What are B.C.’s most endangered rivers?

Tied for top spot on the list of endangered rivers in B.C., this year are the Heart of the Fraser, between Hope and Mission, and the Cowichan River on Vancouver Island.

B.C.’s annual list of most endangered rivers has been released.

The Outdoor Recreation Council, which compiles the list, noted that while there is concern, there is some encouraging progress being reported as well.

Tied for top spot on the list this year are the Heart of the Fraser, between Hope and Mission, and the Cowichan River on Vancouver Island.

“These are both iconic waterways,” Mark Angelo, the Outdoor Recreation Council Rivers chair and founder of both B.C. and World Rivers Day, said in a blog post.

“The Fraser is one of the most productive rivers on the planet. The Cowichan is an important salmon stream, culturally significant to the Cowichan people, and a recreational asset for anglers and paddlers. All this is at risk. But on both rivers we are seeing glimmers of hope.”

Of concern for the Fraser River are threats from urban encroachment, agricultural expansion and industrial development.

The Cowichan River is facing low summer flows, as well as leaching of toxic chemicals from construction waste and illegal dumping.

“Illegal dumping is an issue that is impacting the river, but our report this year really wanted to focus on the climate change, low flow aspect, because that’s had a devastating impact on the river for many years now,” Angelo told Global News.