Fraser Basin Council

2006 STATE OF THE FRASER BASIN REPORT
SUSTAINABILITY SNAPSHOT 3 - Inspiring Action
Summary of Sustainability Highlights

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Aboriginal & Non-Aboriginal Relations
Life Expectancy FAIR/MIXED RESULTS - On average, life expectancy is less for the Aboriginal than the non-Aboriginal population in the Fraser Basin (by 6.4 years), but the gap is narrowing.
The Next Generation
(Children in Care and Highest Education Levels)		 MIXED RESULTS/POOR - Since 2000 an increasing proportion of children in care are Aboriginal. Highest education levels attained are, on average, lower than in the non-Aboriginal population, but improving.
Progress in Treaty and Non-Treaty Measures, Protocols and Agreements GETTING BETTER - Since 2002 significant progress has been made in improving relations and clarifying, respecting and accommodating title and rights.

Agriculture & Food
Agricultural Land Reserve FAIR/MIXED RESULTS - As of 2005, there has been a net increase of land in the ALR in the Fraser Basin; however, there has been a net loss in prime agricultural land overall and a net loss of ALR land in 4 of 5 regions.
Agriculture and the Environment GETTING BETTER - Significant participation rates in the Environmental Farm Plan Program; growth among certifiedorganic producers.

Air Quality
Particulate Matter2.5 GETTING WORSE - Since 2000 in 4 of 6 communities, with particular concerns in Prince George.
Ground Level Ozone GETTING WORSE- Since 2000 in 6 of 8 communities, with particular concerns in the Fraser Valley and GVSS regions.


Business & Sustainability
Research and Development GOOD -Business expenditure on R&D was 3rd highest in Canada in 2004.
Corporate Social Responsibility GOOD -Companies based in the Fraser Basin claimed 5 of the top 11 socially responsible Canadian corporations as ranked by Stratos Inc. in 2005.
Environmental Management FAIR/MIXED RESULTS - BC was 4th in the country in the number of ISO 14001 certificates issued, but only 6th nationally in certificates per 1,000 enterprises (6.7).

Community Engagement
Volunteerism GETTING BETTER for volunteerism rates and hours volunteered in BC.
Charitable Donations GETTING BETTER for rates of giving and average monetary donation in BC.
Voter Turnout GETTING WORSE for federal, provincial and local elections in BC.

Economy
Productivity Growth POOR -Below the national average over the past decade and minimal growth since 2002.
Unemployment GETTING BETTER -Unemployment rates are at the lowest levels in over 20 years and dropped below the national averagein 2004/05.
Economic Diversity FAIR/MIXED RESULTS - Best in the Thompson, Fraser Valley and GVSS regions and worst in the Upper Fraser and Cariboo-Chilcotin regions.

Education
Early Childhood Development GETTING WORSE - Since 2001, there are more 5-year-olds considered as having developmental vulnerabilities in terms of "readiness for school" in all regions.
Index of Education Concerns MIXED RESULTS/POOR - Rural areas have higher educational concerns than urban areas.
Student-Teacher Ratios GETTING BETTER - Since 2004, there are fewer students per teacher in all regions.

Energy & Climate Change - Climate Change
Greenhouse Gas Emissions GETTING WORSE - In 2004 both total and per capita GHG emissions were at their highest levels reported since 1990.
Climate Change Impacts GETTING WORSE -Average freshwater and air temperatures have already warmed over the past 50-100 years, and Fraser River peak flows are occurring earlier than in the past 85 years.
Climate Change Adaptations GETTING BETTER - Communities are assessing climate risks, initiating plans to adapt, and preparing for climate-related vulnerabilities such as flooding, drought and interface fires.

Energy & Climate Change - Energy
Total Energy Consumption in BC GETTING WORSE - Total energy consumption in BC has increased by 20% (1990-2004).
Energy Intensity in BC GETTING BETTER -Energy consumption per capita and per $ of GDP have decreased since 1990 (by 6% and 18% respectively).
Hydroelectric Consumption inthe Fraser Basin GETTING WORSE -Total industrial consumption increased in 4 of 5 Fraser Basin regions, and average residential consumption increased in 3 of 5 regions (1990-2004).

Fish & Fisheries
Sockeye Salmon GETTING WORSE - Between 1980 and 2006, run size, catch and harvest rates have generally declined after 25-year highs in the early 1990s.
Coho Salmon GETTING WORSE - Between 1986 and 2004, run size, catch and harvest rates have declined significantly for both Interior (mostly Thompson) and Lower Fraser Coho.
Chinook Salmon MIXED RESULTS/POOR - Between 1982 and 2004, catch and harvest rates have been higher and more consistent for Interior Fraser stocks than for the Lower Fraser "fall-run" stocks, especially in recent years. Harvest opportunities for fall-run stocks have been reduced because of conservation measures for other salmon stocks and steelhead.
Steelhead POOR - Virtually all summer and winter run stocks are classified as of "Extreme Conservation Concern."
Fraser River White Sturgeon MIXED RESULTS/POOR - All four Fraser Basin sturgeon stocks were designated as "endangered" by COSEWIC in 2003. Abundance estimates for the Lower Fraser sturgeon population show an increasing trend from 1999-2003 and a declining trend from 2003-2005.
Freshwater Fish Habitat MIXED RESULTS/POOR - Freshwater habitat has been adversely impacted by a wide range of human activities, including: agriculture and flood management in the Lower Fraser region, forestry and agriculture in the Thompson region, forestry in the Cariboo-Chilcotin and Upper Fraser regions, and hydroelectric dams in the Upper Fraser and Greater Vancouver-Sea to Sky regions.

Forests & Forestry
Extent of Mountain Pine Beetleoutbreak in BC GETTING WORSE - The area affected by MPB is 8.7 million ha, more than double the area in 2003.
Community Vulnerability to the Forest Sector in the Fraser Basin MIXED RESULTS/POOR - Vulnerability is worst in the Upper Fraser and Cariboo-Chilcotin regions and is further compounded by Mountain Pine Beetle.
Forest Restocking in BC FAIR/MIXED RESULTS- The area surveyed as restocked was less than the area disturbed in the 1980s, more than the area disturbed in the 1990s, and similar to the area disturbed since 2000.

Health
Life Expectancy GETTING BETTER - Life expectancy continues to rise in all regions of the Basin, but four out of five regions are below the BC average.
Rate of Low-Weight Births GETTING WORSE - Except in the Fraser Valley the rate of low-weight births has increased between 9% and 11%.
Rate of Type 2 Diabetes GETTING WORSE - The rate has increased in all regions of the Basin.

Housing
Core Housing Need MIXED RESULTS/POOR - In 2001, 16.5% of Fraser Basin residents were in core housing need. Rates for renters ranged between 30%-40%; slight improvements since 1996 in most regions.
Housing Affordability POOR/GETTING WORSE - Housing has become less affordable in all regions reported. Affordability in BC is the worst in Canada and even worse in Vancouver.
Homelessness and "at-risk" in Greater Vancouver POOR/GETTING WORSE - Almost a doubling of homeless between 2002-2005 and 6.4% of the GVRD population is estimated to be at-risk of becoming homeless.

Income
Productivity Growth GETTING BETTER -Average after tax income has grown 8% from 1995-2004 and was 3rd highest in Canada in 2004.
Unemployment POOR/GETTING WORSE - BC has the highest rates of Low Income Cut-Off (18.4%) and the least improvement in Canada.
Economic Diversity FAIR/MIXED RESULTS - Best in the GVSS and Fraser Valley regions and worst in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region.

Natural Hazards
Social and Economic Costs of Natural Hazards POOR/GETTING WORSE - Average cost to government disaster assistance and average insurance costs are high, increasing, and in some cases unquantifiable.
Managing and Adapting to Natural Hazards GETTING BETTER - Communities are assessing natural hazard risks, developing management strategies, and establishing plans to adapt, respond and prepare for hazards such as flooding, drought and interface fires.

Population & Consumption
Population FAIR/MIXED RESULTS - Population growth is expected to continue in the Basin (4 million by 2031) with growth rates varying in the regions.
Consumption MIXED RESULTS/POOR - Energy and water consumption per capita are getting better, but total consumption is getting worse.
Consumer Choices for Sustainability GETTING BETTER - Market demand is supporting more certified organic farms and sustainable forest management as well as energy savings through the BC Hydro Power Smart Program.


Wastes & Toxins
Solid Waste Disposal FAIR/MIXED RESULTS - Total solid waste disposal is improving for the Fraser Basin. Per capita generation is improving in some regions and getting worse in other regions.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions MIXED RESULTS/POOR - GHG emissions per capita and per $ of GDP are improving, but total emissions are getting worse.
Toxic Substances POOR/GETTING WORSE - Releases and transfers of toxic chemicals increased by 49% in Canada (1995-2002). Dozens of known carcinogens and other toxins were found in a majority of volunteers tested in 2004 and 2006.

Water Quality & Quantity
Water Quality Index FAIR/MIXED RESULTS - In 2003, 4 sites rated as Good, 3 were Fair, and 1 site was Poor.
Water Quality Trends FAIR/MIXED RESULTS - In 2005, 1 site was Improving, 5 were Stable, and 1 site was Deteriorating.
Municipal Water Consumption MIXED RESULTS/POOR - Total consumption has increased (21%) since 1991, but per capita consumption has dropped (7%).

The tables on this page represent highlights of each of the sustainability topics in this report. The highlights focus on two or three headline indicators for each topic and a description of the status of those indicators. This is intended as a helpful synthesis, not an exhaustive summary of all of the indicators or data in this report.

The status of each of the indicators is characterized using one of the following descriptions, which can be considered on a spectrum from best to worst:

GOOD/GETTING BETTER - The current state is good and/or the trend is improving when comparing the present to the past. To be given this status, the data must be good or improving for the Fraser Basin as a whole, a significant majority of the Basin regions, or for British Columbia (if data are unavailable for the Basin).

FAIR/MIXED RESULTS - The current state is fair and/or the trend is stable with minimal variation over time. Mixed results refer either to variations within the sub-regions of the Fraser Basin, or to variations between sub-indicators (some are getting better and some are getting worse). To be given this status, more than half of the sub-regions or sub-indicators are fair, good or improving.

MIXED RESULTS/POOR -The current state is poor and/or the trend is stable or getting slightly worse over time. Mixed results either refer to variations within the sub-regions of the Fraser Basin, or to variations between sub-indicators (some are getting better and some are getting worse). To be given this status, more than half of the sub-regions or sub-indicators are poor, or deteriorating.

POOR/GETTING WORSE - The current state is poor and/or the trend is deteriorating when comparing the present to the past. To be given this status, the data must be poor or deteriorating for the Fraser Basin as a whole, a majority of the regions, or for British Columbia (if data are unavailable for the Basin).