A hands-on collaboration to bring water and habitat back to the floodplain
For nearly a decade, the stewards of Glen Valley Organic Farm Co-operative had been imagining the return of a functioning wetland to the lowest corner of their property. Since a 2015 hydrology assessment first identified the area as an ideal place to restore natural water storage and improve ecological function, the idea remained a long-term hope for the farm. Through years of growing seasons, planning discussions, funding applications, and the wake-up call of the 2021 atmospheric river floods, the vision never disappeared.
In the spring of 2025, the moment finally arrived. Boots hit the ground as farmers, volunteers, Dr. Catherine Tarasoff (an invasive plant specialist), and the BCWF Watershed Team gathered on site to begin the first phase of the restoration. Their starting point was foundational. Together, the group laid 1,400 m² of benthic barrier across a reed canary grass–dominated pasture, creating the conditions needed to shift the site from an invasive monoculture toward a self-sustaining wetland ecosystem.
This hands-on beginning reflects the values of the Glen Valley Organic Farm Co-operative, a community-owned, certified organic farm on the traditional territory of the Kwantlen and Matsqui First Nations. For more than 20 years, farmer, educator, and agrologist Chris Bodnar has helped guide the co-op’s approach to farming in a way that builds soil, protects habitat, and strengthens the land’s natural resilience. “Environmental stewardship has been a significant priority for the co-op, and that lens is how we approach our work,” Bodnar says.
The need for restoration was clear. A section of the farm sits outside the dyke system, where it receives runoff from surrounding properties. Seasonal freshet often pushes water onto the land, but with no natural way to drain, parts of the property remain saturated long into summer. The lowest section is a peat-based pasture planted with invasive reed canary grass in the 1960s. Combined with blocked drainage and heavy saturation, it had long been a challenging area to farm.
The 2015 hydrology assessment recommended working with the water instead of fighting against it. Creating a small wetland would restore the area’s ecological function, improve habitat, help store water during wet periods, and release it gradually during dry spells. After years of delayed planning and subsequent flooding events, the co-op renewed its commitment to the project.
Once permits and funding were secured, the Watershed Team joined farmers, volunteers, and Dr. Tarasoff to begin the groundwork. Laying the benthic barrier was the essential first step, helping suppress reed canary grass and giving native plant communities space to re-establish. After the barrier was in place, the group removed old clay drainage tiles that had been installed decades ago to dry the land for agriculture. Without the tiles, water could finally pool and move across the site as it once had.
Reed canarygrass tarped and mowed 
Chris Bodnar of the Glen Valley Organic Farm Co-operative lays down benthic barrier 
Laying benthic barrier to prepare the site for wetland restoration 
Laying benthic barrier to prepare the site for wetland restoration 
Mission Civil Works Inc. (who also happen to be BCWF members!), who helped us prepare to build a core trench to help hold water on the site 
After the core trench was made, the pit was then contoured into a naturally appearing pond to create lasting habitat and water storage
Mission Civil Works supported the excavation, reshaping the area into a series of shallow basins and channels designed to hold water, slow it down, and release it gradually. The subtle earthwork created the foundation for a functioning wetland that would provide ecological benefits year-round.
In the fall, volunteers and farm staff returned to plant native wetland species. These plants will help stabilize the soil, support pollinators, and create long-term habitat for amphibians, insects, and birds. The planting stage also marked a visible shift in the landscape, as the former pasture began its gradual transition back to wetland.
“This project provides so many benefits,” Bodnar says. “It helps mitigate flooding by taking land not suitable for farming and restoring its ecological function as a wetland. It increases habitat for wildlife while creating a beautiful space. It also has an educational function, and now we have academics and policy makers asking about our experience.”
Today, the restored wetland is already taking shape. The area now holds water through the season, native vegetation is returning, and the ecological function of the site continues to strengthen. Over time, this wetland will help moderate flood and drought extremes, support wildlife, and contribute to the resilience of the surrounding watershed.
“Our family has been on the farm for 20 seasons as of 2026,” Bodnar says. “Improving the low-lying areas has long been on our wish list. Achieving this project is all about leaving a living legacy for future generations and a reminder that we can do so much more by working together.”
The work at Glen Valley Organic Farm shows what is possible when farmers, conservationists, and community members come together with a shared goal. It is a practical example of how nature-based solutions can improve the working landscape while restoring habitat and ecological resilience. “Our goal has always been to leave the land better than we found it,” Bodnar says. “This wetland is proof that when we work together, we can do just that.”
Support Watershed Restoration in British Columbia
Thank you to the Province of B.C.’s Watershed Security Fund and Environment and Climate Change Canada for supporting this work.
The Glen Valley project is one of many community-led restoration efforts happening across the province. As British Columbia faces rising pressures from drought, flood, and climate change, support for this work is more important than ever.
If you want to help restore wetlands, strengthen ecosystems, and support projects that bring water and wildlife back to the landscape, consider donating to Watershed Restoration.
Learn more or donate at www.bcwf.bc.ca/donate.
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