Alouette River Management Society

🐟❤️ The Sockeye Are Coming Home!

Alouette Sockeye Salmon are making their way back to the watershed! While we haven't seen the first fish arrive at the ALLCO Fish Fence just yet, we know they're already in the Alouette River.

Did you know? Alouette Sockeye are one of only six known populations in the world that require a lake to spawn instead of a river. Unfortunately, because the Alouette Dam blocks their natural migration, returning Sockeye are carefully captured and transported to Alouette Lake, by trap and truck, where they can complete their incredible life cycle.

However, occasionally a Sockeye makes it past the ALLCO Fish Fence and continues upstream to the Alouette Dam. These fish are safely captured at a second fish fence below the dam and quickly transported around the barrier into the Alouette Reservoir so they can continue their journey in the lake.

If you're enjoying the river this summer, please help protect these amazing fish:
🐟 Give salmon plenty of space.
🚣 Be respectful when tubing, paddling, or wading.
🚯 Pack out what you pack in.

Stay tuned! We can't wait to share the exciting news when the first Sockeye arrive at the ALLCO Fish Fence! 💙

🧤 Ready to roll up your sleeves and make a difference? 🧤🌿

Join ARMS for two Adopt-a-Block Community Cleanups happening NEXT WEEK! 💚

📍 Wednesday, August 5th (9 AM - 10 AM) – Pavilion Trail
📍 Friday, August 7th (9 AM - 10 AM) – ALLCO Park

Whether you're a longtime volunteer or it's your very first cleanup, we'd love to have you join us! Every piece of litter removed helps protect our parks, rivers, and the wildlife that call them home. 🦆🐟

✅ All cleanup equipment and supplies are provided. Just bring:
👟 Sturdy footwear
☀️ Weather-appropriate clothing
😊 A positive attitude and a willingness to help!

Together, we can create a cleaner, healthier community—one bag of litter at a time.

We can't wait to see you there! 💙🌎

Register here: volunteersignup.org/MKJ9B

A big thank you to our small but mighty team of volunteers! 💚🌿

Last week, a dedicated group of volunteers rolled up their sleeves and helped us tackle invasive blackberry along a Coho salmon rearing side channel in the Alouette Watershed. 🌊🐟

This small but mighty team showed that it doesn’t take a large group to make a big impact. With determination, teamwork, and a willingness to get their hands dirty, they helped remove invasive blackberry and restore important habitat for local wildlife.

Removing invasive plants like Himalayan blackberry is hard work, but it plays an important role in creating healthier ecosystems. Clearing these dense patches helps make space for native vegetation to return and improves the quality of habitat that supports young salmon.

💪🌱 Every root removed is a step toward a healthier watershed!

☀️ Week 4 of Summer Eco-Camp is underway at ARMS! 🐟🌎

Our campers are diving into another week of adventure, discovery, and hands-on learning!

From exploring the watershed and discovering local wildlife to creative activities, outdoor games, and nature-based challenges, campers are building connections with the environment while having tons of fun along the way. 🌱🔍

Each week of Eco-Camp is filled with opportunities to get curious, ask questions, make new friends, and become the next generation of environmental stewards.

A big thank you to our amazing camp leaders and volunteers who help make these experiences possible! 💙

🌊 Become a Ridge Meadows Rivers Day Activity Sponsor! 🌿

Help create an unforgettable day for hundreds of families while showcasing your commitment to our community and local environment!

We're currently seeking businesses and community partners to sponsor some of our most popular Ridge Meadows Rivers Day activities. Sponsorship opportunities are available at $250, $500, and $1,000 levels.

🎉 Activity sponsorships available include:
🦋 The Nylon Zoo: Children's Storytelling with the Ta-Da Lady
🎨 Face Painting with Seastar Faces
🎈 Click & Clown Balloon Animals
🐋 *NEW* Ocean Wise Education Station

As an Activity Sponsor, your business will receive:
✅ Recognition on event promotional materials and flyers
✅ On-site recognition during Ridge Meadows Rivers Day
✅ The opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement

If you—or a business you know—would like to help bring these exciting activities to life, we'd love to hear from you!

📧 Contact [email protected] to learn more about becoming a sponsor.

Together, we can inspire the next generation of environmental stewards while creating a fun, memorable day for our community. 💙

We're at Country Fest this weekend! 🎉

We've got lots of fun, hands-on activities for kids, plus your chance to WIN our adorable crocheted Sockeye Salmon stuffy! 🐟

This one-of-a-kind salmon has been lovingly handcrafted and will be given away at the end of the weekend, so don't forget to stop by our booth and enter the draw for your chance to take it home!

Bring the family, stop by for some activities, learn about our local watershed, and join in all the excitement Country Fest has to offer. We can't wait to see you!

📍 Look for the ARMS tent—we'll be there all weekend!

River Riddle: Can you guess this watershed resident?

🦶 I have webbed feet.
🐟 I love eating salmon eggs.
🏊 I'm an excellent swimmer.
🤎 My fur is waterproof.

Who am I?

👇 Leave your guess in the comments before we reveal the answer tomorrow!

What's your favourite way to enjoy our local rivers?

💙 Walking riverside trails
🎣 Fishing
🚲 Cycling
🦆 Wildlife watching
🛶 Paddling
📸 Photography

Vote in the comments! We'd love to hear how you connect with your watershed.

A sweet summer treat… with a complicated story 🌿

Blackberries are everywhere right now! Their juicy, dark berries are tempting us from trailsides, parks, and backyard corners across the Alouette Watershed. But did you know that the blackberry you’re picking is likely not a native plant?

The Himalayan blackberry may produce delicious fruit, but it is actually an invasive species that can quickly take over natural areas. At ARMS, we spend a lot of time removing blackberry from restoration sites because dense blackberry patches can crowd out native plants, reduce biodiversity, and make it harder for important native vegetation to grow. 🌱

So why do we see so much wildlife enjoying it? 🐦🐻
Like many invasive species, blackberry has become part of the landscape, and its berries provide a food source for birds, small mammals, and other wildlife. Pollinators also visit its flowers. Nature often finds ways to use what is available!

But a healthy watershed needs a balance. Native plants provide the best long-term habitat because they have evolved alongside our local wildlife and support a wider range of species.

🌿 If you’re picking blackberries this summer:
🫐 Enjoy the harvest—but leave some behind for wildlife.
🌱 Avoid spreading blackberry to new areas (seeds can travel through wildlife and yard waste).
🚮 Never dump garden clippings or invasive plants into natural areas.
🌎 Consider planting native berry-producing plants like salmonberry, thimbleberry, or red huckleberry to support local wildlife.

The next time you enjoy a blackberry pie or a handful of fresh berries, remember the story behind this plant: a delicious invader that reminds us how complicated our relationship with nature can be.

🌊 Volunteer at Ridge Meadows Rivers Day! 🌿

We're looking for enthusiastic, community-minded volunteers to help make Ridge Meadows Rivers Day a success on Sunday, September 27 at ALLCO Park, Maple Ridge!

Whether you enjoy welcoming guests, assisting with parking, helping with children's activities, supporting exhibitors, assisting with event setup or takedown, or simply being part of an incredible community event, we have a variety of volunteer shifts and roles available throughout the day.

This is a great opportunity to connect with your community, support local environmental education and conservation, earn volunteer hours, and be part of one of the region's favourite family events celebrating our rivers and watersheds.

💙 Interested in volunteering?
Please email [email protected] to learn more and sign up.