The Heart of the Fraser

By Mark Angelo

The Fraser River is BC’s largest and most ecologically diverse waterway. At its very heart, lies a meandering stretch between Mission and Hope that is one of the most productive stretches of river anywhere in the world.

Commonly called the ‘Gravel Reach’ because of the gravel and cobbles deposited there by the torrential currents of the Fraser Canyon, it wanders across a complex, ever-changing landscape of floodplains, side channels, wetlands and backwaters, screened by native black cottonwoods and cedars and hidden far from the constant din of Highway 1.

The humble name belies a rich ecosystem that supports an exceptional diversity of fish, birds and other wildlife, a truly unique natural bounty that, in turn, underlies extensive cultural, spiritual, aesthetic, recreational and economic values for First Nations, local communities, and indeed for all Canadians.

But the heart of the Fraser is also increasingly at risk...

Mark Angelo is an internationally renowned river advocate. He is the Deputy Chair of the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council and heads BCIT’s Fish, Wildlife and Recreation program. A recipient of the Order of Canada and the Order of BC for his river conservation efforts, he also founded BC Rivers Day and chairs World Rivers Day.

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