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Draft Funding Priorities

Give us your feedback on draft regional funding priorities

The new priorities for compensation projects will guide future funding decisions starting in 2028—2029 and your input will be considered by our board before they are finalized.

Although regional funding priorities are of the highest priority to our regional boards, we will still consider funding projects that align strongly with our three core elements even if not reflected in our draft funding priorities. Draft funding priorities are listed in alphabetical order by value. No ranking is implied.

 

Provide your feedback: use our online form to share your feedback by Friday, November 13

Download Coastal Region Draft Funding Priorities handout

 

1. Culturally important species- Support sustenance-level population recovery of culturally important species.

2. Grizzly bears - Enhance and restore critical habitat of grizzly bear populations (e.g., Stein/Nahatlatch, Garibaldi/Pitt population units) within FWCP’s Coastal Region watersheds.

3. Habitat connectivity - Identify, prioritize, and remediate barriers to fish passage to improve connectivity for salmonids and other fish species1 .

4. Old growth forests - Support habitat restoration to enhance the recovery of old-growth forest ecosystems2.

5. Population recovery - Support population recovery for fish & wildlife impacted by BC Hydro dams; and/or a species of cultural value; and/or a conservation priority (e.g., northern spotted owl).

6. Riparian ecosystems - Restore riparian ecosystems (i.e., to address riparian-dependent bats, amphibians, and birds).

7. Salmon recovery - Mitigate a limiting factor for Pacific salmon and other fish species impacted by BC Hydro dams by leveraging existing data (e.g., FWCP past projects or DFO restoration priorities).

8. Wetland ecosystems - Restore, maintain, and enhance function of wetlands with the objective of restoring ecological integrity3.

9. Wetland & riparian ecosystems - Support ecological integrity at a watershed level; support process-based, ecosystem-focused restoration (e.g., habitat connectivity, migration corridors).

1 In accordance with BC Hydro's Fish Passage Decision Framework
2 While land protection is not identified as a draft regional funding priority, the purchase of land for conservation purposes is a priority for the FWCP. These opportunities will be considered throughout the year and evaluated on alignment to our core elements.
3 As per section 1.2 of our Governance Manual, our vision anticipates helping species be more resilient to emerging pressures such as climate change.

 

The new priorities for compensation projects will guide future funding decisions starting in 2028—2029 and your input will be considered by our board before they are finalized.

Although regional funding priorities are of the highest priority to our regional boards, we will still consider funding projects that align strongly with our three core elements even if not reflected in our draft funding priorities. Draft funding priorities are listed in alphabetical order by value. No ranking is implied. Draft funding priorities are listed in alphabetical order by value. No ranking is implied. Please note that the Shuswap River Watershed is included in the FWCP's Coastal Region.

 

Provide your feedback: use our online form to share your feedback by Friday, November 13

Download Columbia Region Draft Funding Priorities handout

 

1. Habitat connectivity - Restore, enhance, or protect habitat connectivity for multiple wide-ranging species1.

2. Population recovery - Support population recovery for wildlife and fish populations of concern (in coordination with provincial Recovery Teams where applicable).

3. Reservoir productivity - Maintain large reservoir productivity through the Arrow Lakes and Kootenay Lake Nutrient Restoration Programs and the Hill Creek and Meadow Creek spawning channels2.

4. Salmon recovery - Support Columbia River salmon recovery led by partner First Nations2.

5. Streams & rivers - Restore, enhance, and protect stream and river aquatic habitat and productivity.

6. Upland ecosystems - Restore, enhance, or protect upland ecosystems (e.g., grassland, deciduous forest, and open forest ecosystems) to benefit multiple species.

7. Wetland & riparian ecosystems - Restore, enhance, or protect3 wetland and riparian habitat and/or wetland and riparian ecological function focusing on self-sustaining natural processes where possible to benefit multiple species.


1 Does not include implementation of fish passage at BC Hydro dams or hydroelectric generating stations.
2 Directed projects only.
3 Land conservation

 

The new priorities for compensation projects will guide future funding decisions starting in 2028—2029 and your input will be considered by our board before they are finalized.

Although regional funding priorities are of the highest priority to our regional boards, we will still consider funding projects that align strongly with our three core elements even if not reflected in our draft funding priorities. 1 Draft funding priorities are listed in alphabetical order by value. No ranking is implied.

 

Provide your feedback: use our online form to share your feedback by Friday, November 13

Download Peace Region Draft Funding Priorities handout

 

1. Arctic grayling - Restore or enhance critical habitat and populations of Arctic grayling in alignment with the 2026 FWCP Arctic Grayling Status and Limiting Factors Synthesis2 .

2. Bull trout - Restore or enhance critical habitat for bull trout in alignment with the 2019 Bull Trout Information Synthesis and Monitoring Framework .

3. Caribou - Restore caribou populations using measures that do not include habitat restoration or protection.

4. Caribou - Restore caribou habitat to increase caribou populations.

5. Fish passage & aquatic connectivity -Identify, prioritize, and remediate fish passage barriers in tributary streams, with emphasis on road-stream crossings and other barriers that fragment connectivity.

6. Forested, riparian & wetland-dependent species - Restore or enhance habitat for riparian, wetland, or valley-bottom forest dependent species.

7. Forested, riparian & wetland ecosystems - Restore or enhance riparian, wetland, or valley-bottom forest ecosystems.

8. Moose - Restore or enhance habitat to increase or maintain moose populations with considerations for caribou.

9. Stone’s sheep & mountain goat - Restore or enhance Stone's sheep or mountain goat populations and their habitat (e.g., movement corridors).

1 While land protection is not identified as a draft regional funding priority, the purchase of land for conservation purposes is a priority for the FWCP. These opportunities will be considered throughout the year and evaluated on alignment to our core elements.
2 The 2026 synthesis is an update to the 2017 synthesis and monitoring framework. It will guide projects to conserve and enhance Arctic grayling based on a gathering of current knowledge in the region. It will be available to grant applicants in late July 2026.

 

We are now seeking feedback on draft funding priorities that will guide our funding decisions for future fish & wildlife compensation projects starting in 2028-2029. Your feedback will be considered by our boards before they are finalized.

Provide your feedback: use our online form to share your feedback by Friday, November 13

Learn more: register for our funding priorities information session on Tuesday, September 29

 

Context

The primary obligation of the FWCP is to compensate for dam impacts to fish, wildlife, and their habitats resulting from construction of BC Hydro dams. Since 2011, regional actions plans have defined priority fish and wildlife projects eligible for FWCP’s compensation funding. Updates to our regional action plans are required as per our Governance Manual. In 2025 we started an internal process to renew our priorities for funding. 

In spring 2026 our regional boards endorsed draft funding priorities that will replace our current priority actions and action plans in 2027. We are now engaging more broadly with First Nations and interest holders on the draft funding priorities.

While regional funding priorities are of the highest priority to our regional boards, we will consider funding projects that align strongly with our three core elements even if not reflected in our draft funding priorities.

Core elements 

The FWCP will consider funding projects that reflect three core elements:

1. dam impacts to fish, wildlife and their habitats;
2. First Nations' values; and
3. conservation priorities.

The core elements are intended to strengthen alignment between our primary obligation to compensate for dam impacts, and simultaneously consider First Nation values, and conservation priorities in the watersheds where we work. Starting in 2027, these three program-wide elements will guide funding decisions for all of our grants, in all regions, regardless of the proponent or the delivery method.  

Dam Impacts

BC Hydro generating facilities and reservoirs resulted in the permanent loss or alteration of habitat and ecosystems in the reservoir footprint. At the watershed level, dams also impacted aquatic and terrestrial species, and disrupted ecological processes, both upstream and downstream of a dam.Additionally, the infrastructure (such as roads) necessary for power generation may have enabled further human activity and resource extraction in watersheds where a BC Hydro dam exists, adding to the cumulative effects and creating additional dam-related impacts to fish and wildlife, leading to additional conservation priorities.Potential projects must demonstrate how the target species, ecosystem or habitat has been impacted by the creation of a BC Hydro dam.

First Nations’ Values

There are known dam impacts to culturally important species, habitats, and ecosystems. Potential projects should reflect Indigenous knowledge systems, laws, and protocols, and demonstrate important elements of Indigenous world views including the concept of all living things being interconnected.Potential projects should demonstrate how and why the species, habitat, or ecosystem has value for the relevant Nation(s) based on the proposed location for the project and how it was impacted by a BC Hydro dam, if the impact is known. This considers whether a project aligns with the environmental, cultural, and territorial stewardship and caretaking interests of the Nation(s) where the project is proposed.

Conservation Priorities

Human activities place conservation pressures on species, habitats, ecosystems, and ecological functions and processes. This core element considers the need of a proposed project with respect to improving the state of the species, habitat, or ecosystem a project is targeting. This may include the state of the watershed where your project would occur (i.e., the current ecological function and resilience), relevant imminent threats including a changing climate or limiting factors, and conservation status.Potential projects should demonstrate why a species, habitat, ecosystem, or ecological function/process would benefit from intervention for conservation, restoration or enhancement.

Background 

What’s the timeline?

New funding priorities will be finalized in early 2027 by our three regional boards. The new priorities will guide our annual grant intake scheduled to open in summer 2027 for 2028-2029 projects.  In 2026, applicants should continue to refer to our current action plans to identify priority actions eligible for funding.

How were the draft funding priorities developed?

FWCP was supported by a technical team that developed a structured process based on a value prioritization tool to create an initial set of draft funding priorities for each region. 

The value prioritization tool:

• allowed for the compilation, assessment and prioritizing of values (e.g., species, ecosystems, and ecological processes) based on current action plans, previous strategic reviews, previous project outcomes and investments, dam impact mapping and other inputs;
• assessed values in strong alignment with the FWCP’s three core elements: dam impacts, First Nations’ values, and conservation priorities.; and
• can be used to support future updates to our regional funding priorities.

The initial draft funding priorities were reviewed and revised by each regional board, based on input from FWCP’s fish and wildlife technical committees, and First Nations Working Groups in our Peace and Columbia regions, and First Nation board members in our Coastal Region.

Will funding priorities change?

When final in 2027, funding priorities are expected to be in place for three to five years, with an annual progress check by each regional board. 

Ongoing engagement with partner First Nations is anticipated after 2026 and could result in adjustments to the board-approved 2027 funding priorities.

Why is the FWCP renewing its approach to compensation project funding?

Updates to our funding priorities are required as per section 5.1 our Governance Manual. 

When final in 2017, the new regional funding priorities will: 

• strengthen alignment with our primary obligation to compensate for BC Hydro dam impacts to fish, wildlife and their habitat, and the projects we fund;
• reflect First Nations values; and 
• recognize conservation priorities within the watersheds where we operate.

What about the three core elements?

While regional funding priorities are of the highest priority to our regional boards, we will consider funding projects that align strongly with our three core elements even if not reflected in our draft funding priorities.

What about my idea for a project?

Starting with our 2028-2029 annual grant intake, grant applicants will be invited to propose projects that align with a regional funding priority or propose a project idea that aligns strongly with our three core elements (i.e., applicants should be prepared to demonstrate in their grant application how the proposed project idea aligns with the core elements). 

What about land protection?

While land protection is not identified as a draft regional funding priority, the purchase of land for conservation purposes is a priority for the FWCP. These opportunities will be considered throughout the year and evaluated on alignment to our core elements.

What about climate change?

While projects that address a relevant climate change impact are not identified as a funding priority, section 1.2 of our Governance Manual anticipates that the projects we fund will help species be more resilient to emerging pressures such as climate change.

 

Engaging more broadly

Each board endorsed draft funding priorities for engagement purposes in spring 2026. The FWCP is now engaging more broadly on the draft funding priorities. from June 18 to November 13, 2026.

Use our online form to provide your feedback on the draft funding priorities.  

First Nations engagement: each FWCP region is leading engagement with partner First Nations based on guidance from the Nations. Contact our region managers to discuss opportunities for First Nation engagement.

Interest holder engagement: interest holders are invited to join one or more of our regional information sessions on Tuesday, September 2026. Register now.

Each regional board will consider First Nation and interest holder engagement outcomes in late 2026, prior to finalizing the funding priorities.