26 The Scrivener Volume 13 Number 1 March 2004

British Columbia’s streamsand wetlands are valuable natural

resources. Stream corridorssupport more species of plantsand animals than any otherhabitats and provide importantrefuges and migration routes for birds and wildlife. Streamsare also essential formaintaining our renownedsalmon and trout runs.

Streams respond rapidly to the

pressures of residential and industrial

activity in surrounding drainage areas or

watersheds. Streams are good indicators of

watershed health. Since we all live within a

watershed, we all share the responsibility of

maintaining the quality of the natural

resources within them.

Pressures from development will

continue to increase as our population

expands in many areas of the province.

Habitat will continue to be lost when we

do not appreciate fully the value of our

aquatic resources. Plant and animal

populations that depend on undisturbed

land will be threatened.

The growing number of volunteers

committed to working to protect and

restore aquatic habitats in our province

find support and information in the

Streamkeepers Program.

Development of the Streamkeepers

Program began in October 1993 as an

initiative of Fisheries and Oceans Canada

(FOC). With funds provided by the Fraser

River Action Plan, FOC created the

Streamkeepers Handbook, a 14-module

training manual.

The Streamkeepers Program:

• provides volunteers with the training

and support required to protect and

restore local aquatic habitat;

• educates the public about the

importance of watershed resources; and

• encourages communication and

cooperation in watershed management.

Over the years, many programs have

been started to engage the public in

environmental causes. Citizens volunteer

their time, forming stream stewardship

organizations that oversee enhancement

projects such as salmon restoration and

streamside treeplanting—as well as rallying

governments for watershed protection.

Since 1996, thousands of British

Columbia residents have been trained using

the Streamkeepers methodology. There are

25 Streamkeepers program trainers located

in BC. As volunteer streamkeepers, citizens

are able to monitor and evaluate stream

conditions and alert authorities when there

are problems with local streams.

Nichole Marples

The Streamkeepers Program

Streamkeepers Community Day Riparian Planting Project

Scriv Spring 04 3/18/04 8:25 PM Page 26

Volume 13 Number 1 March 2004 The Scrivener 27

The Pacific Streamkeepers Federation

(PSkF) was initiated in May 1995 at a

Community Involvement Workshop held

in Williams Lake, attended by more than

300 stream restoration volunteers from BC

and the Yukon. The PSkF is a non-profit

society committed to supporting over 250

community groups involved in

Streamkeepers activities throughout BC

and the Yukon.

The Pacific Streamkeepers Federation

provides services such as Third Party

Limited Liability Insurance for members.

Over 3000 people and their works are

covered by the Streamkeepers VIP:

Volunteer Insurance Plan. For more

information or to become a member, please

visit www.pskf.ca. ▲

The Pacific Streamkeepers Federation

720 Orwell Street

North Vancouver, BC V7J 2G3

Voice: 604 986-5059

Voice/Fax: 1-800-723-PSkF (7753)

pskf@direct.ca

Nichole Marples has 10 years ofcommunity involvement in streamstewardship and environmentaleducation projects throughoutthe Fraser Valley.

Streamkeepers Training in Squamish, BC

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902A Caledonia Avenue

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Scriv Spring 04 3/18/04 8:25 PM Page 27