Using Historical Aerial Photography to Identify River Changes as related to Forestry Practices in Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Territory

The decline of Pacific salmon on the south and central coast of British Columbia has resulted in well-recognized economic, ecological, and cultural impacts. Numerous factors are considered to have contributed, including marine conditions, climate change, and changes to freshwater habitats. Forest harvesting is often considered to have altered freshwater habitats where salmon spawn and rear via changes to temperature, flow regimes, erosion, and sedimentation. This project will use historical aerial photography and records to identify changes to salmon-bearing rivers over time, and qualitatively relate these to forest harvesting history data. As iconic populations with unique cultural, economic, and environmental impacts in western Canada, wild salmon have many Canadian groups who are highly motivated to help protect their health and long-term viability. These groups include First Nations, government, industry, environmental NGOs, and academics. This project, in partnership with environmental NGO Salmon Coast Society, will engage and collaborate with such groups, including Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Fisheries Group Society, Pacific Salmon Foundation, Ecofish Research Ltd, and the Universities of Victoria and Toronto.

Faculty Supervisor:

Nijal Rollinson;Martin Krkosek

Student:

Partner:

Salmon Coast Society

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Toronto

Program: