Heart of the Fraser River is listed among B.C.'s most endangered

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC listed the Fraser River stretch between Mission and Hope as one of B.C.'s most endangered in 2026, citing urbanization and development; conservation groups have made land purchases recently but ORCBC says a coordinated conservation plan is lacking.

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC has listed the stretch of the Fraser River between Mission and Hope as one of British Columbia's most endangered in 2026. ORCBC says the area, called the Heart of the Fraser, faces pressures from urban growth, expanding farms and industrial development. Some conservation groups have purchased land for protection in recent years, but ORCBC reports that wider coordination and a formal conservation plan are missing. Key facts: - ORCBC placed the Fraser River stretch between Mission and Hope on its 2026 list of most endangered places in B.C. - The group identified urbanization, agricultural expansion and industrial development as primary threats to the Heart of the Fraser. - The Heart of the Fraser provides spawning and rearing habitat for salmon and sturgeon and is part of the Fraser River's lower basin, an area noted for high biodiversity by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. - Conservation purchases cited in recent years include the Nature Conservancy of Canada's 248-hectare Carey Island acquisition in 2024, a riverfront farm purchase by the BC Parks Foundation in 2023, and expanded protection of Nicomen Slough by the Nature Trust of British Columbia in 2021. - ORCBC has called for assistance from all levels of government to develop a conservation plan, and reporting does not identify a specific government plan or timeline at this time. Summary: The ORCBC listing highlights development pressures on a key stretch of the Fraser River that supports important fish habitat. Conservation groups have secured some land protections recently, but ORCBC says coordinated planning across governments and partners is still lacking. Undetermined at this time.