Canfor is proud to help make a new coho hatchery and streamkeepers lab in Houston, BC a reality by donating land for the facility. The fish hatchery and lab will officially celebrate its opening on Sept. 23 and is expected to be ready for coho eggs this fall.
Supporting community efforts like A Rocha Canada’s Upper Bulkley River Streamkeepers Project is a great way to demonstrate Canfor’s commitment to protecting our habitat and wildlife.
The $80,000 facility will be a hub for conservation, research and education in the Upper Bulckley River Watershed. Cindy Verbeek, northern BC project director with A Rocha Canada, put it well when she said a healthier watershed means healthier people, livestock and wildlife. I couldn’t agree more. That’s why Canfor is excited to be part of this tremendous effort.
Volunteers will take care of the coho eggs until the fry are released next spring, and community members will be trained to be the eyes of the river – taking samples, records and notes so they can report back.
It’s an exciting project – and the work has just begun. The streamkeepers are currently raising money so they can expand the hatchery to create a nature and environmental education centre.
To learn more about the Sept. 23 celebration that is open to the public, details are available here.