ABOUT US
We are a B.C. collaboration advancing effective, equitable flood recovery and management, drawing on expertise from Indigenous communities, conservation, farming, environmental law, research and natural resource management.
Our Story
The Lower Fraser Floodplains Coalition began as partners working together to fix a flood-management system that was fragmented and failing communities and ecosystems. The 2021 floods made the need unmistakable and pushed our work forward. Today we unite First Nations, local governments, farmers, and environmental organizations to restore the floodplain, support salmon, and build real resilience for everyone who calls the Lower Fraser home.
Our Mission
Advance a principled and collaborative approach to flood resilience in our region.
Our Vision
The floodplains of the lower Fraser region — and the people and non-human relatives who call them home — are healthy, safe, thriving and resilient to flooding and climate impacts.
Our 5 Principles
The Lower Fraser Floodplains Coalition’s five principles were developed through years of dialogue among First Nations, local governments, and regional partners following the 2021 atmospheric river. They reflect shared lessons from past floods, lived experience on the floodplain, and a growing recognition that fragmented approaches are no longer sufficient.
Together, these principles guide how we work: centring collaboration across jurisdictions, respecting Indigenous leadership and authority, reducing risk through long-term resilience rather than short-term fixes, caring for ecosystems alongside communities and economies, and committing to shared responsibility for decisions that affect the entire region.
3 WORKING GROUPS
To apply our principles, reduce systemic challenges, and strengthen integrated, resilient planning, we operate in 3 Working Groups.
Team
Partnership. Planning. Resilience.
We are a team of experts from across the region, bringing together knowledge from emergency management, flood mitigation, Indigenous governance, environmental protection, and community planning, working in support of the First Nations led Emergency Planning Secretariat.
Manager
Emergency Planning Secretariat
Gillian Fuss
Gillian Fuss is a disaster and emergency planner with a background in science communication and watershed management. At the EPS, she was the first employee, and now manages the team, ensuring progress towards the Climate Resilience Plan Hilekw Sq’eq’o.
Staff Lawyer
West Coast Environmental Law
Deborah Carlson
Deb works in Coast Salish territories for land and water governance that supports
long-term resilience. Her work is grounded in place-based approaches and legal pluralism, respecting the authority of First Nations in their territories.
Habitats Program Director
Watershed Watch Salmon Society
Lina Azeez
Lina is the floodplain resilience manager with Watershed Watch Salmon Society, where she leads advocacy for fish-friendly flood management and resilient communities across the Lower Fraser region. She is also a core member of the Lower Fraser Floodplains Coalition and leads the Advocacy Team for the Coalition.
Project Manager
Resilient Waters
Dan Straker
Dan is the manager of the Resilient Waters project, working to support communities and collaborative approaches where improvements to flood management benefits salmon ecosystems.
Agricultural Consultant
Independent
Dave Zehnder
Dave is a rancher and a watershed restoration leader. He works with farmers and ranchers across BC to improve watershed health, biodiversity, and long-term water security.
Biologist
UBC
Patrick Lilley
Patrick has a wealth of expertise in environmental consulting including baseline assessments, permitting and approvals, monitoring, planning and policy development, and habitat restoration.
Associate Professor
UBC School of Architeture
Kees Lokman
Kees Lokman is Associate Professor at the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. His research focuses on design challenges related to sea level rise adaptation, water and food shortages, and the energy transition.
Consultant
Heron Bridge Consulting
Erica Crawford
Erica
Principal
Ebbwater Consulting
Tamsin Lyle
Tamsin is a well-known thought leader on flood management in Canada.
Regional Coordinator
Emergency Planning Secretariat
Syd Burstein
Syd is a resilience coordinator working to assist communities in adapting to climate change. Her work aims to create sustainable solutions that prioritize both community needs and environmental solutions, recognizing and honouring the reciprocal relationships that exist at the heart of the work.
Regional Coordinator
Emergency Planning Secretariat
Darcy Turin
Darcy coordinates regional emergency preparedness and climate adaptation, applying her background in geospatial information to support informed and resilient communities.
Planning Coordinator
Emergency Planning Secretariat
Landon Reeves
Landon works to build regional capacity for climate resilience, supporting communities through collaborative planning and community-driven solutions.
Cmns and Community Engagement
Emergency Planning Secretariat
Kateryna Kurdyuk
Kateryna supports the LFFC team with communications, outreach and community engagement. She has a varied background and is passionate about the power of storytelling.
Our Funders
