A volunteer group in Campbell River has received $7,500 to support the conservation and recovery of Pacific salmon populations and habitat in British Columbia.
The grant was provided through the 2011 spring funding round of the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s Community Salmon Program to the Simms Creek Stewardship Society.
The Simms Creek Stewardship Society used the funds to hold the biennial “Wetlands to Waves” workshop in Campbell River. The workshop, which was attended by 200 to 300 people, teaches volunteer streamkeepers about new issues affecting Pacific salmon and gives them strategies and tools to use when working in their own watersheds. This year’s Wetlands to Waves workshop was held over the May long weekend, and was attended by Mayor Charlie Cornfield, who recognized the hundreds of volunteers for their efforts.
Projects funded through the Community Salmon Program focus on monitoring and rehabilitation of salmon habitat, monitoring and rehabilitation of salmon stocks, education and community stewardship.
“Volunteers are the unsung heroes of Pacific salmon sustainability,” said Pacific Salmon Foundation president and CEO Dr. Brian Riddell. “Their impact on the environment can be seen throughout the province, from salmon hatcheries and stewardship centers to strategically placed rocks, trees and vegetation that protect salmon-bearing streams. These are all the result of dedicated volunteers working thousands of hours to ensure a strong future for Pacific salmon.”
Money for the grant was raised with the help of local residents who attended the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s annual Campbell River Dinner and Auction. The next dinner is Feb. 4, 2012 at the Campbell River Maritime Heritage Centre.
Since the Foundation’s inception in 1989, the Community Salmon Program has awarded $9 million to 1,229 projects. In the last five years alone, grants made by the Foundation have helped the volunteer community throughout B.C. to create positive results. The Foundation works as a catalyst to partner with communities, organizations and businesses to provide grants and resources to more than 30,000 volunteers through grants from its Community Salmon Program.