The City of Maple Ridge is partnering with local First Nations and the Alouette River Management Society to convince BC Hydro to build a fish passage to allow salmon to return from the South Alouette River to the Alouette Lake.
On Tuesday, council agreed a memorandum of understanding among Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations, Arms and the city should be prepared “for the coordination of an aligned request to BC Hydro regarding fish passage, compensation and restoration related to the Alouette Watershed.”
“We’re all on the same page as far as our desire to see a fish passage of some kind, and things always work better when you’re all together,” noted Coun. Craig Speirs, who met with the first nations groups with Coun. Gordy Robson and Mayor Nicole Read.
The city also approved a process to hire an independent project coordinator at an estimated cost of $5,000 to $10,000. That coordinator will research the issue, and prepare recommendations to be presented to Hydro. The costs will first be brought back to council for consideration.
Arms executive director Greta Borick-Cunningham said the formal partnership between the four parties is an important step in a long process to get Hydro working on the salmon passage project.
“We’re really happy they’re drafting an MOU, and recognizing we’re all working together on fish passage,” said Borick-Cunningham. “It can only be a good thing.”
“It’s a seven-step process, and it’s not going to happen overnight,” she said.
She said ARMS is at about step four in Hydro’s process, and must now submit a feasibility study to the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program for endorsement.
However, Hydro is in the process of renewing one of its Alouette Water Licences, and through this process the city, Arms, Katzie and Kwantlen will advocate for a strong commitment from Hydro for habitat restoration and species compensation.
In the coming weeks, city staff will be working closely with the Katzie, Kwantlen and ARMS, to articulate shared expectations, said council’s report. The Alouette Lake reservoir and dam have created permanent change, but to date the area has not received adequate funding to restore the ecological, economic and cultural value that has been lost, the council report added.
The Alouette Lake Reservoir and Dam are within the unceded territories of the Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations.