Pitt River Watershed
(Canada)

The area, known as the Pitt River Watershed, is spectacular with magnificent waterfalls, hot springs, wildlife, and wild salmon. The glacier-fed river flows into Pitt Lake — the largest tidal lake in the world. Remarkably rich in its wild salmon and trout, the Upper Pitt River Valley attracts grizzly bears and elk who rely on the river, making this ecosystem an important wildlife sanctuary. The Upper Pitt was designated as B.C.’s most endangered river in 2000 due to development pressure.

B.C. Parks Foundation’s Work in British Columbia

BC Parks Foundation is an independent registered charitable foundation with a mission to enhance and expand British Columbia’s world-class parks system.

BC Parks Foundation is working closely with Indigenous communities and BC Parks, its official charitable partner, to acquire and administer land in the province. Ultimately, the organization’s mission is to prevent the urban development of the land and turn it into a park system that protects, enhances, and sustains the land for present and future generations, while allowing locals to enjoy activities such as fishing, hiking, canoeing, and camping.

For B.C.’s First Nations people, the connection to the land is especially long and deep. As Haisla elder Cecil Paul says: “These are not just places. Our stories are embedded in these places and we couldn’t survive without them. They contain all our wisdom for living.”

How Age of Union Is Helping

• Acquisition of the Pitt River Watershed territory, which has been under intense development pressure;
• This territory will soon become a permanent conservation zone as part of the BC Parks provincial parks system;
• Facilitating access of local Indigenous communities to previously privately-held land.