Fish-friendly floodgate helps salmon and flood management in the Fraser Valley

On May 17, 2024, a fish-friendly floodgate that will restore salmon habitat and improve flood management was opened near Deroche in the Fraser Valley.
The new floodgate replaces an old, failing culvert built in the 1950s and restores fish passage between Joe’s Lake and the Nicomen Slough, a major offshoot of the Fraser River. Salmon will now have access to five hectares of wetland that has been inaccessible for more than 70 years.
The project was led by Leq’a:mel First Nation, and the North Nicomen Diking District, Resilient Waters and Watershed Watch, and was funded by the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund. PSF contributed $100,000 to support this collaborative effort.
Videographer: Brandon Deepwell
Additional footage: Fernando Lessa