the salmon river watershed - Learning Centre

younger people. Economic restructuring and unresolved Native claims impose additional
stresses on the community.
Similar trends are occurring elsewhere in BC, and the watershed, as evidenced by high inmigration,
is still one of the most desirable areas to live in the province. Higher education
levels, improved communications and transportation links, greater cultural and economic
diversity, and the resolution of Native claims can also create new opportunities for enriching
the community.
Social issues include:
• population aging and the possible deterioration of publicly-funded services due to rising
health costs
• increasing crime, particularly if the gap between "haves" and "have nots" and lack of
economic and training opportunities for young people persists or increases, and
deterioration in the social safety net occurs due to rising costs
• rising tensions regarding Native claims, particularly if First Nations become increasingly
disenchanted with the negotiations process and if non-Natives perceive that their economic
opportunities are being diminished
• increased family stresses due to higher unemployment in resource industries, less
extended family support, the increase in two worker or single parent families and lack of
daycare
• higher education means greater range of opportunities for young people and older workers
who can learn new skills
• in-migration, while it can be disruptive, can also greatly enrich the community with new
cultural influences, skills, investment capital and incomes
• the resolution of Native claims would reduce social tensions and could also enrich the
community from a social and economic perspective
2.2 Land Use
The Salmon River watershed has been the traditional territory of First Nations for thousands of
years. It was not until the early 1800's that major modifications to the landscape began to
occur as European settlers arrived to log, trap, prospect and farm. Land was cleared and
drained for farming. People settled in the valley bottom where soils were of good quality for
farming. The upland areas were used for logging and cattle grazing. The Salmon River
provided fish, water for irrigation and drinking and served as a transportation mode for the
movement of logs. Railways and roads brought more people and tourists. This settlement and
land use pattern still exists today. People are moving into the watershed, although the majority
of the growth is in the urban areas and agriculture and forestry continue to be the primary land
uses within the rural portions of the watershed.
This section reviews the conditions and trends for the following land uses in the watershed:
settlement, agriculture, forestry, recreation and other resource uses.
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