TRACK 2, DAY 2
Indigenous Led Watershed Restoration: A Collaborative Model for Building Climate Resiliency in the Fraser Valley, BC
Mike McGarragan and Jeffrey Bridge, Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc.
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. | Hall F
ABSTRACT
In November 2021, an unprecedented atmospheric river caused severe flooding across the Fraser Valley, BC, inundating communities, damaging Highway 1, and devastating watershed habitats. This disaster highlighted the vulnerability of the region to extreme weather events and underscored the urgent need for resilient collaborative approaches to restoring these habitats and building climate resiliency in the region.
As part of a watershed restoration and broader climate-focused infrastructure program, including the expansion of a major highway (Highway 1), the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit needed to reroute East Lonzo Creek, an important tributary within the traditional territory of the Semá:th First Nation.
A pioneering joint venture, Wochmel Milestone, was formed between the Semá:th First Nation and Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc. This collaboration blended Indigenous stewardship with technical expertise and was the catalyst for the Ministry to be able to sole-source the Indigenous led joint venture to conduct the work.
This marked a historic first in BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit procurement: Indigenous communities acting not only as stakeholders but as equal project leaders, setting a model for inclusive, collaborative project delivery.
The East Lonzo Creek realignment involved the removal of more than 36,000 tonnes of contaminated soil, concrete, and debris, management of invasive species – including Himalayan Blackberry, Shiny Geranium, and Knotweed.
Erosion control was addressed with the planting of over 10,000 native plant species selected in collaboration with Semá:th Elders. Remarkably, during the restoration work juvenile salmon returned to the creek for the first time in more than 35 years.
Based on the success of the East Lonzo Creek realignment, the same model was used to award the restoration of Marshall Creek to Wochmel Milestone, part of the flood mitigation program for the Hwy 1 expansion.
The scope of work tackled flood damage by recontouring existing fish bearing channels and cleaning others out, removing material impacted by agricultural runoff, including the removal invasive vegetation, restoring habitat, improving ecological health, and strengthening flood resilience.
Conclusion: Highlighting the partnership that can be formed between Public and Indigenous interests, the watershed restoration and climate-focused infrastructure program rebuilt vital habitat, enhanced overall watershed function, and bolstered community flood protection. The return of juvenile salmon after more than 35 years underscores the transformative impact. As an Indigenous-led initiative, it stands as a model for inclusive, partnership-driven approaches to watershed restoration.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Mike McGarragan, Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc.
Mike McGarragan is the National Manager of Business Development at Milestone Environmental Contracting, where he leads national growth initiatives and supports the delivery of complex environmental and remediation projects across Canada, with a particular focus on northern and remote regions.
With more than 15 years of experience across the environmental, natural resources, waste management, and analytical services sectors, Mike is known for building strong partnerships and bringing diverse stakeholders together to deliver successful project outcomes.
Guided by values of collaboration, capacity building, and shared success, his work focuses on connecting communities, industry, and government to advance practical, sustainable solutions in some of Canada’s most challenging environments.
Jeffrey Bridge, Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc.
Jeffrey Bridge is an experienced environmental Project Manager with over 20 years of experience in the environmental remediation industry and over 15 years of dedicated responsibilities as a project manager delivering environmental remediation and civil infrastructure projects across British Columbia, including coastal, water-adjacent, and environmentally sensitive sites.