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.
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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Support conditions that allow salmon to once again survive, migrate and spawn in the Jordan River by addressing barriers, water quality and habitat loss.
Symbol of Hope
While JRWA’s co-founder was sampling a small pool of water beside the log sort operation, he 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 his trap into the brackish water, he was surprised to pull out a handful of stickleback fish.
Sticklebacks are known for their ability to survive in small and highly altered environments, persisting where conditions change and resources are limited. Their presence offered a rare glimpse of what this place once supported and what it could again. Small but resilient, the stickleback reflects the potential for recovery within the Jordan River Watershed.
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.
Recent Milestones
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