Gambier Island Streamkeeping
In the 1990s, in response to logging in a commercial woodlot, Lois Kennedy, a founding member of the Gambier Island Conservancy, undertook a stream-mapping project using available technology. With the Ministry of Environment's Streamkeeper's methodology, she added in fish habitat studies. For more of this history and the Conservancy’s work, see Voices for the Islands by Sheila Harrington.
In 2023, with funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society (HSBRIS) compiled a report titled “Knowing Our Streams: A Review of knowledge and stewardship programs of fish-bearing streams within the Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region”. This report identified gaps in stewardship efforts and in the state of knowledge regarding the overarching goal of conserving these species and their habitats. The report revealed gaps in information about fish-bearing streams on Gambier Island dating back to the 1990s.
In 2024, the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society initiated the Knowing our Fish Creeks on Cha7élkwnech / Gambier Island Streamkeeping project. This project updates the data and methodology from the 1990s, fills data gaps, identifies areas for restoration, and, through engagement and training, encourages the Gambier communities to care for their local creeks and participate in stewardship, monitoring, and education.
To ensure the healthy survival of fish and biodiversity in general, we need to first observe, record and monitor changes over time. Initiating a long-term water temperature dataset, documenting species presence, and selecting habitat monitoring sites are the first steps towards monitoring changes in habitat quality over time for anadromous and resident fish and other stream-dwelling species. This work informs land use planning and further logging activities.
The Gambier Island Conservancy contributed to the HSBRIS-led project through the 2024 and 2025 seasons, with Gambierite Sam Wing as the HSBRIS Project Lead. Local volunteers participated in several training sessions with the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation. The project engaged Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw ACE Technicians and Stamford Environmental, who supervised the work. The work was funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada and grants from Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and the Pacific Salmon Foundation, with financial contributions from the Gambier Island Conservancy.
This project complements the Searching for Wex̱és (frogs) on Cha7élkwnech/Gambier Island project, which samples many of the same creeks for species at risk, the Coastal Tailed Frog.
In 2026 and beyond, the Gambier Island Conservancy will lead the Gambier Island Streamkeeping with funding support from the Sitka Foundation. We aim to continue protecting and conserving our fish-bearing creeks and coastal tailed frog habitat through stewardship and care.
Healthy watersheds breed healthy communities! Please consider donating in support of the stewardship and monitoring of your local creeks.
If you are interested in becoming a streamkeeper, contact gambierconservancy@gmail.com.
