In 2022, Chu Cho Environmental and Centerra Gold teamed up with Royal Gold Inc. to put together an incredible summer student program that was focused on the art of progressive reclamation. This is that story.
Chu Cho Environmental and Palmer Environmental team up to conduct hydrological baseline studies at the Benchmark Metals Lawyers Gold-Silver Project. We really appreciate all the support that Palmer lends to our team. Best team ever. And don't forget Silverking Helicopters!
For the past 20 years, Chu Cho Environmental has been conducting annual redd counts in the Davis River to monitor the population of Bull Trout, a species that is particularly sensitive to changes in water temperature.
We all know the iconic image of the caribou wandering majestically across the snow-covered landscape. But have you ever stopped to think about what these creatures are eating?
The Chu Cho Environmental Fisheries Program in Tsay Keh Dene Territory is building a nationwide collaborative fisheries program that emphasizes preserving critical habitats to promote diversity across connected watersheds.
The Williston Reservoir in Prince George, British Columbia, is known for its breathtaking beauty, but beneath the surface, it faces a problem that requires diligent management.
Working in the Canadian Arctic can be both thrilling and challenging, as seen in a recent video by Chu Cho Environmental featuring Ecologic and their team of environmental scientists.
Sean, Caroline and Shantanu head out to the Goldway Road to monitor last year's road restoration efforts.
If you work or live in the bush you know this pain.
Gord Emery, a biologist with Chu Cho Environmental, is leading a project to assess grizzly bear corridors in British Columbia, Canada.
The olive-sided flycatcher, known as a patient and watchful species by the Tsay Keh Dene, is a declining species of aerial insectivore.
This Hoary Marmot is of great importance to the nation, and the community is working to gain a better understanding of the current state of the marmot population in their territory.
In the remote northern town of Tsay Keh, a team of scientists is setting out to study the dust storms that have long plagued the Williston reservoir area.
In the Summer of 2021, Chu Cho Environmental returned to the Chase Caribou Range to restore another road in the area. The Goldway Road, a 19-kilometer abandoned mineral exploration access route north of Johansen Lake, is part of a migration corridor for the Chase Caribou, a sub-population of southern mountain caribou listed as threatened under the Species at Risk Act. The habitats within the range have been impacted by both natural and anthropogenic disturbances.
In 2019 and 2020, Chu Cho Environmental and the Tsay Keh Dene Nation completed restoration work across 12 kilometers of road and an area known as Caribou Flats, an area of importance for both the Chase Caribou and the Tsay Keh Dene people. The Chase Caribou Road Restoration Program aims to restore the ecological function of the mountain caribou habitat by strategically restoring roadways that may increase predator travel speeds and hunting efficiency in sensitive caribou habitat.
Luke Gleeson, a member of the Tsay Keh Dene Nation, is helping lead field work for the Goldway Road Restoration Project. One of the challenges of restoring the road is crossing streams and drainages in important salmon, steelhead, and bull trout habitat. To minimize the effects, machinery is cleaned and well-maintained, erosion control is used where possible, and crossings are carried out during low-risk windows for fish species.
The restoration is done in two phases: functional restoration and ecological restoration. The first phase includes mechanically deactivating the road to reduce human access and tree felling to reduce predator travel speeds. The second phase involves decompacting the road surface to facilitate the planting of native trees and woody shrubs, which will help the road return to its pre-disturbance state.
The restoration team uses a cat 330 excavator to decompact the road surface and create alternating pits and mounds in a method known as rough and loose soil preparation. The mounded terrain should deter predators and reduce access, while the variability and microhabitats created by the mounds and coarse woody debris provide optimal growing conditions for native vegetation.
The restoration of the Goldway Road is a critical step in the conservation of the Chase Caribou, a key species in the ecosystem of the Chase Caribou Range. The cooperation between Chu Cho Environmental, the Tsay Keh Dene Nation, and other stakeholders will help ensure the success of the project and the preservation of the habitat for generations to come.
In a bid to restore caribou winter habitats in post-burn environments, a research program is underway to understand if transplanting terrestrial forage lichens can be used as a tool to achieve this.
In what would be an unusual mode of transportation most, two workers, Kasra and Tim, took to the skies in a helicopter to service and install equipment at remote job sites in British Columbia, Canada. Their mission: to service meteorology and air quality equipment at an exploration project, followed by the tearing down of telemetry equipment that monitored fish movement in the Adacheka River.
The helicopter ride was not just a time-saver, but also an exciting way to commute to work. The workers completed the first site, which was the most complicated of the day, and then drove up to a mountain site to change passive air quality filters. The final stop was at the Adacheka River, where the telemetry monitoring station was torn down.
Years ago, John Hagen and the team installed radio transmitter tags in large adult bull trout in the Adacheka River system to study their movements and habits. With the equipment now outdated, Kasra and Tim stepped in to decommission the telemetry monitoring station and make way for new technology.
The journey was a successful one, as the workers completed their tasks in a day and a half, utilizing a helicopter to save time and add a thrilling element to their day at work. Whether it's servicing equipment or studying fish movements, the dedication of these workers and the innovative methods they use make their work both challenging and rewarding.
The bull trout is one of British Columbia's most iconic fish species, adapted to the cool mountain streams of the province. With their sensitivity to habitat degradation and changes, maintaining their populations is crucial for their survival. That's why a team of fish biologists and environmental scientists are working on a study to identify the critical habitats that the bull trout depends on to thrive.
John Hagen, an independent fish biologist, is working on the project with Chu Cho Environmental. The team is conducting aerial surveys to cover as much stream habitat as possible in the Williston Watershed. The flights are conducted low over the treetops to spot the bull trout's distinctive red spawning beds. The team has so far surveyed 2,500 kilometers of stream habitat, and is recording migration barriers and physical habitat characteristics that could impact the bull trout's spawning.
Nathan French, an environmental scientist with Chu Cho Environmental, is monitoring water temperatures in the streams. He and his team have set up temperature loggers at the top and bottom of each stream section to collect long-term data on water temperatures and their impact on habitat suitability and spawning timing. The loggers are attached to large boulders with underwater epoxy, ensuring they remain in place over time.
Foot surveys are also conducted to count the bull trout redds. The team wades through the streams to carefully observe the spawning beds and record the number of bull trout.
The goal of this project is to maintain or improve the bull trout population health in the Williston Watershed. With the knowledge gained from this study, the team can design and prioritize habitat conservation actions that will help the bull trout thrive. As the bull trout are so important for the ecosystem and for future generations to enjoy, the team's work is critical for the preservation of this unique species.
In the remote reaches of Northern BC, a team of environmental professionals are bringing their expertise and technology to bear on some of the most challenging environmental projects in the region.
Chu Cho Environmental and the Tsay Keh Dene Nation have been monitoring the Arctic Grayling population in the Ingenika River for the past six years through snorkeling surveys.
Once a thriving mining site, time and neglect have taken their toll on this property. After being shut down several years ago, vandalism and deterioration have become rampant, leading to a site in dire need of rehabilitation.
In British Columbia and Canada, populations of caribou, including the Chase herd, are facing a decline. This herd is considered part of the southern mountain population of caribou and is listed as threatened under the Federal Species at Risk Act.
At Chu Cho Environmental, the focus on safety and efficiency is a top priority. Today, the company is prepping a truck that will be heading north with one of their project managers.
For the past eight years, Chu Chu Environmental has been leading the project to monitor and mitigate the airborne dust that blows off the beaches of the reservoir.
For over half a century, the fish populations in the Williston Reservoir have undergone tremendous changes since the reservoir reached its full pool in the early 1970s.
Collins Camp, located 80 kilometers from the community of Tsay Keh Dene and 400 kilometers from the nearest paved road, is the hub of environmental efforts aimed at addressing dust storms and improving air quality on the reservoir.
Snowmobiles are a crucial tool for many industries operating in northern regions, where snow and ice can make transportation difficult. However, operating these machines safely requires a certain level of training and expertise.