Mill Bay and District Conservation Society
About Us
We are a volunteer driven non-profit society located on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia who are dedicated to enhancing a population of Coho salmon in the Shawnigan Lake watershed.
We actively foster environmental stewardship and education by empowering our local communities and area schools to directly participate
in hands-on conservation of Coho salmon.
We are completely reliant upon funding generated by the efforts of our volunteers, from contributions from area business and individuals, from ENGO's focused on salmon conservation, and local and federal governments.
What We Do
Beginning in the late 1970's, our volunteers have been physically assisting a run of Coho salmon during their migration above a series of waterfalls on Shawnigan Creek where it enters the Salish Sea near Mill Bay, BC.
Our project had very humble beginnings but it has grown in size and scale every year. Our first year of returning salmon was only about 25 spawning adults. Now, 45 years later, on an average year our volunteers help approximately 5000 fish get above the falls.
We are widely known both locally and internationally as one of, if not the most successful Coho salmon enhancement project on the west coast of North America.
Who We Are
Our society is entirely driven by our volunteers. We hold an annual general meeting each spring where our Board of Directors presents the results of the previous year's salmon conservation efforts. We also discuss our plans for fundraising to maintain and repair our facilities or replace equipment, and our new Board is elected.
Meet our current Board members below: (coming soon!)