While many energy projects haven't been "green" in the past, that could change with the assistance of BC Hydro and a local non-profit organization, Top Environmental Network United Kinship (TENUK).
The fish and wildlife compensation program (FWCP), established in 1995, is run by BC Hydro, the B.C. Ministry of Environment, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The program offers funding for research, habitat restoration or land conservation in watersheds impacted by construction of BC Hydro facilities.
On a yearly basis, the FWCP sets aside funding for both large- and small-scale projects. Recently, Hydro officials were in Sechelt to do some outreach work and discuss the Clowhom watershed as a funding contender.
Scott Allen, FWCP program manager, said the meeting in Sechelt created an awareness in the community about the program.
TENUK was in attendance, alongside other interested and concerned citizens.
Quinn Barabash, TENUK'S founder and chairperson, said the meeting included talk of the state of the ecosystem and what could be done to restore it to a healthy state. TENUK hopes that by building a fish ladder or side channel, salmon can be successfully re-introduced to the Clowhom watershed. Receiving funding from the FWCP would enable this project.
"The first step [in the application for funding] is to pool everyone, get all the interest groups together, then go at the project as a core collective rather than a single entity," Barabash said.
While TENUK plans to spearhead the application, they are clear on the importance of working with other groups and organizations to collect data they will need.
TENUK vice president Gary Fenwick said further fieldwork would need to be done, including a marine nutrients study to prove salmon previously existed in the lake. He also addressed the questions of the project's feasibility: "Even if we did bring back a run, what is the health of this lake? Can we actually have a run in there? This is something we have to think about," he said.
Gathering all the necessary information will be no easy task, but TENUK is positive about the project and doing what it takes to apply for funding. The organization is passionate about re-introducing salmon to the Clowhom watershed, and participating in other local environmental restoration projects.
"Everything is connected," said Barabash. "What's been done in the past, we can't change that, but we can use the present to shape our desired future. Our communities need to come together in an effort to restore the health of our west coastal eco-system. A happy, healthy environment equals happy, healthy people.
"Even if we don't get the funding, we're still going to do what we can."
