09/17/2026
High concentrations of copper impact salmon’s sense of smell which in turn impacts their ability to get to spawning grounds, and leaves them susceptible to predation.
Copper contamination impacts salmon lifecycles alongside the physical destruction of their spawning and rearing habitats (eg. gravel beds, estuaries, side channels, wetlands).
In BC, the Province’s Fresh Water Quality Guidelines (WQGs) set acceptable copper levels in order to support viable salmon lifecycles. ~0.2ug/L is the acceptable copper level set by the WQC. We found levels ranging from 20-170ug/L (= 0.02-0.17 mg/l or ppm).
While copper is naturally occurring, elevations hundreds of times higher than recognized guidelines deeply impact the possibility of healthy salmon lifecycles.
Ask us about community-based citizen science testing if you would like a hands-on way to get involved:)
