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Activities

River Works activities vary with the seasons, which means the activities change from month to month and there is always something new to learn and do.  Workshops provide the necessary background to restore, enhance and monitor sites are offered to River Works volunteers throughout the year. 

New volunteers are launched into the program with an introductory presentation that explores wetland habitats and ensures a solid understanding of this fragile ecosystem.  This is followed by field activities and hands-on training in activities such as site mapping, vegetation surveys, water quality testing, fish sampling, bird surveys and restoration procedures.

If you have questions or are interested in joining the River Works team, please send a message to

riverworks@vanaqua.org.

Bird box installations and monitoring
River Works creates, installs and monitors "cheep" homes for our flying friends in the Fraser River estuary.  Unfortunately, natural holes in trees are sometimes hard to find, so we provide homes for a multitude of animals including swallows, chickadees, owls and bats.

Bird surveys
Volunteers use field guides and binoculars to spot birds nesting and passing through the estuary. Bird numbers and species are tallied, and then analysed. The data is used to form tables and charts that track changes in bird populations over time.

Fish sampling
Who is swimming around in the Fraser River estuary? A habitat with an abundance of food and protection makes for healthy fish. Using beach seines and minnow traps, volunteers help survey and monitor fish populations at River Works sites.

industrial wood debris surveys and clean ups

Get involved with River Works and remove industrial wood debris from marshes in order to help promote the re-establishment of native vegetation. industrial wood debris is piled into huge dumpsters and taken to a fibre recycling plant off-site. industrial wood debris surveys are conducted before and after clean ups to monitor the success of these activities. Wood debris removal can be very labour intensive, muddy and of course, lots of fun!

Non-native vegetation removal and native plantings
Once invasive plants have been identified at a site, River Works will work to remove these plants in order to allow native plants to grow.  Once removed, the plants are disposed of off-site.  Only after the invasive plants have been removed can River Works volunteers begin to replant the area with native plants that will provide shelter and food for birds and animals.

Site mapping
Before River Works volunteers begin activities at a site, it is important to map out the location. This will determine the boundaries of a particular site and identify the important characteristics. Temporary markers are usually set up at this time so they can be used as reference points in the future. Over time, a larger map showing the details of the site will be compiled and used as baseline data for future reference.

TD Canada Trust Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

Each September tens of thousands of Canadians scour the shorelines in search of garbage in a nation-wide effort to improve the quality of our shoreline environment.  The TD Canada Trust Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup takes place between September 16 – 24 in 2006 and River Works will be participating in cleanups at two of our sites.  Every piece of garbage that is picked up is recorded, tabulated and accounted for by staff at the Vancouver Aquarium, which demonstrates exactly what type of litter is infesting our shorelines. 

In 2005, volunteers collected 208,855 cigarette filters and 91,404 food wrappers/containers, making these the top two concerns along our beaches.  In the year 2005, 36,798 people participated in the shoreline cleanup nationwide, and this year YOU can participate too.  Head over to the TD Canada Trust Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup website and signup for an event open to the public, or get a group of friends together and sign up for your own site.  The shoreline cleanup staff will provide you with everything you need for your cleanup, all you have to do it sign up and show up!  Bring your friends and family and get involved!

Vegetation surveys
River Works Volunteers identify plant species and survey vegetation using transects and quadrats that allow volunteers to make estimates of the vegetation distribution and percent cover.  This information helps to determine whether the ecosystem is changing and also whether invasive species are displacing native species.

Water quality testing
Volunteers make a splash and get their feet wet while testing water quality! The Fraser River travels a far distance and can pick up harmful pollutants and toxins along the way. Water quality testing helps River Works volunteers monitor estuary health.