THE PROBLEM

Much of the flood control infrastructure in the Lower Mainland is aging and outdated, leaving communities at risk of flooding. It also often blocks fish from moving between rivers and oceans to streams and wetlands they seek for food, refuge, and rest. In the lower mainland its estimated that over 1500 km of salmon habitat is blocked by 156 pieces of flood control infrastructure.

However, there are increasingly more examples of flood control infrastructure that are friendlier to fish than others. Check out our explainer animation videos created in collaboration with Watershed Watch Salmon Society below to learn more about the good, the bad, and the ugly of flood control infrastructure.

This work was created in collaboration between Watershed Watch Salmon Society and Resilient Waters. It was begun by volunteer animation creators, Nathan Ross and Paul Pajot and finished by Kerel Alaas, as well as many advisors who provided feedback during its development.

Nathan Ross is a landscape architect who was studying at UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture's Coastal Adaptation Lab who helped to kick off the original design.

Paul Pajot (@paul_pajot) is a visual communication designer and founder of @coucou_design, a design studio based in London, England and helps organizations bring ideas to life from space to screens.

Kerel Alaas is a Vancouver based animator and ECUAD graduate who grew up among turkic nomads in Siberia. Alaas' role was funded through the Canada Summer Jobs Program (via Watershed Watch Salmon Society).

THE PROBLEM

Flood Infrastructure Animations

TOP MOUNTED GATE

SIDE MOUNTED GATE

VERTICAL SLUICE GATE

SELF-REGULATED GATE

IMPELLER PUMP STATION

FISH-FREINDLY AXIAL PUMP STATION

This work was created in collaboration between Watershed Watch Salmon Society and Resilient Waters. It was begun by volunteer animation creators, Nathan Ross and Paul Pajot and finished by Kerel Alaas, as well as many advisors who provided feedback during its development.

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Nathan Ross is a landscape architect who was studying at UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture's Coastal Adaptation Lab who helped to kick off the original design.

Paul Pajot (@paul_pajot) is a visual communication designer and founder of @coucou_design, a design studio based in London, England and helps organizations bring ideas to life from space to screens.

Kerel Alaas is a Vancouver based animator and ECUAD graduate who grew up among turkic nomads in Siberia. Alaas' role was funded through the Canada Summer Jobs Program (via Watershed Watch Salmon Society).