By Cheryl Jahn

Nechako Roundtable Seeks Financial Help

Nov 17, 2017 | 1:57 PM

The Regional District of Fraser Fort George is looking at ways to come up with some annual funding for the Nechako Watershed Roundtable.
The Nechako Watershed covers an area the size of Switzerland and the Roundtable is an umbrella, advocacy organization that represents all the stakeholders with an interest in that watershed, whether its for science, recreation or livelihood.
It recently released a report card on the health of that watershed and a strategy to sustain or even improve that health.
It has made a presentation to the Regional District of Fraser Fort George, asking for stable funding to continue its work.
“One of the challenges for non-profits or groups that don’t have a sustained source of funding is they rely opn year-to-year, short-term grants,” explains Theresa Fresco with the Fraser Basin Council. “So, for broader projects, like the strategy implementation and actions that relate to that, it’s difficult to have the continuity that is necessary to do those projects well.”
It has identified an annual budget of $200,000.
The Regional District Board says it will have staff look at some possible options.
“For example, in the Kootenays, they have a conservation fund and everybody pays into that and then that money is used for conservacy projects. So that one model that could be explored,” explains Lara Becckett, Director Area C and Roundtable member. “Or perhaps it’s something that the City of Prince George and the two Electoral Areas that are impacted in our Regional District do some sort of joint service for our population that contributed to wortk in the watershed.”
A similar request will be made of the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District.