Fraser

As I unpack the information held in these samples over the coming months, I hope to learn about how this river transmits the products of photosynthesis and respiration on land to the coastal ocean.

The Fraser is doing its best to transition to freshet mode. The cooler weather has slowed its initial surge, but the water level, along with turbidity and dissolved organic matter, are still on the rise.

As I struggled to fill the first of five small bottles with filtered water this afternoon, I decided I was finally ready to accept that the freshet has started. It’s a miracle I can type at all right now, given the strain my hands have endured today. Don’t believe me? I invite you to come…

Last week saw just about the nicest weather you could hope for in the Fraser Valley. In addition to making the water sampling ridiculously pleasant, the solid week of warm sunshine jump-started the snowmelt and the river level is on the rise!