In 2004, a group of concerned citizens formed a board of directors and started Fraser Riverkeeper (FRK) to respond to the increasing pressures facing the “Mighty” Fraser River system. Sewage, stormwater, industrial effluent, mining, shoreline development, and runoff from intensive agriculture cumulatively was degrading the ecological health, water quality, and fish habitat of the river.

As a result of these anthropogenic pressures throughout the watershed we have seen beach closures, unprecedented low salmon return rates, and highly altered shorelines and riverbeds.

In October 2007 FRK was officially launched in Vancouver, BC. Since then, FRK has gained charitable status, begun to build a strong and committed membership base, and formed alliances with key community-based businesses, organizations, and individuals. At the time of its launch, the organization had only one full-time volunteer Riverkeeper and one part-time executive director. FRK has grown to two part-time staff members, a full-time paid Riverkeeper, a volunteer staff, and various fundraising, legal, and scientific consultants.