Disruptions to the Jordan River’s natural flow began with the construction of the Diversion Dam in 1908, completed in 1911, to support hydroelectric power generation. Early changes to flow coincided with an initial decline in observed salmon abundance.

A hydroelectric powerhouse, now operated by BC Hydro, was constructed downstream, diverting water through the system and returning it to the river via a tailrace. As salmon declined in the main river channel, this tailrace became one of the only locations where small numbers of salmon were observed for several decades.

Between 1950 and 1970, recorded fish counts in the lower mainstem of the Jordan River declined rapidly to near extinction. As salmon disappeared from most of the river, observations became largely limited to the powerhouse tailrace. This decline established a shifting baseline, where BC Hydro’s flow management and planning decisions came to be based on a river with few or no salmon, rather than on the river’s historical ability to support abundant runs.

The Elliott Dam, constructed in 1971 and operated by BC Hydro, further altered river flows to support hydroelectric generation. Following its construction, fish counts in the river dropped to near zero and have remained extremely low since.

Since the completion of the Elliott Dam, river flows have been regulated through BC Hydro’s hydropower system, replacing natural seasonal patterns with managed releases. This ongoing regulation continues to influence habitat connectivity, sediment movement and conditions for salmon recovery.

After decades of decline, salmon are now rare or nearly absent from the Jordan River. Because these low numbers have persisted for so long, flow management and planning decisions, including those made by BC Hydro, are often based on today’s conditions rather than the river’s original ability to support large salmon runs. This makes it harder to plan for recovery and long-term change.