Thanks to fundraising from the 2024 REEL Earth Day Challenge, groundbreaking research is underway to study how different floodgate designs impact juvenile coho salmon in the Coquitlam River!
In partnership with Resilient Waters, UBC Pacific Salmon Lab, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem First Nation), and Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, this project is tracking salmon movement to improve floodgate designs for both flood control and fish passage.
What’s happening?
• 900 juvenile coho were tagged & released in Nov 2024 to monitor their survival and growth.
• 150 juvenile coho are being tagged & released weekly for 10 weeks to study how they move through different floodgates.
• Special sensors track their journey, helping researchers understand how gate operations affect fish passage.
Why It Matters:
Salmon are vital to the health of the Fraser River Watershed. This research will help shape floodgate designs that support both salmon migration and effective flood management—a win for nature and our communities!