Meet Matt Foy.
Salmon nerd & long-time habitat advocate
For 35+ years, Matt worked as a DFO Fish Habitat Biologist throughout BC in the field of community involvement, salmon enhancement and habitat restoration.
Matt is a true pioneer in fish habitat restoration, having designed, constructed and developed many salmon habitat restoration projects and techniques in watersheds throughout the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, including projects located within the Chilliwack-Vedder River watershed.
Matt retired from DFO in 2015 and continues to be involved with issues and projects affecting salmon as a volunteer with both the Pacific Salmon Foundation and the Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Zoology at the University of British Columbia.
About this work
Since 2019, Katzie First Nation, WWF-Canada, the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, the DFO Resource Restoration Unit and other local partners have been working to restore important habitat in the Upper Pitt River Watershed. This project includes opportunities for Katzie members to engage with the restoration work and gain related skills and expertise, such as through completing this salmon habitat restoration course. Restoration efforts are improving habitat for wildlife such as sockeye, chinook and coho salmon populations. In 2021, the team added archaeological assessments and began to explore how this work will increase the ecosystem’s ability to sequester carbon, helping to mitigate the climate crises. This project is enhancing Katzie First Nation’s ability to exercise their right to self-determination and will help to ensure that future generations have access to healthy and abundant fish stocks.