Millions of salmon have been lost due to hydroelectric or drinking water dams in B.C. There have been big losses on the Alouette, Bridge, Coquitlam, Cheakamus, Nechako, Puntledge, Seton, Stave and the middle Shuswap rivers. Dams can fully block access to salmon spawning areas. They also dramatically change the natural waterflow regime in ways that can cause long term damage to salmon habitat.

Hundreds of “run-of-the-river” projects are now in front of provincial regulators for approval. Although these are touted as environmentally benign by their proponents, there are huge implications for salmon streams ranging from harmful changes to the waterflow regime downstream to impacts during construction.

Pesticides
Pesticides and herbicides are used over vast areas by forest companies and railways. Many pesticides and herbicides are directly lethal for salmon, particularly juveniles. They can also bioaccumulate in the food chain to become much more toxic.

Agriculture
Cattle can easily destroy stream banks and spawning grounds. Heavy use of fertilizers in the Fraser Valley affects the water quality of the groundwater and the Fraser River.

Mining
Mine effluent has impacted fish stocks in many systems. The Tsolum River and the Coquihalla River have been particularly impacted. Britannia Mines has had the most toxic runoff in Canada, flowing directly into Howe Sound – a situation now receiving some treatment. The impacts from acid mine drainage can last hundreds of years.

Water use
Several hundred fish-bearing streams in B.C. have flows that are too low for proper fish passage or for juvenile rearing. The needs of fish and other species is not given priority when water use licenses are granted.

Roads and rail lines
The rugged terrain in B.C. forces many roads and rail lines to closely parallel salmon streams and rivers. Streambanks are destabilized and streamside vegetation is removed. Impassable culverts have destroyed or degraded extensive salmon habitat.