2025
February 18, 2026
Aleshia Conley
If you were asked to picture water in Fernie, you might form an image of the Elk River and its many tributaries. Memories of river dips, paddling, or fishing might come to mind, but what about the ways we use water at home? The water we use for showering, washing dishes, and making coffee, all connects to the river.
Freeze, Flow, and Snow: What Happens to the Elk River in Winter?
January 6, 2026
Olivia Heintzman
While we’re bundling up, the Elk River ecosystem keeps humming under the ice. Temperatures are dropping, and winter is settling in, but what does that mean for the Elk River and its inhabitants? Though the surface may look quiet and still, an active underwater world continues to thrive just beneath it. The question isn’t whether life survives winter in the Elk River, it’s how.
In Support of Localized Watershed Decision-Making
December 3, 2025
Caitlin Henneker
Even as autumn rains returned, much of British Columbia remained gripped by drought until the close of October’s reporting season. Despite rainfall bringing temporary relief throughout the province, British Columbia still faced region-wide drought conditions well into the fall season. In the Elk Valley, these conditions serve as a reminder of how vulnerable our water systems are and how local gov-ernance is needed to help build resilience.
Meandering Streams: How Natural Curves Support a Healthy River
November 13, 2025
Aleshia Conley
Have you ever noticed the way the Elk River curves throughout the land in braided, wavy, snake-like patterns? Those bends are an important part of a natural, healthy flow of a river. Roughly 14,000-10,000 years ago, powerful glaciers carved our flat-bottomed U-shaped river valley. The wide floodplain leaves a lot of room for meandering, and while the source and destination stay the same, its path evolves and carves diverse habitats.
Five Ways to Improve Catch and Release Practices
October 14, 2025
Juno Montgomery
Catch and release is often seen as a way to enjoy fishing while conserving fish populations; when done properly, it can be effective. But improper handling can seriously harm fish even if they swim away, and increased fishing pressure increases the likelihood of catch-and-release mortality. One strategy to protect healthy populations is through responsible catch-and-release practices.
Caught, Released and Caught Again
September 4, 2025
Evgeni Matveev
The Elk River is a flyfishing paradise, renowned for abundant native Westslope cutthroat trout. In 2017, Tourism Fernie estimated that fishing represented a $2.7M industry in the Elk Valley, calculated from direct guided trip costs; given the increase in tourism and accessory costs such as accommodation, this value is likely much higher. Fish in the Elk River are vital to the economy and ecosystem, and understanding their populations and condition is important.
Breaking Down Fernie Sewage: Problems and Solutions
August 10, 2025
Evgeni Matveev
It’s no secret that the Fernie sewage management system is out of date. At the Elk River Alliance, we’re hearing more community concerns about the impacts of effluent discharge on ecosystems and recreation quality. Fernie wastewater has also raised flags with the Ministry of Environment, who are mandating decisive action to get within compliance of the Municipal Wastewater Regulation.
You’ll Know the Value of Water When Your Taps Run Dry
July 13, 2025
Evgeni Matveev
So far, the Elk Valley is lucky: we turn on the tap, and water comes out. Water is abundant and clean enough to swim, ski, raft, and fish. But taking water for granted is a luxury we can’t afford, especially in a changing climate and with growing demand.
June 7, 2025
Evgeni Matveev
Two years ago, I wrote an article on whirling disease risk to the Elk River watershed. Much has changed in BC since then and with the Elk River opening to fishing on June 15 it’s prudent to do a refresher crash course. If you plan on getting out on the water, make sure you know how to take proper precautions to decrease the chance of disease spread!
May 1, 2025
Fynley Kuijt
The snow is melting, the birds are chirping, and for someone in the environmental sector, this means one thing: field season is here! This spring, the Elk River Alliance (ERA) is busy de-winterising level loggers, taking water level and flow measurements, and visiting our temperature loggers to download data. This data on early climate change conditions will serve as an important reference to assess future changes.
April 3, 2025
Evgeni Matveev
Mining is the most prominent Elk Valley industry, but forestry has the largest direct footprint by land area. Terrestrial impacts of forestry are largely evident and widely known: habitat loss and fragmentation, decreased biodiversity, and increased temperature. However, trees are vital for healthy stream ecosystems, and we know very little about forestry impacts on Elk Valley water quality.
A Brief Intro to the Elk Valley Selenium Issue
March 17, 2025
Evgeni Matveev
In the Elk Valley, selenium is a topic of heated discussion reaching national and international attention. In the Fernie community there are diverse opinions; as the Communication Manager for the Elk River Alliance (ERA) I’ve heard the gamut. Depending on whom you ask, selenium will turn you into a mutant if you dip your toe in the river, or conversely, selenium is an overblown non-issue. The truth – as is often the case – lies somewhere in the middle.
Get Familiar With Fishing Fish
February 20, 2025
Fynley Kuijt
Like many local kids, I spent my childhood splashing in the shallows of Elk Valley streams, looking for clay along the streambanks, and floating the river. However, I have never fished the Elk River–or anywhere in the Elk River Watershed for that matter. Any fish I saw came with the distorted view you get from looking down through wavy water. What type of fish were they? I had no idea. However, as the Community Based Water Monitoring Coordinator for the Elk River Alliance, this information became very relevant for my role. For anyone looking to get into fishing this coming summer, acquaint yourself with local fish!
What does the Elk River Alliance do? Part 3: Community Education
January 5, 2025
Evgeni Matveev
In this final piece on the Elk River Alliance, I will focus on the community education and outreach pillar, which falls under my jurisdiction. If you are reading this, consider yourself out-reached! The main goal of ERA’s outreach effort is to improve community science literacy and engage people in watershed stewardship.
2024
What Does the Elk River Alliance Do? Part Two: Streamside Restoration
December 19, 2024
Evgeni Matveev
In this second article on the Elk River Alliance, I will cover the restoration program, which works to protect and enhance valuable streamside ecosystems by revegetating areas impacted by agriculture and development.
What Does the Elk River Alliance Do? Part One: Water Monitoring
October 31, 2024
Evgeni Matveev
Over a drink at The Northern, a good friend and I got talking about work. I was quite surprised (shocked and indignant, really) to learn that she didn’t know what the Elk River Alliance (ERA) does: “something environmental to do with the river?” What! As the Communications Manager, this was a personal affront. So, over the next few articles, I will correct this shortcoming and break down what ERA is all about. Emma, this is for you (so you better read it!).
The Four Freakiest Freshwater Fiends
October 7, 2024
Evgeni Matveev
Our mountain waters are filled with monsters of untold terror, lurking just below the surface of our waters. These creatures possess powers of mind control, suck your blood, have unhinging jaws, and eat fish cartilage. Read on… if you dare!
Lizard Creek is Changing and We Don’t Know Why
September 19, 2024
Evgeni Matveev
As summer gives way to fall, the Elk River Alliance prepares for another field season of water quality monitoring. For over a decade, ERA has monitored the watershed with some datasets going back to 2013. In the last few years, we noticed an unexpected shift in the biodiversity of insects and other “invertebrates” that live in Lizard Creek.
Avoiding an “Oops” Moment on the River
August 7, 2024
Evgeni Matveev
This summer, I joined some friends for a trip down the St. Mary River (by Kimberley) on what I thought would be a “float.” A departure from a nerdy aquatic science column, this is a story of the power of rivers and how experience and proper precautions are essential to ensuring river misadventures end with nothing worse than bruises.
July 14, 2024
Evgeni Matveev
Anyone who has wandered along the Elk River has noticed industrious beaver activity: entire groves reduced to pointy stumps, trees blocking trail access, and sturdy dams creating luscious wetlands. Since a drastic population decline of about 90-97% during the height of the fur trade, the North American beaver population has largely rebounded. These days, beavers are often considered a nuisance animal that threaten to flood basements and necessitate municipal tree removal. But beavers are a vital component of the ecosystem, and with some perspective and management efforts we can learn to coexist.
So, You Want to Work in the Environmental Sector?
April 13, 2024
Evgeni Matveev
Congrats! You’re considering working in the environmental sector, but don’t know where to start. The good news is that green jobs are on the rise; according to EcoCanada, environmental jobs are expected to increase by 8.1% between 2019 and 2029. But before committing yourself to 2-10 years of education, it’s important to understand the many different career paths within the environmental system.
Getting to Know Nature’s Hot Tubs
March 4, 2024
Aleshia Conley
British Columbia has over 85 hot springs, the most of any province in Canada, and many are located in the Kootenays. For Fernie newcomers like myself, the Lussier hot springs are constantly recommended as a ‘must-do’ activity, and for good reason. Located just outside of Canal Flats in White Swan Provincial Park, these beautiful natural springs are right next to the Lussier River, with several pools of varying temperatures. During my visit a few weeks ago I wondered about the science behind these geological phenomena: why does BC have so many hot springs? Where does the heat come from? And what’s up with that eggy smell??
February 24, 2024
Evgeni Matveev
Love is in the air, and for Valentine’s Day the Elk River Alliance would like to showcase some amazing mating strategies of water animals. Most organisms that reproduce sexually display intricate behaviours that allow them to choose an optimal mate. If you’re looking to spice up your love life, consider taking inspiration from nature! Below we divulge the secret sex-lives of the Westslope cutthroat trout, mayflies, and the American Dipper.
How Volunteering Brought Workplace Camaraderie, Balance and Movement Back into My Life
January 18, 2024
Zanele Chisholm
…as I got older volunteering lost its lustre. I began to feel that volunteer work was reserved for the well-off to feel less guilty about their well-offness. Now as Stage two of my nine-month Canadian Conservation Corps program comes to a close, I’ve learned that volunteering can change your relationship with work and re-route your path back to something that provides meaning in your life.
2023
Ancient Water Shapes Elk Valley Life Today
December 10, 2023
Evgeni Matveev
Visitors to the ammonite trail will see a spectacular 150-million-year-old behemoth, a fossil remnant of a deep past when shallow seas dominated the area, we now live in. From ancient oceans, coastal wetlands, and glacial cover, many aspects of life within the Elk Valley were carved by water eons ago.
Fighting the Freeze: How Do Water Animals Survive the Winter?
November 8, 2023
Evgeni Matveev
Most animals have three choices to survive winter: migrate, hibernate, or cope with freezing temperatures. Many birds (and some humans) choose to migrate south to warmer places. Bears fatten up and sleep through winter in their dens. But aquatic animals have an extra challenge: freezing water. Few animals can withstand being frozen because the forming ice destroys cell membranes, so aquatic animals have “cool” adaptations.
October 18, 2023
Evgeni Matveev
It’s fall and the Elk Valley is painted a shining golden hue. As cottonwood trees prepare for winter, they lose their green chlorophyll leaving only the yellow/orange “carotenoid” pigments behind. Just weeks ago, the dense canopy of these towering giants cast a deep shadow; a welcome respite from the summer heat. A few months prior–in the springtime–their seeds meandered like snowflakes to the ground. Cottonwoods, and specifically black cottonwoods (Populus trichocarpa), are an emblematic tree species in the Elk Valley. Identifiable by their rugged grey bark and drop-shaped leaves, cottonwood trees typically have a lifespan of no more than 100-200 years; however, visitors to the Ancient Cottonwood Trail (Morrissey area), will witness trees aged up to 400 years old–the oldest known in the world. These trees decrease flood impacts, provide a home and harbour for Elk Valley animals, and define our streamside ecosystems.
September 4, 2023
Evgeni Matveev
The Elk River watershed interlaces the valley, providing clean water for vegetation, wildlife, and humans. Healthy streams are vital for all life; but what makes a stream “healthy?” The Elk River Alliance has monitored Elk Valley waters for over a decade, and we’d like to explain.
August 3, 2023
Evgeni Matveev
The life of a modern fish is becoming increasingly stressful. The already challenging tasks of finding food, reproducing, and avoiding predation are getting more difficult with direct and indirect human activity.
June 1, 2023
Evgeni Matveev
The Elk River is in danger of becoming BC’s entry point for whirling disease; this could have significant impacts on our local trout and hence the $2.7 M/year fishing industry.
Invasive species are nothing new. Since the transport revolution, resilient plants and animals have followed global transport routes wreaking havoc on local ecosystems as they go. Rats were stowaways on sea voyages, seeds of invasive plants follow hikers on their shoes, and plenty of species–such as cane toads, mongooses, and even cats– were introduced as a pest control attempt only to become a pest themselves. Aquatic species are often accidental travellers, and are transported via ballast water, by growing on ship hulls, or by attaching to equipment.