About JRWA
For the watershed we share.
The Jordan River Watershed Awareness Coalition is a community-based, not-for-profit society rooted in Jordan River, BC. We are residents, watershed recreators, researchers and people who spend time on this coast and along this river, paying attention to how it has changed and what those changes mean.
Many of us have lived here for decades. Rather than witnessing a single moment of decline, we have seen the river continually constrained, shaped by long-standing pressures such as contamination, hydroelectric infrastructure and shifting land use that continue to limit the conditions needed for life to recover.
JRWA grew out of shared concern for the diitiida (di:ti:dah)/Jordan River Watershed and a belief that caring for a place begins with noticing it, asking questions and staying engaged. Our work is shaped by lived experience, local knowledge and a commitment to showing up for this watershed over the long term.
Our Mission
The Jordan River Watershed Awareness Coalition works to raise awareness of the complex factors shaping the diitiida/Jordan River Watershed and to make the impacts of past and present land and water use visible. By building understanding of how these forces interact and limit ecological capacity, JRWA supports informed conversations about watershed health and restoration.
We bring together people who care about the river to share knowledge, encourage accountability and work collaboratively toward rebalancing the social, cultural, environmental and economic values that a healthy watershed can support.
Our Vision
A living, resilient watershed.
We envision a future where the diitiida/Jordan River Watershed supports thriving ecosystems, healthy water and a strong sense of connection between people and place. A watershed where rivers, forests and nearshore environments function together, creating conditions for life to flourish.
A place shaped with care.
In this future, decisions that affect the watershed are made with long-term health in mind. Water flows are better supported, habitats are strengthened and the cumulative impacts of land use are considered across the whole system, not in isolation.
A healthy future, together.
Caring for a watershed is a shared responsibility. We imagine a future where people who live, work and spend time in this place feel connected to its health and empowered to be part of sustaining it for generations to come.
Our Goals
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Increase public understanding of how mining, hydropower and forestry have shaped the watershed and continue to affect river health today.
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Use clear evidence, shared knowledge and community voices to encourage accountability and action from decision-makers and responsible parties.
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Promote approaches to restoration that consider the full watershed, from headwaters to the ocean, rather than isolated fixes.
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Advocate for the assessment and cleanup of legacy mine waste, including the tailings pond and contaminated water feeding into the Jordan River.
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Contribute to knowledge-sharing and dialogue around the barriers facing salmon in the Jordan River, helping create the conditions for future restoration led by rights holders.
a Symbol of Hope.
While sampling a small pool of water beside the log sort operation, a JRWA co-founder did not expect to find much life. The area has been heavily altered by industry, and the estuary that once existed is largely gone. But after casting a trap into the brackish water, he was surprised to find several stickleback fish.
Dr. Dolph Schluter identified them as freshwater resident stickleback. While this species is known for its resilience in altered environments, it is not tolerant of copper, a known contaminant in the watershed.
The pool sits within a small, spring-fed wetland, drawing from the same freshwater source historically used by nearby waterfront homes and now the Cold Shoulder Cafe. It is possible these fish are the progeny of individuals that survived the loss of the original wetland.
Herons and kingfishers are often seen at the site.
Their presence does not suggest recovery, but it does point to persistence, and to the importance of understanding the conditions that allow life to remain, even here.
Our Partners & Supporters
We are thankful for the organizations and businesses who support the Jordan River Watershed Awareness Coalition. Your support helps keep care for this place visible and helps move conversations toward action.
If your organization or business cares about the Jordan River Watershed, we invite you to support this work and be part of what comes next.
