Northern B.C. is shaped by wetlands — and by the roads that cross them. Understanding how the two interact is essential for protecting ecosystems and planning future development.
This past field season, the BCWF Watershed Team and our First Nations partners hit the ground running, putting the Federation’s newest conservation tool, the Road Impact Wetland Health Assessment (RIWHA) tool to work across northern British Columbia.
RIWHA uses standardized forms to document field-based observations at wetlands where roads intersect or run nearby. With each assessment, we capture key indicators such as vegetation stress and composition, soil exposure, peat degradation, erosion, altered water flow, signs of drought, the presence of invasive species, and shifts in wetland type. The tool’s long-term purpose is to support smarter, more ecologically informed road planning and wetland protection. This means helping identify where development can be avoided, where buffers are needed, and where infrastructure can be designed to allow water to flow more naturally across the landscape.
Gathering this knowledge and building this database is important because wetlands – areas where water saturates the soil for part or all throughout the year – are some of the most valuable and most vulnerable ecosystems on the landscape. They provide essential ecosystem services such as water filtration, flood regulation, carbon storage, and habitat for countless species. In short, wetlands help keep our landscapes and communities healthy.
Understanding this importance from a distance is one thing; seeing it in the field is another. During one of our first field days, while we were learning how to complete the newly established RIWHA assessments, we visited a site near a local community along a highway. It was bordered by a wetland with signs of very old beaver activity downstream. A well-worn trail led toward a nearby reserve, still used to this day. We found rusted culverts that had long since dried out, and an old bridge that no longer served a purpose.
Upstream told a different story: active beaver activity, an impacted culvert, murky water, and a steep, eroding bank along the road. The challenge wasn’t knowing where to start; it was understanding the whole picture. That’s exactly what RIWHA is for: showing how disturbances happen, how they affect water, and how to record those changes so better decisions can be made.
That day marked the beginning of a season shaped by learning, collaboration, and discovery. RIWHA quickly revealed itself as more than a data-collection tool. It became a way to connect what’s happening on the ground with how we share and apply that knowledge, creating a feedback loop that helps communities, researchers, and industry better understand wetlands and make stronger long-term choices.
Throughout the season, each assessment was guided by local Land Guardians, whose knowledge of seasonal water movement, wildlife patterns, and land history added depth to our work. Their insights helped us understand how long disturbances had been present, what had changed, and how past and current projects were influencing the landscape.
Partnerships were at the heart of this work. With support from PETRONAS Canada, we completed 19 site assessments across northeastern B.C., focusing on areas near Halfway River, Doig River, and Chetwynd. Our primary partners under this funding included Saulteau First Nation, Doig River First Nation, and Halfway River First Nation. Each Nation shared their priorities, conservation goals, and perspectives on how wetlands are being affected by roads and linear disturbances, including how these landscapes have changed over time.
“Wetlands are very important to my community and many other First Nations communities in Canada,” says Hunter Gentry, a Land Guardian from Saulteau First Nation. “They have cultural significance in many ways, including food sources, plants, and medicines. They are also vital to many animals that are important to us such as beaver, moose, and many species of migratory birds.” Roslyn Notseta, from Halfway River First Nation, added that when her community searches for projects, they are always looking for solutions and ways to maintain the integrity of the land.
What We’re Seeing on the Ground
Through RIWHA, we observed a range of disturbances affecting wetlands. These included impacts from linear features (such as roads and seismic lines), cut blocks, oil and gas exploration, and beaver activity.
Roads affect the natural water flow across the landscape,” says Shawn Harding from Doig River First Nation. “A lot of the ecosystems are a fen where the water would flow across the land, not just into rivers and creeks. Now we can see increased erosion in the creeks and parts of the muskeg are drying up.”
He also shared ideas for moving toward more sustainable solutions:
“In the future, I would like to see more culverts to help move the water across roads rather than down ditches or streams. I would like to see the water flow as naturally as possible across the land.”
Of course, the situation isn’t black and white. Industrial activity will continue but the question is: how can we mitigate these impacts while protecting wetlands at the same time?
RIWHA helps identify where those impacts are most severe and where restoration or prevention efforts can make the biggest difference.
Our future goals with RIWHA are to deepen our understanding of how and why roads affect wetlands and streams, and to use that knowledge to guide future conservation and land-use decisions.
By continuing to work closely with Indigenous communities, local partners, and funders, we hope to turn these assessments into real restoration opportunities by protecting the health of northern wetlands for generations to come.
The more we learn from tools like RIWHA, the better equipped we are to balance development with conservation. Wetlands may seem resilient, but if we’re the ones causing the disturbance, it’s up to us to acknowledge, measure, and act.
The RIWHA project is made possible through generous support from the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) and PETRONAS Canada. Their funding has helped bring the RIWHA tool to life, supported on-the-ground assessments.
BCWF Watershed Team 
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