Gill Bar

Xá:y Syí:ts’emílep

Funded by British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF), this project is a collaboration between LFFA, S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance, Pil’alt Tribes, LFFA, Watershed Watch and Ecora Environmental.

LFFA’s role is to supporting aquatic research and habitat restoration at the Gill Bar sit, helping to understand the area through characterization of the habitat (amount, substrate, ground water influence, hydrology, water quality) enumeration of species present (collection techniques, seining, eDNA), and impacts of industry (6pp quinone, heavy metals).

The overall goal of project partners is to support Pelólhxw management of Gill Bar as an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA).

Year 1 deverables completed:

• Created aquatic baseline report and monitoring plan.

• Presented at a community meeting.

• Began aquatic monitoring activities.

• Fieldwork so far has involved 15 people from communities and other organizations.

Year 2 deliverables happening now:

• Fish sampling

• Chinook and sockeye DNA collection

• Drone imagery

• Environmental DNA sampling (eDNA)

• Groundwater well installation

• Community engagement

• Planning for restoration activities, creating formal plan.

• Supporting management plan for Gill Bar, and IPCA application process.