Tatalu River
The Tatalu (SENĆOŦEN), or Little Campbell River, is a productive, multi-jurisdictional, transboundary watercourse located in the heart of the Salish Sea (or Georgia Basin-Puget Sound Ecoregion). This river meanders west from its headwaters in Langley, through South Surrey and into White Rock where it enters Semiahmoo Bay. The Tatalu watershed serves as the study area for A Rocha Canada’s conservation science program, defining the geographic scope of the surveys, research, and habitat restoration projects.
The Tatalu watershed is home to a diversity of wildlife and plant species, including five species of Pacific salmon and trout, as well as over 30 species at risk. The river and its associated habitat are characterized by unchannelized streams, an undyked floodplain, an undeveloped estuary, and several large wetlands. Along with other watersheds located in the Salish Sea, the Tatalu and its surrounding natural habitat are faced with increasing anthropogenic impacts and threats, including poor water quality, seasonally low water levels, and loss of wetland and forest habitat due to pressures from urbanization and agricultural land development.
The goals of A Rocha Canada’s conservation science program are the following:
- Thriving ecosystems and communities
– Protect and enhance biodiversity
- Transformational learning
– Mentor and equip interns and volunteers - Conservation leadership
– Engage decision makers with science that inspires action
Caring for a unique and vulnerable river.
The latest news on our projects
First Signs of Spring
Conservation interns Elise Huculiak and Caleb Gaeke reflect on life cycles in the Little Campbell Watershed. For most Lower Mainlanders, this year’s lingering winter has been a reason to grieve, but for the A Rocha conservation team [...]
New Interns Arrive at Brooksdale
On the Cusp of Creation Care with the 2017 Winter / Spring Interns Brooksdale sits in a wintery wonderland as the team welcomes our newest crew of interns! Hailing from across Canada and the USA, [...]
In Community With Creation
Interns Reflect on the A Rocha Experience Every three months a new group of young stewards immerse themselves in a creation care internship at A Rocha's Brooksdale Environmental Centre in Surrey, BC. They [...]