Fraser Riverkeeper » The River

Global Warming

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:38:33 +0000

“Because Fraser river salmon are so temperature dependent, global warming is a threat to their very existence.” - Doug Chapman

Climate change is the change in weather patterns that a specific region encounters. Globally, the rate of temperature is regulated by the system known as the “greenhouse effect”, where gases such as methane and nitrous oxide absorb and

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Industrial Wastewater

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:34:25 +0000

There are many industries located along the Fraser River and other waterways around metro-Vancouver such as pulp mills, mining operations, industrial plants (food, wood product, and manufacturing), and oil refineries. The pulp paper industry forms toxic by-products from its industrial activities such as chlorine bleaching and industrial inceration. Examples of these by-products include dioxins and furans,

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Agriculture

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:34:05 +0000

Agricultural run-off is a concern for the Fraser River and its watershed, and can cause short-term, long-term, and cumulative impacts. Agricultural runoff is a non-point source of pollution and can come from various different sources in different locations. The run-off can consist of pesticides, insecticides, fertilisers, and animal manure — and can enter the runoff through

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Municipal Wastewater

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:33:44 +0000

Sewage pollution from outdated onsite and municipal sewage treatment facilitates are the main contributors to municipal pollution in the Georgia Strait, Burrard Inlet, and Fraser River. In metropolitan Vancouver and the increasingly populated Fraser Valley, municipal sewage pollution contains a large number of toxic substances such as pathogens (bacteria and viruses); nutrients such as nitrogen and

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Urban Wastewater

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:32:56 +0000

Water pollution in the Fraser River has many sources. Resource-based economic activities located close to the Fraser River include agriculture, mining, logging, and hydroelectric developments. Water quality in the river can be degraded because of these industrial activities, municipal and urban waste water, and individual polluters. Poor water quality affects the habitat of the flora and

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Geography & Geology

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:32:07 +0000

The Fraser River is the longest river in British Columbia and the tenth longest river in Canada. It drains a 220,000 km² (85,000 sq mi) area and flows for 1,375 km (870 mi) into the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver. Its headquarters are in the Mount Robson Provisional Park in the Rocky Mountains, and it passes across

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Water Quality

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:30:30 +0000

The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia. It drains about one-quarter of the province’s water and ranges from central British Columbia, to Southwest British Columbia and east to the Rocky Mountains near Jasper. The Fraser River’s headwaters are just northwest of Fraser pass in British Columbia’s Rockies and its major tributaries are the

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History of the Fraser River

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:29:55 +0000

Years before the Europeans discovered the Fraser River, it was inhabited by the aboriginal peoples of British Columbia. They traded with each other by traveling the rivers and trails and had various paths that connected the interior of British Columbia to the coast.

The Fraser River was first explored by the Europeans on June 14, 1792, by

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Watershed Facts

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:29:00 +0000

Mining, manufacturing, logging, pulp and paper making, farming, and energy industries have lined the banks of the Fraser and have fed the region’s development. Consequent of this activity and loosely enforced environmental regulations, or inadequate statutes, the Fraser suffers from a wide range of pollutants, including heavy metals, excessive nutrients, bacteria, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dioxins.

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Recreation

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:23:02 +0000

The Fraser River has a wide range of recreational opportunities due to its accessibility and diversity. The riverhead is in the Rocky Mountains, and there it provides a haven for canoeing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting enthusiasts. As it makes its way down through the valley, the river provides opportunities for fishing and boating. Close to the

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