Why this Lower Mainland river is one of B.C.'s most endangered
The stretch of the Fraser River that runs between Mission and Hope makes the iconic river one of B.C.’s most endangered in 2026, according to a list published by an environmental non-profit.
While some conservation groups have purchased swaths of land for protection in recent years, the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) is concerned that there isn’t coordination in these conservation efforts, given the quick pace of development in the region.
“We need the assistance of all levels of government to develop a real conservation plan that will preserve the Heart of the Fraser in a meaningful way,” said Mark Angelo, ORCBC’s rivers chair, in a release.
ORCBC published the list this week, citing urbanization and development as the top concerns for this part of the Fraser — also known as the Heart of the Fraser.
The Fraser River is the longest river in B.C., flowing 1,400 kilometres from Mount Robson to the Salish Sea. Nearly a quarter of the province’s fresh water drains through its 220,000 square kilometre watershed. Its lower basin is “one of the richest areas for biodiversity and fish habitat in Canada,” according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
“The Fraser is one of the most productive rivers on the planet,” said Angelo.
The Heart of the Fraser is an important habitat for salmon and sturgeon spawning and rearing, but the ORCBC says it’s threatened by growing cities and farms, alongside industrial development.
To protect it, they hope that local and provincial governments will work with conservation groups like the Pacific Salmon Foundation and the Rivershed Society to “conserve the last un-dyked islands, protect undeveloped river shorelines, and rewild previously damaged land where possible.”
Good news for the Fraser River
But it isn’t all bad news, as the river has had some significant conservation gains made in the past couple of years.
In 2024, the Nature Conservancy of Canada purchased the 248-hectare Carey Island near Chilliwack. This island, along with its gravel channels, provides spawning and rearing habitat for the river’s fish.
The year before, the BC Parks Foundation bought a riverfront farm near Agassiz to protect and rewild it.
And in 2021, the Nature Trust of British Columbia increased its holdings of the Nicomen Slough, near Dewdney, which it is protecting for fish and birds.
“We are seeing glimmers of hope,” Angelo said. “Investments in river conservation have big payoffs. Nature can heal itself if we only give it a chance.”