Volunteers rescue stranded salmon in the Fraser Canyon

LILLOOET— Water levels on the Fraser River are extremely low this year after a long drought-filled summer.

Record-low water levels in the Fraser River in recent months have made it nearly impossible for salmon to get to spawning grounds at this location. There is a waterfall portion where the water levels are too low for the fish, leading to dozens of volunteers saving each fish by hand. They’ve been able to move thousands of fish over the Thanksgiving weekend.

First Nations and residents around Lillooet north of Lytton were lifting fish with their own hands. Volunteers were hoping to help them reach spawning grounds upstream. North of Lillooet, a large group of volunteers conducted an impromptu rescue operation on Saturday, Oct. 8.

It is estimated the group has saved more than 5,000 salmon so far.