Ranging from local stewardship initiatives - to leading edge dam decommissioning and river restoration projects- to international river conservation projects spanning several continents, the FWR program is widely renowned and has developed an
international reputation. The establishment of an affiliated Center of Excellence will now enable the program to more fully pursue and monitor its many projects, while pursuing new opportunities to replicate many of these initiatives.

The Center will also play an important applied research role, working closely with BCIT's Technology Center, and providing an array of applied research opportunities for students and staff. These will become increasingly important as BCIT develops additional environment-related, degree offerings.

And last but not least, the Center's activities will continue to include an array of public education and awareness initiatives focusing on the importance of BC's water resources and the need to properly care for them. Past projects such as the Watershed Pledge Program, River Recovery, Rivers Day festivities and the Burnaby Lake System Project have been well received and have done much to engage local residents, schools and community organizations in stewardship-related activities.

Burnaby Lake System Project

The Burnaby Lake System Project (BLSP) is an initiative of the Fish, Wildlife & Recreation (FWR) Program. The project was initiated in 1993 to protect, inventory, monitor and enhance the natural resources of the Brunette River Watershed. The BLSP initiates and supports a variety of community projects including riparian planting, fish and wildlife inventories, stream and terrestrial habitat mapping, monitoring and invasive species control programs, education and awareness programs and local community events. 

The BLSP provides opportunities for project staff, BCIT students and volunteers to contribute to the community and gain valuable “hands-on” experience. The BLSP is supported by a community partnership that includes BCIT, the City of Burnaby, GVRD, Ministry of Water, Air and Land Protection, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, community organizations, stewardship groups and local business.

The projects listed below are initiatives of the Burnaby Lake System Project.  Links currently exist for the Watershed Pledge Program and the Fish Distribution Studies in the Brunette Basin   

The Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Program has actively participated in a wide range of projects over the years.  

Recent projects are listed below and many projects have an associated web page or report.  Click on the icons below to follow links to project website. 

The FWR program works with various partner groups and individuals on conservation and awareness initiatives.  Students and staff all benefit from these projects as the experience, contacts and context for course material and study is provided in these projects and their respective issues and processes.  

Riverworld 

Riverworld (http://riverworld.bcit.ca) is a new website that focuses on international river conservation issues. It contains a series of interesting essays and beautiful photographs. In addition, Mark Angelo, FWR Program Head and noted river advocate, will be taking viewers on a "virtual tour" down many of the world's great rivers. Our first trip will be to the Eg River in Mongolia followed by a journey down the Mekong in Southeast Asia. A major goal of the Riverworld site is to create a greater awareness of the threats that confront our waterways in the hope that we can learn from these examples.

In 2002, Danny embarked on a 6 month journey through regions of Asia, Africa & Europe.  His journey, Catt Trax, was an initiative to raise awareness of global sustainability issues and how one can use modern technology to communicate and raise awareness of the issues that we all face, whether we are in Canada or the heart of Africa.

Scott Lake Northern Pike study

Click here to read the study on Northern Pike in North Saskatchewan.

Theodosia River Project

In February 2000, the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (now Ministry of Sustainable Resources and Ministry of Water, Air and Land Protection) signed an agreement to begin an expedited planning process to develop an adaptive water management plan for the Theodosia River.  

The purpose of the plan is to modify water flows (a portion of flow is diverted from the river to Powell Lake  for hydro-power) to achieve a more natural hydrograph, improve fish habitat and to determine and manage any associated impacts.

The FWR program has been actively involved in the process.  Faculty and staff sit on the consultative and technical committees and conducted a major biophysical inventory of the lower river using Global Positioning System and Geographic Information Systems.  The resulting data provides a baseline that will allow scientists and managers to assess and monitor changes in the river and habitat characteristics as flow is increased below the diversion structure.

River Recovery

The River Recovery Project is an initiative of the Outdoor Recreation Council.  The FWR program worked with the project coordinator to evaluate dams in BC and identify dam candidates that could be removed or modified to improve fish access upstream and habitat downstream.   Twelve candidate dams were selected and 6 dams were identified as 'primary candidates' for removal or modification.  

For more information, click on the icon to the left to visit the project website at www.recovery.bcit.ca.