Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | Chilliwack River Watershed Strategy. 2009. Watershed Issues and Recommendations. Chilliwack River Watershed Strategy. |
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| Organization | Chilliwack River Watershed Strategy |
| URL | http://www.chilliwackwatershedstrategy.ca/docs/CRWS_Report_0709.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | Nestled in the spectacular Cascade Mountains and draining into the mighty Fraser River, the Chilliwack River watershed represents more than fish and wildlife, more than a recreation destination, more than a source of important resources and revenue, and more than a place people have called home for thousands of years – it represents a unique opportunity to find a balance between all of these values before one or more of them disappear. This is the motivating goal of the Chilliwack River Watershed Strategy (CRWS). CRWS originated in 2003 as a pilot for the Watershed-based Fish Sustainability Planning (WFSP) process, a framework developed jointly by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Province of BC. Through a partnership between DFO, the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD), the Fraser Valley Regional Watersheds Coalition (FVRWC), and the Fraser Basin Council (FBC), a planning process was initiated “to provide a common understanding of watershed values, based on sound science and local knowledge, to assist in decision making that will promote and improve the sustainability of the Chilliwack River watershed.” A multi-stakeholder Project Team was formed with participation from all levels of government, First Nations, and non-profit and community organizations to discuss the various values and watershed issues present in the Chilliwack River system. Through consensus, the Project Team derived the analysis and the recommendations presented in this report. These recommendations are explained in full within each Issues and Alternatives Report, and are summarized in Section 5 of this report. Although originally focused on fish and fisheries, the scope of CRWS expanded because of the interconnectedness of all activities in a watershed and the need to balance all values in order to achieve sustainability. CRWS came to include forestry, mining, development, illegal dumping, river hazards, and other issues and concerns raised through public outreach activities conducted as part of the planning process. For each issue, finding the appropriate balance between the different values present in the watershed became the challenge facing the Project Team. Achieving this balance is the key to longterm health and sustainability for this special place. In addition to this document, the Chilliwack River Watershed Strategy includes: • A website (www.chilliwackwatershedstrategy.ca) • A background report (available on the CRWS website) • A reference database (available on the CRWS website) • A mapping atlas (available on the CRWS website) • A series of Issues and Alternatives Reports that include overview assessments and analyses of the main issues identified throughout the CRWS process (available on the CRWS website) • Improved relationships and understandings between the multiple individuals, agencies, and organizations involved in this collaborative planning process These planning products and greater understandings among stakeholders will not persist indefinitely. Materials become outdated and people change jobs or move away. As a result, it is important that CRWS remains both a living document and an active process so that it continually reflects the changing and complex values in the watershed. This responsibility is on everybody who lives in, works in, recreates in, visits, or appreciates the Chilliwack River watershed. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Lower Fraser |
| Sub-watershed if known | Chilliwack River |
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| Project status | complete |
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