

Community Futures Development Corporation of Nadina

Jerry Botti, General Manager
2430 Butler Ave., Unit A, Box 236, Houston V0J 1Z0
250-845-2522
jerry.botti (at) cfdcnadina.ca
8 groups, Smithers to Haida Gwaii
Initiated in 2007. Groups have worked to fund a Watershed Roundtable Coordinator for northwestern BC.

Community Futures Development Corporation of Nadina

Jerry Botti, General Manager
2430 Butler Ave., Unit A, Box 236, Houston V0J 1Z0
250-845-2522
jerry.botti (at) cfdcnadina.ca
Number of Members/Students/Groups - 4 – 10
Initiated in 2006. Stakeholders work on small habitat rehabilitation projects to stabilize streambanks, enhance rearing habitat and access to streams.

Fort Babine CEDP Hatchery

Tony Michel
PO Box 1075, Smithers V0J 2N0
250-692-7029
Number of Members/Students - 2 FT, 3 PT
Initiated 1984/1985. First Nations operated CEDP facility. Exclusively Babine River chinook. Staff also hold a BC Rivers Day celebration and assist with the Ft. Babine school salmon program. Hatchery being improved.

McKinnon Creek Rehabilitation Project

Lana Miller, Resource Restoration Div.
PO Box 578, Smithers V0J 2N0
250-847-4892
Number of Members/Students - 5
Initiated 2004. Partnership between CIP, RRD, MOT and local landowners. Enhancement of culvert pools as juvenile salmonid over-wintering habitat.

Ministry of Environment

Anne Hetherington
Bag 5000, Smithers V0J 2N0
anne.hetherington (at) gov.bc.ca
Initiated in 2007. Environmental groups, federal and provincial agencies work together to create maps to identify sensitive terrestrial and aquatic habitats for use by Subdivision and other groups.

Mission Creek Focus Group

Greig Houlden, Gladys Lemky
PO Box 152, South Hazelton V0J 2R0
250-842-5164
glemky (at) yahoo.com
Number of Members/Students - 10
Initiated in 2003. Partnership between Chicago Creek Society, DFO, District of New Hazelton, CN Rail, MOT and other community stakeholders to protect Mission Creek watershed.

Education Activity

School District 54

12 School Incubators
70 classroom sessions
15 dissections
420 students

School District 91

4 School Incubators
20 classroom sessions
4 dissections
120 students

School District 88

4 School Incubators
20 classroom sessions
4 dissections
120 students