In 2020 we began working with the Mt. Milligan Mine Environment Team to implement a large scale reclamation trial. One year later in 2021, Chu Cho Environmental and Mount Milligan won the Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation’s (TRCR) Jake McDonald award in recognition of their progressive reclamation on this project .
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.
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.
Chuyaza, located in Tsay Keh Dene territory, holds a rich history and cultural significance for the Tsay Keh Dene people.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Science Week at Chu Cho Environmental is an annual event dedicated to taking the time to slow down and share the results of their environmental projects with the Tsay Keh Dene community.
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 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.
The Tsay Keh Dene have an unextinguished right to manage and preserve their territory, a right that is recognized by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
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.
The olive-sided flycatcher, known as a patient and watchful species by the Tsay Keh Dene, is a declining species of aerial insectivore.
Gord Emery, a biologist with Chu Cho Environmental, is leading a project to assess grizzly bear corridors in British Columbia, Canada.
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.
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.
What started as a simple operation with a table and some nets has now become a full-fledged research station with a banding lab, kitchen, camping trailers, and even a viewing platform for observing the marsh.
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.
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.
Climate change is causing significant changes to the landscape and disrupting intact habitats, leading to the loss of biodiversity. This loss of biodiversity is a pressing concern that requires smart planning and thoughtful decisions.
Historically, the Tsay Keh Dene occupied a well-defined territory that spanned over 175,000 hectares, including villages, graveyards, prime hunting and trapping grounds, fisheries, and other culturally significant sites.
The Tsay Keh Dene People of Northern British Columbia, Canada, have lived in harmony with their territory and its inhabitants for generations. The caribou, known to the Tsay Keh Dene as "wedzih", are a central part of the culture and hold a special place in the community's way of life.
A video describing the Tsay Keh Dene and Carcross Tagish Community Based Climate Monitoring project funded by Environmental and Climate Change Canada.