The Chilliwack River Watershed is located approximately one hours distance from the Greater Vancouver area, to the southeast of the City of Chilliwack, British Columbia.

The Chilliwack River originates in North Cascades National Park in Washington State and flows north to Chilliwack Lake in British Columbia. The river then travels approximately 45 kilometres west before draining into the Vedder River, onto the Sumas River, and eventually into the confluence of the mighty Fraser. It is the largest drainage in the northwest Casades.

Extent of Chilliwack River Watershed (image courtesy of Fraser Valley Regional District)

The watershed supports wild populations of steelhead (Onchorhynchus mykiss), Dolly Varden char (Salvelinus malma), chum (O. keta), chinook (O. tshawytscha), sockeye (O. nerka), pink (O. gorbuscha) and coho salmon (O. kisuutch). It is also supportive of a variety of wildlife species, including several of which are considered rare or endangered.

The areas unique character and beauty in the shadow of the Cascades has attracted a variety of human activity. It is a reputable destination for recreational users for angling, whitewater rafting and kayaking, caving, mountaineering, hiking and camping. The area has also attracted residential development and resource industries, such as forestry, gravel and mineral extraction and independent power proposals.

The issues surrounding the use of the watershed are complex and cross many jurisdictional boundaries. Forestry practices, agriculture, and residential development have impacted the river system through loss of riparian vegetation, increased instability of upper slopes, and sediment loads from upper slope tributaries. Extensive recreational use has caused wide spread loss and degradation of riparian habitat along the Chilliwack River and compaction of streamside habitats. For this reason, the Chilliwack River watershed has been a target for off-channel aquatic restoration for the last ten years.

These site specific activities have been reactive in nature and there has been a lack of coordination amongst agencies and stewardship groups without addressing the larger issues causing the degradation. For this reason, several partners have come together to develop a watershed-based strategy for the Chilliwack River that will coordinate ongoing fish and habitat conservation initiatives, focus on watershed sustainability, and identify stewardship priorities.