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Rivers and Smith Salmon Ecosystems Planning Society
Introduction to/Vision of the
RSSEPS
The Rivers and Smith Salmon Ecosystems Planning Society was
constituted under the BC Societies Act on August 21, 2003. This
represented formalization of an entity that has existed since mid
2000 for purposes of convening different parties and interests to
pursue the common goal of stewardship for salmon and their
ecosystems. |
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The Rivers and Smith Salmon Ecosystems Planning Group (RSSEPS)
grew out of a number of initiatives by First Nations, public agencies,
forest companies, environmental and stewardship organizations, local
governments, fishing interests and concerned individuals, undertaken in
response to serious declines in salmon. In August 2000 what turned out to
be an inaugural meeting of the group took place at Rivers Inlet (Wuikinuxv,
formerly Oweekeno, Village) to consider a draft recovery plan for sockeye
which had collapsed precipitously in both Rivers and Smith Inlets. The
group has drafted a vision statement as follows:
We see the salmon of Rivers and Smith, and their
ecosystems, restored to health and to a level of optimal productivity. We
see the full potential values of the salmon and their ecosystems realized
for individual and community development. We envision the continuing
development of ecosystem research and public education to promote the work
of recovery and stewardship.
Membership in the RSSEPS
As of 2007, the organizational membership included:
 | Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw First Nation |
| Wuikinuxv First Nation |
| Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans |
| District of Port Hardy |
| Raincoast Conservation Society |
| Rivers Inlet North Coast Salmon Enhancement
Association |
| SFU Centre for Coastal Studies. |
| Commercial Fishers representative |
Structure
The RSSEPS has a management committee of three which for
2006 is Bruce Burrows representing the Wuikinuxv First Nation, Colleen
Hemphill representing the Gwa'sala Nakwaxda'xw First Nations, and Misty
MacDuffee of the Raincoast Conservation Society.
The RSSEPS also has as a Technical Advisory Committee
which consists of DFO staff with expertise in Rivers and Smith Salmon
stocks, representatives from the two First Nations, Rick Routledge from
SFU and Bob Bocking from LGL Ltd., environmental consultants. The RSSEPS
has a half-time coordinator who is responsible for project development and
management, fund raising and communications. The current coordinator for
the RSSEPS is David Stevenson. Contact:
http://www.rsseps.ca/
Funding
In 2003, the RSSEPS received funding from the Pacific
Salmon Foundation to develop a Salmon Recovery Plan and to carry out field
work in the summer of 2003. Funding from the PSF sustained the work of the
society in 2004, 2005. and 2006. On 2006 the PSF decided to invest its
funds in the Fraser River and so their funding for the RSSEPS Recovery
Plan came to an end. Funding for projects in 2006 and 2007 has been
generously provided by the Tula Foundation through the Pacific Salmon
Foundation. The Tula Foundation is a private Canadian family foundation
formed in 2002. They use their financial resources to promote the health,
productivity and diversity of communities, including both people and the
natural environment. They support initiatives in Canada, and they are also
active internationally, most notably in Central America. Their web address
is: http://www.tula.ca/
Geographic Focus
The stocks (and their ecosystems) which are the focal
point of RSSEPS efforts originate in the rivers flowing into Owikeno and
Long Lakes on BC’s Central Coast. The first map below indicates the
approximate location of Rivers and Smith Inlets while the second
enumerates the major river and stream systems.
Rivers And
Smith Inlets Digital Atlas
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