KEPO receives funding to study and improve Kahnawà:ke creek and river habitats

10/27/2011

The Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office (KEPO) is pleased to announce that funding has been approved by Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk in the amount of $123,700 for a two year study to survey fish populations, assess the quality of water habitats, and develop recommendations for restoration of Kahnawà:ke’s creeks and rivers.

The ultimate goal of the project is to create a watershed protection plan and restore Kahnawà:ke’s water habitats to a healthy state for all the species that rely on the waters for their survival, including the future generations of Kahnawa’kehró:non.

Consultants from AECOM, along with representatives from KEPO and Conservation, will carry out the study starting Monday, October 31st for approximately 2 weeks, continuing next Spring and Summer.

The project will also include the development of a Creek Health Monitoring Program involving community volunteers, and the creation of Best Management Practices for work taking place in our near water habitats. These and other activities aimed at ensuring that we are all doing our part to protect our creeks and river will be ongoing.

Throughout the years, the Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office has observed a significant degradation in the quality of our creek and river habitats. Last year, community members also expressed their concerns about the state of the creeks in the form of a petition. Based on community concerns and observations in the field, the KEPO prepared a proposal to carry out a comprehensive study of the creeks and river.  

“There’s been a great many changes to Kahnawà:ke’s landscape over the years and many people have theories and ideas about what the causes are in the water ways,” said Chief Rhonda Kirby. “This will go a long way to give us a better understanding of the issues and will help us to address the problems and find ways to correct them.” 

For more information about this project or how to become involved in the Creek Health Monitoring Program, please contact the KEPO at (450) 635-0600.