Squamish River Watershed Society

Squamish River Watershed Society A registered, charitable environmental non-profit organization. We are projects based focused on a watershed management in the Sea to Sky corridor.

The roots of the Squamish Watershed Society date back to 1993 when a group of people interested in protecting the integrity of the Squamish River Watershed formed the Squamish River Watershed Committee. In 1995 the Watershed Committee partnered with the Squamish Nation, and regional and provincial governments on Forest Renewal BC's Watershed Restoration Program. From 1995 to 1998, under the Waters

hed Restoration Program, the Watershed Committee conducted environmental assessments on all of the water courses draining into the Squamish River, identified key restoration sites, and conducted in-stream restoration work. Impressed with the committees level of expertise and quality of work First Nation, and provincial and regional government partners encouraged the committee to form as a registered non-profit society, and in 1998 the Squamish River Watershed Society (SRWS) became was incorporated under the Society Act of British Columbia. As a registered non-profit in 1999 the SRWS successfully applied to lead Forest Renewal BC’s Watershed Restoration Program and expanded the program to conserve and restore the integrity of various other watercourses in and around the Squamish and Lillooet River watersheds. Incorporation into a registered society marked a shift in SRWS history and the organization assumed the role of lead proponent and administrative body for a variety of funding agencies and projects in the Squamish and Lillooet River watersheds. While the SRWS provides the structure to fund watershed related projects, the society stays committed to their roots to provide opportunity for citizens, policy makers, resources users, First Nations, organizations, and interested parties to exchange technical/science based information on issues concerning the watershed. In 2011 the SRWS became a registered charitable organization

A great opportunity to learn about restoration efforts in the Squamish Estuary with SRWS! This guided tour will explore ...
08/07/2026

A great opportunity to learn about restoration efforts in the Squamish Estuary with SRWS! This guided tour will explore the former log sort to discuss the history of the Squamish estuary and its ecological importance. Hope to see you there! ☀️

07/19/2026
07/19/2026

While the whole world is watching FIFA, we’re watching ponds. 🐸⚽

Amphibians are emerging across Squamish’s wetlands, making this one of the season’s most exciting wildlife spectacles. It’s a busy time with several species undergoing metamorphosis, including Western Toads, Pacific Chorus Frogs, Northwestern Salamanders, and Northern Red-legged Frogs.

Keep a special eye out for tiny toadlets emerging from local wetlands in the coming weeks! These miniature toads, often no larger than a fingernail, can be seen moving across trails and roads in large numbers as they disperse from their breeding ponds to higher forested grounds. Please support the population by taking careful steps in active areas, including Garibaldi Highlands and Four Lakes Trails. Drop a pin if you see them and share with [email protected]

Thanks for your support in the great migration!

06/24/2026
A key focus of the Central Estuary Restoration Project (CERP) is supporting juvenile Chinook Salmon, an at-risk species ...
06/24/2026

A key focus of the Central Estuary Restoration Project (CERP) is supporting juvenile Chinook Salmon, an at-risk species on the South Coast of British Columbia and a vital food source for the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. Estuaries are critical habitats that juvenile Chinook Salmon depend on during their rearing life stage.

For several years, SRWS has been monitoring juvenile Chinook Salmon passage into the estuary as part of the CERP project. This spring marks the final year of acoustic fish monitoring for the project. Over 75 juveniles were tagged with acoustic transmitters, allowing us to assess fish use of recent breaches, including the four box culverts and the breach of the spit. This is a highly novel project due to the tags used in the study. It is one of the first projects to use the smallest acoustic tag on the market, Innovasea’s V3 tag (more information here: New Tags Offer Insights Into Fish Passage at the Squamish River).

Results from previous years have shown an increased proportion of acoustically tagged Chinook Salmon entering the estuary following CERP reconnections. This is great news for Chinook Salmon recovery.

06/23/2026
05/26/2026

🔺 Public Safety Advisory - Squamish Wildlife Management Area

The BCCOS is asking people to avoid the Wildlife Management Area in Squamish after a man was attacked by a black bear on Monday evening.

At approx. 7 p.m., the man was running along a trail off of the Spit. Road area when he came upon two bear cubs. The sow charged towards him and swiped his arm and leg, causing minor injuries.

Conservation officers responded to the area. Signage has been installed and the area has also been taped off.

To ensure public safety, the BCCOS asks the public to avoid the Squamish Wildlife Management Area trails until further notice.

Conservation officers will be in the area on Tuesday morning.

With support from , SRWS is monitoring spawning channels along the Mamquam River while restoring riparian habitat throug...
04/27/2026

With support from , SRWS is monitoring spawning channels along the Mamquam River while restoring riparian habitat through new plantings. These efforts help regulate stream temperatures through shade and evapotranspiration, and stabilizes channel banks.

The Mamquam River supports important off-channel habitat for salmon and trout species, including coho, steelhead, rainbow, and cutthroat trout. However, historic modifications, such as diking and river redirection in 1921, limited access to key spawning, rearing, and overwintering areas. Restoration work began in the 1980s with the creation of groundwater-fed side channels near the Mamquam River Golf Club, followed by additional projects like Mamquam River Reunion, Tiampo Refuge Channel, and Mash*ter, which have expanded habitat across the watershed.

Despite these improvements, baseflows in off-channel habitats have declined over the past decade due to warmer, drier conditions and reduced groundwater recharge. This has resulted in egg desiccation and the stranding of juvenile fish, putting local populations at risk. At the same time, urban pressures have increased the spread of invasive plant species, further impacting riparian health.

This project aims to strengthen the resilience of the Mamquam River’s off-channel habitats, ensuring they can continue to support fish populations even under prolonged drought and reduced glacial melt conditions.

This month SRWS hosted our annual salmon fry release program in partnership with Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery. Over 300 stu...
04/27/2026

This month SRWS hosted our annual salmon fry release program in partnership with Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery. Over 300 students and over 100 communities members joined us in releasing hundreds of thousands of Coho and Chum salmon fry into our watershed. Thank you to all who participated! See you next year!

Special thanks to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fish and Wildlife Compensation Fund, and Pacific Salmon Foundation for your ongoing support for our outreach programs.

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Box 1791
Squamish, BC
V8B0B3

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