Habitat restoration

Restoring fish habitat is critical to the survival of wild salmon stocks. Our habitat restoration work aims to repair or rehabilitate salmon habitat at the local stream and watershed level.

Habitat Restoration Centre of Expertise

Our Habitat Restoration Centre of Expertise (COE) supports Pacific salmon conservation and recovery by developing and implementing a strategy to:

• build and maintain strong partnerships to advance salmon habitat restoration goals
• promote, support and implement restoration work in priority areas
• develop and implement monitoring and research to ensure restoration activities are innovative, effective and based on science
• share science advancements, emerging practices, and lessons learned of habitat restoration through knowledge exchange activities to advance a more consistent use of techniques and tools

COE teams are made up of scientists, engineers, technicians and analysts. They work with partners on projects from conception through completion to help:

• guide salmon habitat restoration to priority places
• maximize the benefits for salmon while reducing time and cost
• standardize project implementation
• share knowledge on research and best practices including the consideration of Indigenous knowledge
• support effective funding decisions and the use of resources from programs like the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF)

Our teams of biologists, engineers, technicians and community advisors work collaboratively with:

• Indigenous communities
• community stewardship groups
• non-government organizations
• stakeholders
• other government agencies

Our habitat restoration work includes activities that:

• build and reconnect side-channels
• improve water flows
• stabilize stream banks
• rebuild estuary marshes
• remove barriers to fish migration
• restore streamside vegetation

Our teams also provide technical assistance to advance solutions at a local and regional level for salmon recovery, conservation and stewardship.

Related links

• Habitat restoration - Knowledge exchange workshops