SFU's Pacific Water Research Centre and Alouette River Management Society form partnership to transform water management systems

A new collaboration between SFU’s Pacific Water Research Centre (PWRC) and the Alouette River Management Society (ARMS) aims to advance water management systems and support healthier watersheds across British Columbia’s Fraser River basin.

The two organizations share a common interest in developing science-based solutions to enhance the long-term sustainability of the Alouette River watershed. They seek to improve the water quality and preserve the aquatic ecosystems of the river, while creating public awareness of water security. To formalize their new partnership, they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on April 28.

“It is a great opportunity to work alongside SFU and the Pacific Water Research Centre,” says executive director of ARMS, Greta Borick-Cunningham. “Professor Zafar Adeel and Steve Gibson (Senior Advisor, PWRC) have shown, as local Maple Ridge residents, that they are keenly interested in the health of the Alouette watershed, and that makes this partnership very exciting. They are bringing their wealth of knowledge and expertise in the water world forward to benefit salmon and wildlife through applied research.”

As the impacts of climate change intensify, there is a growing need to address water management systems worldwide. This is particularly evident in the Alouette River watershed, where the Alouette Lake Reservoir and Dam have had adverse effects, including the displacement of local wildlife and disruption of natural ecosystems.

Through this collaborative effort, both organizations can combine their expertise to address this mounting issue. Housed within SFU’s Faculty of Applied Sciences, the PWRC brings unique expertise to the partnership through its team’s diverse backgrounds in engineering, resource and environmental management, public policy and more.  With over three decades of grassroots advocacy for the Alouette Watershed, ARMS has acquired knowledge and experience from within the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows communities to understand the history of the river ecosystem and impacts on the local landscape including dam infrastructure, residential development, farming, recreation, industrial and more.  

“There is complementarity between our roles in this collaboration,” explains Zafar Adeel, PWRC executive director, professor and director of SFU’s School of Sustainable Engineering. “PWRC has access to research funding, laboratory facilities, and graduate and undergraduate students eager to engage and learn. At the same time, ARMS has a long history of engaging in river ecosystem protection, deep roots in the local community and ongoing engagement with the Katzie First Nation.”

To launch the partnership, the organizations are developing several new research initiatives. As outlined in the MOU, these include:

• Monitoring and management of water quality of the Alouette River watershed
• Assessment of the impacts of recreational uses of the Alouette Lake reservoir and its related policies
• Evaluation and development of green infrastructure solutions, in collaboration with governmental partners
• Development of educational and outreach materials to enhance public awareness of the challenges facing the Alouette river watershed

This opportunity has laid the foundation for a continued partnership over the coming years. Both organizations anticipate that this collaboration will not only help identify solutions to preserve the Alouette River ecosystem, but also create additional opportunities for investment and engagement with SFU.

“Over time, we aim to increase water quality, strengthen neigbhourhood resiliency to the climate crisis, help recharge subsurface water flows and more,” says Borick-Cunningham. “Other benefits could include increased exchange of ideas and knowledge of the Alouette watershed, along with opportunities to work with SFU students.”

“There is a lot that is not known about the future impacts of urban development and climate change on this sensitive habitat,” adds Adeel. “We aim to provide scientific evidence that can lead to enhancements to the ecosystem and anticipate heightened community awareness of the key issues and impactful actions.”