Achieving a sustainable Fraser River Basin is perhaps the most critical challenge facing the 2.7 million British Columbians who live, work and play in the Basin. In 30 years, the population of the Basin is expected to reach four million people. Managing this growth in ways that enhance the Basin's social, economic and environmental health is an enormous challenge, an important responsibility and an urgent priority.
The Fraser Basin Council (FBC) is actively involved in resolving some fifty issues throughout the Basin that affect the well-being of people who live here. Since the FBC was established in 1997, it has played an important role in bringing together government, private sector and non-government partners to find enduring, workable solutions to many complex sustainability challenges, take advantage of opportunities to enhance the sustainability of the Basin, and in some cases, resolve entrenched conflicts that began as long as fifty years ago. The FBC has also worked to increase public awareness about sustainability issues throughout the Basin and motivate people to take action to make their part of the Basin more sustainable. In all of its programs and projects, the FBC considers the needs of the entire Basin rather than those of any single jurisdiction, interest, organization or individual.
Issues and Accomplishments
Many of the important sustainability issues facing Fraser Basin residents, governments, community groups and businesses are Basin wide – and even, province wide – in scope. Issues include preparing for the next great Fraser River flood, controlling the spread of invasive plant species, managing the effects of climate change, strengthening rural communities, developing a sustainable fish and fisheries strategy, building constructive aboriginal and non-aboriginal relationships and measuring our progress towards sustainability.
Other issues are of concern to specific regions of the Basin. Some of these regional issues include threats to property and navigation from waterborne debris in the Fraser Valley, maintaining a healthy estuary at the mouth of the River, developing a Sustainable Region Initiative in the GVRD, addressing deteriorating water quality in Shuswap Lake, developing a set of sustainability indicators for the City of Quesnel and resolving conflicts over water flows on the Nechako River.
Over the past six years, the FBC and its partners have tackled a wide range of important sustainability issues and have chalked up an extensive list of accomplishments. We're proud of our track record and we intend to build upon this legacy.
For more information on FBC Programs go to;
Basin Wide Programs
Regional Programs