9 December 2025

Ten years of the Nechako Watershed Roundtable

It’s been a decade! This year, the Nechako Watershed Roundtable (NWR) celebrates its 10th anniversary.  Since 2015, the NWR has supported the health of the Nechako watershed, its tributaries and the numerous communities within its borders. It started as a group of concerned citizens, First Nations, governments, researchers and stewardship organizations and it has today matured into a trusted, multi-sector interest- and partner-led body deeply committed to the health of the Nechako river and all 42,000 km2 of its vast watershed area. Today, the Nechako Watershed Roundtable stands as a powerful testament to the strength of collaborative efforts in northern British Columbia.

Looking back over the past decade and reflecting on key milestones, the NWR faced tight budgetary times, and of course COVID limited in-person gatherings. The watershed faced even tougher circumstances like wildfires and drought. The relationships built amongst the watershed’s residents allowed the Roundtable to be resilient and enabled the NWR to facilitate coordination, catalyze action and support the members’ shared vision and commitments toward a resilient watershed.

“As the NWS marks ten years, what stands out to me is the dedication of the people who have carried this work forward. Their commitment to the watershed, and to one another, is what makes long-term progress possible. It’s an honour for FBC to help support that continued momentum.”

Zita Botelho, CEO, Fraser Basin Council

Ootsa Lake, Nechako watershed. Michael Stanyer.

In terms of impact, because impact is key, the NWR is proud to continue to work through cross-jurisdictional partnerships to overcome fragmentation by creating a space where First Nations, governments, science, industry, and community can address complex watershed issues in collaborative ways. A decade of support for and from research has deepened our understanding of the profound impacts of climate change and land use on aquatic ecosystems with special concern and attention to wild Pacific salmon and the endangered Nechako White Sturgeon.

But the NWR must, like all of us, acknowledge the challenges still ahead. Climate change is worsening, drought impacts are reaching far and deep, and wildfires continue to dominate the landscape and test the resilience of the watershed. The next decade will continue to challenge us, maybe more so than the first. Ever more critical are the partnerships that support funding and turn strategy into action, leading to tangible long-term positive change in the watershed.

The Nechako Watershed Roundtable will continue to lean into several critical themes including:

  • Strengthening First Nations Leadership – ensuring future decisions in the watershed are guided by traditional knowledge and Indigenous ways;

  • Much-needed Monitoring and Management Opportunities – supporting evidence-based actions on climate change adaptation and resilience;

  • Building Resilience – using monitoring and research to guide restoration activities in a post-climate change environment;

  • Influencing Policy – facilitating dialogue on regionally-led actions and solutions for shared water governance; and

  • Community Engagement and Education – engaging youth, local communities, and relevant interests in meaningful ways to maintain momentum and build a culture of stewardship across the watershed.

To quote Lheidli T’enneh artists Kym Gouchie and Jennier Annaïs Pighin, “Too beh ts’ughuna,” “water is life.”

Canoe race on the Nechako River, Prince George. Michael Stanyer.