Rivers Institute
Welcome to the Rivers Institute
Thank you for your interest in the BCIT Rivers Institute. The Centre is currently under review. Please contact Giti Abouhamzeh at 778-331-1392 if you have any questions.
The BCIT Rivers Institute is focused on the protection and restoration of rivers, streams, estuaries, lakes and wetlands in British Columbia. Through education and outreach, our vision is to be a leader in science-based management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems in British Columbia, Canada and abroad.
Initiatives
The priority initiative for the Rivers Institute is to protect the gravel reach of the Fraser River, also known as the ‘Heart of the Fraser,’ from habitat loss resulting from industrial development, agricultural expansion and urban encroachment.
The stretch of the Fraser River that falls between Mission and Hope is home to prime spawning locations for salmon and white sturgeon. The Heart of the Fraser is a documentary about the impacts humans are having on this sensitive area.
The Soul of the Fraser tells the story of this important intertidal habitat, where the ocean’s saltwater meets the river’s fresh water, considered the most ecologically sensitive and threatened ecosystem in the entire Fraser River.
BCIT receives award for South Wetland Restoration Project
BCIT was awarded a 2021 Environmental Star by the City of Burnaby (the City) for the South Wetland Restoration Project located on the Burnaby campus.
The South Wetland Restoration Project (the Project) was run by staff and students in the BCIT School of Construction and the Environment (SOCE) – including Ecological Restoration (ER), Forest and Natural Areas Management (FNAM), and Fish, Wildlife and Recreation (FWR) programs – built the wetland in September 2020 as part of a three-day field course.