Uniting Katzie Indigenous Knowledge and Science to Restore the Pitt River Watershed

Pitt River Watershed: The Beginning of a Partnership

The Pitt River watershed, a unique forest and river sanctuary in British Columbia, has long been under threat from development and degraded by logging activity. In the last decades, a few individuals, organizations, and the Katzie First Nation, have put lots of effort into protecting it and obtaining great results. Yet the danger of exploitation lingers, and there is still much more to protect and restore from years of logging and malpractice in the area.

In 2022, Age of Union began a partnership with the BC Parks Foundation aiming to safeguard key ecosystems across BC. This collaboration led to the acquisition of 733 acres of land, preserving a critical wildlife corridor for countless species. It also ensured that the Katzie community could continue accessing their territory for traditional practices.

Later that year, Age of Union Founder Dax Dasilva visited the area for the first time, guided by BC Parks Foundation CEO Andrew Day. He remembers being struck by the vastness of the forest, the towering trees, and the palpable presence of wildlife. 

During their visit, the pair explored the Red Slough, a shallow river with red waters and banks due to high iron concentrations. Researchers and environmentalists working in the area believe that in the 1950s, as the logging industry intensified in the region, a main road was constructed and cut off the Red Slough from its source, the Pitt River. As water flow was reduced, oxygen levels dropped, allowing iron deposits to accumulate and turning the waters a deep red—giving the Slough its name. This disruption caused salmon attempting to spawn here to die and led to the channel losing its capacity to serve as a healthy habitat for wildlife.

By the end of 2022, Katzie First Nation reached out to Age of Union and its partner the BC Parks Foundation for support in restoring water flow to the Red Slough. This project was described by Rick Bailey, Katzie elder and salmon restoration advocate, as the “crown jewel of restoration efforts in the valley.” Age of Union immediately recognized this project’s significance, as restoring the river was crucial to protecting the entire ecosystem.

The Restoration Project in Action

The goal of the restoration was to reconnect the Red Slough to a main water channel and bring back its natural flow. Katzie First Nation, along with the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (LFFA) and the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), collaborated on a strategy to create a sustainable solution that would require minimal maintenance, given the remote nature of the watershed.

Engineers identified the glacier-fed Pitt River as the most suitable water source. They designed an intake system and built a 550-metre channel that would feed a natural path directly flowing into the Red Slough. Underground pipes were installed, leading to a large valve that could regulate the flow of water into the outdoor channel.

The Katzie community led the project on the ground, bringing together all the pieces necessary to restore the river. Elders worked alongside scientists and engineers, blending traditional knowledge with modern technology to bring the water back—and it worked.

A Celebration of Success

After more than a year of dedicated work, the key stakeholders were invited to celebrate the project’s success on Sept. 9, opening the valve that would restore water flow to Red Slough. This early morning, everyone was setting off by boat for the Pitt River Watershed—accessible only by water after an hour’s journey through Pitt Lake. 

One could see representatives of Age of Union, BC Parks Foundation, the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (LFFA), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Belanger Loading Inc. The Katzie community was leading the event, elders and youth, with beautiful speeches and ceremony. 

More than 20 people gathered to celebrate the achievement, acknowledging the hard work and dedication that had brought this project to life. A new waterway now connected the main Pitt River to Red Slough, and the Katzie community shared how meaningful this restoration was to them. They called the revived waterway “Mother Matriarch,” a symbol of life flowing once more. Young members of the community also sang traditional songs.

“It’s been years since this land has heard the drums,” said David Kenworthy, Elected Council Member of the Katzie First Nation, ready to share a song to honour the land and water. As the water began to flow, the song of drums and voices echoed through the forest, evoking a profound sense of emotion and reverence for nature.

As the team crossed the bridge on their way back to the boat, they notice that the river leading to Red Slough which was completely dry on that same morning, was suddenly brimming with deep blue, oxygen-rich water, promising the healthy return of an entire ecosystem.

People said their goodbyes with a shared sense of accomplishment and connection. They had arrived as strangers in the morning, but by day’s end, they felt connected by the authenticity of what they had experienced.

“Conservation is an emotional journey, and moments like this remind us of the impact each of us can make in advancing these efforts to protect natural ecosystems,” Mariette Raina, Age of Union’s conservation director said. “We left feeling inspired and reinvigorated, ready to continue the important work ahead.”

Later this fall, the team will monitor the river, observing the changing water colour and the return of the sockeye salmon as they reclaim their habitat.

Katzie Ancestral Knowledge and Cultural Recognition

Special thank to Clarissa Moody-Jimmy, Carlee Leon, and Dayton Verhulst for sharing songs throughout the day. The songs shared by the Katzie community are ancestral gifts, weaving a profound bond between the land, its people, and future generations. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Katzie community for sharing this invaluable part of their culture in the context of the Red Slough celebration event.

Acknowledgment of Stakeholders

The Red Slough restoration project was made possible through the collaboration of the BC Parks Foundation, the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (LFFA), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and Belanger Loading Inc. We also recognize WWF as a key ally in protecting the broader Pitt River Watershed. Our gratitude finally goes to Danny Gerak for his vision and dedication to safeguarding the Pitt Watershed over the years.