October 2014
The $34.2 million over five years in capital funding includes $13.8 million to refurbish water supply and delivery systems at all 16 salmon hatcheries and many spawning channels operated by the Salmonid Enhancement Program. A reliable supply of good-quality water is crucial to the successful production of incubation and rearing of salmon. The work includes redeveloping wells and installing new wells; repairing and replacing water pumps; improving water and energy efficiency; repairing and replacing water valves, pipes and water intake structures; and upgrading monitoring systems. This work is taking place at the following facilities:
- Big Qualicum River Hatchery, Qualicum Beach
- Capilano River Hatchery, North Vancouver
- Chehalis River Hatchery, Agassiz/Harrison Mills
- Chilliwack River Hatchery, Chilliwack
- Conuma River Hatchery, Tahsis/Gold River
- Inch Creek Hatchery, Mission/Dewdney
- Kitimat River Hatchery, Kitimat
- Little Qualicum River Hatchery, Qualicum Beach
- Nitinat River Hatchery, Port Alberni/Lake Cowichan
- Puntledge River Hatchery, Courtenay
- Robertson Creek Hatchery, Port Alberni
- Rosewall Creek Hatchery, Deep Bay/Fanny Bay
- Shuswap River Hatchery, Lumby
- Snootli Creek Hatchery, Bella Coola
- Spius Creek Hatchery, Merritt
- Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery, Squamish
- Fulton Creek Spawning Channel, Granisle
- Pinkut Creek Spawning Channel, Burns Lake
- Weaver Creek Spawning Channel, Harrison Mills
The remainder of the $34.2 million is a $20.4 million investment over five years to modernize and refurbish aging infrastructure at the Snootli Creek Hatchery, which serves the B.C. Central Coast, and the associated Atnarko Spawning Channel. The facility has been in operation for more than 35 years and is in need of significant renewal to extend its operational life and enable it to operate more effectively and efficiently.
In addition to improving Snootli’s water supply system, as explained above, the investment will consolidate multiple buildings and infrastructure into a single complex; refurbish and replace salmon incubation and juvenile rearing structures; upgrade and modernize electrical and mechanical systems; improve energy efficiency; address health and safety issues and improve overall site security and flood protection.
The federal government, through Fisheries and Oceans Canada, also invests in salmon through:
- The Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program was announced in Economic Action Plan 2013 to support fisheries habitat restoration projects led by recreational fish and angling groups, as well as conservation organizations.
- Given its early success and high demand, an additional investment in Economic Action Plan 2014 increased the funding available through the program to a total investment of $25 million over four years.
- Under Round I, the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program has invested nearly $6 million in 94 fisheries habitat restoration projects across Canada. Up to $5.5 million in funding to support an additional 127 projects under Round II is currently underway. Applications for Round III are now being reviewed.
- In British Columbia, Round I of the RFCPP made available $1.813 million for 28 projects. Under Round II, up to $1.506 will be made available to 31 projects in B.C.
News release: Minister Shea and MPs Saxton and Weston Announce Funding for Major Upgrades of Salmon Hatcheries and Spawning Channels
B-PR-14-19E
