To help the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) define its priorities for fish and wildlife impacted by the Clowhom Dam, an online discussion is set for Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m.
“We’re starting a discussion … that will help determine what conservation and enhancement projects are within our mandate for the Clowhom River watershed for the next five years,” said Julie Fournier, manager of the FWCP’s Coastal Region.
The Clowhom Dam forms Clowhom Lake, a reservoir in the Sechelt Inlet basin, located on the Clowhom River at the upper end of Salmon Inlet. The dam was built in 1953 to provide power to the pulp mill at Port Mellon.
In 2016-17 the FWCP’s Coastal Region Board approved more than $1.9 million for 41 fish and wildlife projects underway across the province. In the Clowhom River watershed, the FWCP is currently funding a multi-year wildlife project to assess and map wetlands and undertake comprehensive surveys of species-at-risk and their habitats, with an emphasis on northern goshawks, bats and Roosevelt elk, the largest elk in B.C. and a priority species in this watershed.
“Our updated action plans will help determine the types of projects we fund and the species we focus on,” Fournier said.
The online session is a chance to review and discuss potential conservation priorities, as well as research and hands-on projects for the watershed. Draft priorities and projects are online for review at fwcp.ca.
A draft action plan for the watershed will be developed following the Feb. 21 discussion and it will be available for public comment in the spring.
Confirm your attendance at the online discussion by Feb. 17 via email to [email protected]. You will need a phone and an internet connection.
The FWCP is a partnership between BC Hydro, the province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and public stakeholders to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by BC Hydro dams. Learn more at fwcp.ca
