A smǝlqmíx expert warns that climate change and over-logging could lead to an extinction event for fish in the Okanagan Basin by 2040. Lauren Terbasket from the Lower Similkameen Indian Band highlighted warming water trends and the critical need for climate resilience at a recent leadership meeting. Collaborating with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Terbasket’s findings indicate alarming water warming trends affecting fish survival.
The Similkameen River, critical for salmon migration, contributes significantly to the Okanagan River’s flow. A recent thermal barrier due to warm water reduced salmon returns dramatically. Factors like low snowpack and extensive clear-cutting are worsening conditions, destabilizing water systems and increasing flooding risks.
In response, LSIB is initiating watershed restoration projects focused on climate resilience, involving ceremonial practices and bio-engineering methods like planting deciduous trees for shade and slope stabilization. These efforts aim to restore water cooling capabilities, essential for sustaining fish populations and preserving Indigenous food sovereignty.
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