Funds Announced for Local Fish and Wildlife Projects

LILLOOET – Eight conservation projects in the Bridge and Seton river watersheds are being given close to $370,000 of funding through the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP). First Nations, community groups and others will use the money to study salmon, bats, fishers, wolverines, Mule Deer, endangered Whitebark Pine trees, invasive weeds and conservation planning.

The Lillooet Tribal Council will deliver a project aimed at Sockeye and Coho Salmon, and at the same time build capacity of N’Quat’qua fisheries technicians to manage stocks. The Cayoose Creek Indian Band will lead the Seton River Corridor project, while community groups, agencies and consultants will deliver the remaining projects.

The projects start this spring and will conclude by early 2015. They are among 31 fish and wildlife projects approved for more than $1.7 million in funding this year in the FWCP’s Coastal region, which includes the Southern Interior’s Bridge and Seton rivers.

QUOTES:

Jackie Tegart, MLA for Fraser Nicola
“This funding develops capacity within communities and builds strong partnerships with First Nations to help ensure we all work together to conserve the ecological functioning of the Bridge and Seton watersheds for future generations.”

Brian Assu, Chair, FWCP – Coastal Regional Board
“The projects approved for funding are diverse and include efforts to conserve endangered Whitebark Pine trees and create manmade dens for fishers. We are fortunate to have strong working partnerships with First Nations and others who continually work to develop proposals that will make a real difference in these watersheds.”

Patrice Rother, Manager, Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program
“We are pleased with the strong interest in the FWCP and the quality of project proposals that support the FWCP vision of thriving populations in watersheds that are functioning and sustainable.”

A few facts about the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program

• The Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program funds conservation and enhancement projects in the Coastal, Columbia River and Peace River regions. The Coastal Region includes Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Southern Interior.
• In 2014, the FWCP will provide more than $7 million towards more than 80 fish and wildlife projects province-wide in its Coastal, Columbia and Peace regions.
• FWCP funds are provided by BC Hydro and managed in a partnership with the Province of British Columbia, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and the public to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by the creation of BC Hydro dams.
• Funding applications are received each fall and reviewed annually in the Coastal Region by technical committees and FWCP Coastal Board members. Projects are chosen based on technical merit, linkages to watershed-specific priorities, cost-effectiveness, level of partnership, and overall benefit to the FWCP’s mandate and vision.
• For a full list and descriptions of all 2014 projects funded by the FWCP across the province, and information on how you can apply for funding next year, visit fwcp.ca.

Contact:
Angus Glass
FWCP Communications Coordinator
Phone: 250-352-1300
Angus.glass@bchydro.com