Rivers Heritage Centre
24959 Alouette Road, Allco Park,
Maple Ridge, BC, V4R 1R8
Phone: 604-467-6401 | Fax: 604-467-6478
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  • Home
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Alouette River Management Society (ARMS):

The Alouette River Management Society (ARMS) was formed as a society in 1993. The primary focus of ARMS, at that time, was to negotiate with BC Hydro an increase in the river’s base flow from the Alouette Dam. This would require changes to the management of the Alouette Dam and Hydro’s methods of flow releases. This goal was achieved in 1996, when the base river flow release was increased by fivefold.

Since 1996, ARMS has become involved in almost all aspects of watershed stewardship, including education, inventory and monitoring, habitat restoration and lobbying for the protection of aquatic habitat. We are extremely active in the community and often attend private properties in order to assist landowners with the implementation of sound stewardship practices on their land.

In 1996, funding was available through both the Federal and Provinical Governments to assist stewardship organizations with their mandates. ARMS was successful in obtaining funds through the Fraser River Action Plan (FRAP – Federal) to start gathering information on our watershed. FRAP was succeeded by the Habitat Restoration and Salmon Enhancement Program which saw between $35,000 to $80,000 annual for enhancement and restoration projects administered by ARMS. The Provincial Government Urban Salmon Habitat Program provided average annual funding for ARMS of approximately $25,000 for similar initiatives. These two funding sources combined enabled ARMS to secure additional funding. Both of these fundings sources ended in the early 2000’s with no replaced funding available from either levels of government.

ARMS started construction of the Rivers Heritage Centre, which was to be ARMS home. What started out as an outdoor covered shelter for ARMS to hold educational seminars turned into a three office building, completed with kitchen and washroom facility. Early in the project there were funds available, through BC Hydro, HRSEP and the Ridge Meadows Home Show, to hire a building manager, whom we found in Denis Hoffart of HQ Management. As funding sources dwindled, we were unable to continue to retain HQ Managements services and the task of completing the Rivers Heritage Centre fell on ARMS and BC Corrections. The construction of our centre was completed in March 1999 and the official opening was celebrated at Rivers Day that same year.

Rivers Heritage Center - early framing stageRivers Heritage Center - with the walls framed in

Rivers Heritage Center during constructionRivers Heritage Center

ARMS also plays a very prominent advocacy role in the community. We are fortunate to have a positive working relationship with the local media who recognizes that environmental issues are newsworthy. This relationship enables us to quickly educate and inform our community on environmental issues.

Today ARMS is still actively involved in watershed enhancement and restoration initiatives through various partnerships that it has formed over the years.

ARMS receives an annual grant of $25,000 from the City of Maple Ridge which allows us to offset some of the costs for the Rivers Heritage Centre and some costs related to our educational programs. ARMS has successfully applied for and received Direct Access Gaming to cover some of our overhead costs. ARMS does not receive annual funding from Metro Vancouver or any other government body, as do some of our sister organizations. All of our operating budget comes as a direct result of our fundraising efforts.

Today ARMS greatest pride is our high caliber education programs that we offer to members of our community. ARMS is fortunate to have been a stepping stone for many of our talented Environmental Education Coordinators over the years, who have lent their formal education and talents to formulating our various programs. Our education programs are designed in accordance to the Ministry of Education Integrated Resource Package (IRP) and updated regularly. We are continually developing programs around current environmental issues to share with the community. Feedback from teachers and current environmental issues are utilized to ensure that new courses are developed as our community demands. For further information of what programs we offer, please refer to our Education page.

Funders and Supporters:
ARMS Funders and Supporters 2017

 

 

Salmon in the Alouette River

ARMS News

Summer Camps 2018
Apr 11, 2018
2018 Annual General Meeting
Feb 16, 2018
ARMS 2nd Annual Fundraiser
Feb 02, 2018
Habitat Workshop: Birdhouse Building
Jan 30, 2018
Membership Engagement Project
Jan 26, 2018

Recent Facebook Posts

Alouette River Management Society

3 days ago

Alouette River Management Society

Honey bees collecting pollen and bringing it home to their hive to feed the colony 🐝

πŸŽ₯: Sophie Smith, ARMS Environmental Projects & Communications Coordinator
...

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Alouette River Management Society

3 days ago

Alouette River Management Society

A Bug's Life! πŸπŸ›πŸ¦‹ 😍 ...

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Alouette River Management Society shared The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News's post.

3 days ago

Alouette River Management Society

The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News

The Alouette River Management Society is ready to start the second part of its study that will look at the number one goal of the society – building a fishway connecting the South Alouette River to Alouette Lake.
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Alouette River Management Society

4 days ago

Alouette River Management Society

**Event season is among us!
We are looking for some extra volunteers this year with the ARMS tent :) Email sophie@alouetteriver.org if you are interested and available to help out in anyway!
...

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Alouette River Management Society

1 week ago

Alouette River Management Society

ARMS 2018 Summer Camps (Registration opening in May) ...

Summer Camps 2018 - Alouette River Management Society

alouetteriver.org

The Alouette River Management Society is here to bring your child’s favorite games, hobbies, and characters to life! ARMS specializes in environmental education and is committed to redirecting children back to nature and outdoor play. We encourage teamwork, creativity, independence, and building n...
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ARMS Main Sponsors – Thank You For Your Generous Support

ARMS Newsletters

View our Fall 2017 Newsletter

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