Who We Are

In 1972, a 5km training dyke was built along the western channel of the Squamish estuary, to support a BC Rail proposal for a deep sea port and coal terminal. The dyke redirected the Squamish River to the west bank, cutting off flow to other channels and blocking juvenile salmon from protected habitat.

The west and central channels were dredged, removing natural sediments and 150,000 truck loads of material were loaded onto the Central Delta. The proposed development threatened the remaining functional fish and wildlife habitats of the estuary.

The provincial government initiated an estuary management planning process, resulting in the 1982 Squamish Estuary Management Plan (SEMP).

Our society was founded as the Squamish Estuary Conservation Society (SECS) in response to these development pressures. SECS members were concerned about the proposed balance between protecting biological productivity and allowing development.

Over the following decade, members raised awareness of the birds, plants, and animals at risk—contributing countless hours at meetings, writing hundreds of letters, and leading tours for residents, visitors, and policymakers to advocate for the protection of critical estuary habitat. Monthly estuary bird counts began in 1991 to document resident and migratory populations and foster appreciation for the estuary. Data collected by SECS members helped inform the development and ongoing refinement of the Squamish Estuary Management Plan.

An updated plan was released in 1992 but never implemented, largely due to concerns over the designation of the environmentally and culturally sensitive "Site A" for development. Over the next seven years, the plan was revised to better balance ecological protection with regional economic development, with SECS and Squamish Nation playing a key role by successfully advocating for Site A's inclusion in the conservation area.

Following adoption of the 1999 Squamish Estuary Management Plan, SECS served on the Squamish Estuary Management Committee (SEMC) for more than twenty years. In 1994, we launched the Eagle Watch program to raise awareness of the globally significant wintering population of bald eagles along the Squamish River and to promote ethical viewing practices.

During this time, we continued contributing to conservation efforts in the Squamish estuary and throughout the Squamish Valley. In 2002, we changed our legal name to the Squamish Environmental Conservation Society and adopted Squamish Environment Society (SES) as a working name, reflecting a broader focus on environmental issues and the conservation of wildlife and habitat.

In 2003, we commissioned a study on Conservation Priorities in the Squamish River Estuary to identify strategies for balancing wildlife needs with development and recreation pressures. The report identified important landscape and habitat attributes, vulnerable and keystone species, and protection priorities, and included management guidelines to support them.

A historic land exchange between the Province, BC Rail and the Squamish Nation helped pave the way for the designation of the Skwelwil'em Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in 2007. A management plan, reflecting conservation priorities identified by SES, now guides land use across more than 670 hectares of environmentally sensitive estuarine habitat at the head of Howe Sound.

Our efforts also contributed to the designation of the broader Squamish River Valley as an Important Bird Area (IBA), one of 83 in BC and part of a national network of over 600 IBAs. Between 2008 and 2012, we contributed hundreds of hours of fieldwork to support the creation of BC's first Breeding Bird Atlas.

Our Purple Martin Recovery Program began in 2015 in collaboration with the Squamish River Watershed Society (SRWS). Since 2016, SES has led the program with continued support from partners and volunteers. In 2017, SES launched the Biodiversity Squamish Project to compile and curate species records within the Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound region using the iNaturalist platform. We also took over responsibility for the Brackendale Winter Eagle Count, to ensure the continuation of this long-standing community event and related data set.

In 2019 we launched a Western Toad Monitoring Program in partnership with BC Parks to track toad populations and guide conservation efforts at vulnerable breeding sites in Alice Lake Provincial Park.

SES became a registered charity in 2020 with a mandate to advance research on the natural history and biodiversity of the Squamish Valley and Howe Sound, share this knowledge through education and outreach, and undertake related stewardship activities. In 2021, the Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound area was designated a global UNESCO Biosphere Region. That following year, SES launched our Wildlife Connectivity Project to better understand shifting ecosystem health and support land managers by identifying corridors linking high-value habitats and protected areas across the Sea-to-Sky region.

In 2025, we began using Nature Squamish as our working name to align with other BC Nature clubs and strengthen our connection to the broader conservation community.

Our work continues to advance the goals and objectives of our society. In 2026 we launched EcoScapes, an online learning hub and map portal, to share the resources and tools developed by our Wildlife Connectivity Project. We are working with local and regional partners to explore how these tools can support land managers in conserving connectivity networks and help individuals reduce their impacts.

A new Bird Count Portal collates our more than 20 years of bird count data and allows users to view the data in a variety of ways. New programs aim to raise awareness, engage the community, and support policy changes to make our urban environment more pollinator and bird friendly.