Kristen Walters, MSc
Biologist, Lower Fraser Salmon Conservation Program Director
Kristen is the Director of the Lower Fraser Salmon Conservation Program. The aim of her work is to restore and conserve salmon habitat in the Lower Fraser River region, and support the recovery of salmon populations through scientific research, ecological monitoring, and policy reform. She works to accomplish this by collaborating with Indigenous Nations to implement community-based monitoring, youth stewardship programs, and ecosystem-based governance frameworks. She also works more broadly with the provincial and federal governments, academics, NGOs, and industry to advance climate change adaptation and flood mitigation in the region by advancing nature-based climate solutions.
Kristen completed her Masters of Science in Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University, where she studied the temporal and spatial distribution and foraging behaviour of an apex predator in response to varying Pacific salmon abundances. She also holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia where she majored in Environmental History and Biology.
Kristen originally hails from Jackson, Wyoming U.S.A, where she grew up surrounded by the abundant wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and passionate community members who aim to be responsible stewards of our ecosystems. From a young age she always knew she wanted to be involved with wildlife conservation, and is passionate about interdisciplinary approaches that are accessible and inclusive for everyone. In her free time, you can find Kristen surfing, hiking, teaching dance, and tending her chickens in Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Territory (Ucluelet) on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Papers and reports
Ross, P.S., Walters, K.E., Yunker, M. and B. Lo. 2022. A lake re-emerges: Analysis of contaminants in the Semá:th X̱ó:tsa (Sumas Lake) region following the BC floods of 2021. Raincoast Conservation Foundation. Sidney BC Canada. ISBN 978-1-9993892-6-0 www.raincoast.org/reports/flood-water/
Walters, K.E, MacDuffee, M., and D. Scott. 2022. The restoration and conservation funding landscape of the Lower Fraser River. Raincoast Conservation Foundation. Sidney BC Canada. ISBN: 978-1-9993892-5-3.
Murray Ned, Tara Martin, Deborah Carlson, Misty MacDuffee, Ross Dixon, Leah Ballantyne, Ian Hamilton, Kristen Walters, Rayanna Seymour-Hourie. 2020. Blueprint for restoring ecological governance to the Lower Fraser River. ISBN: 978-1-9993892-2-2.
Dave Scott, Ross Dixon, Misty MacDuffee, Riley Finn, Kristen Walters. 2020. Towards a Vision for Salmon Habitat in the Lower Fraser River. ISBN: 978-1-9993892-1-5 https://www.raincoast.org/2020/03/new-report-toward-a-vision-for-salmon-habitat-in-the-lower-fraser-river/
K.E. Walters, J.D. Reynolds, and R.C. Ydenberg. Ideal free eagles: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) distribution in relation to Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) availability on four spawning rivers. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 99(9): 792-800. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2020-0191
Popular articles
Greer C., Walters K.E.. 2022. Landslides, clearcuts, and camera traps: surveilling wolves on an industrial landscape Raincoast Conservation Foundation. https://www.raincoast.org/2022/06/landslides-clearcuts-and-camera-traps-surveilling-wolves-on-an-industrial-landscape/
Walters K.E. 2022. Salmon and orcas don’t know borders – and neither should our conservation efforts. Raincoast Conservation Foundation. https://www.raincoast.org/2022/05/salmon-and-orcas-dont-know-borders-and-neither-should-our-conservation-efforts/
Walters K.E., MacDufee M., Genvali C. 2022. You can’t ‘offset’ extinction. Seattle Times. https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/you-cant-offset-extinction-of-fraser-river-chinook-salmon/
Walters K.E. 2021. Behind the scenes of the multi-faceted Lower Fraser Salmon Conservation Program. Raincoast Conservation Foundation. https://www.raincoast.org/2021/07/behind-the-scenes-of-the-multi-faceted-lower-fraser-salmon-conservation-program/
Greer C., Walters K.E. 2021. Scat, tracks, and spawning salmon: following signs of wolves along the south coast. Raincoast Conservation Foundation. https://www.raincoast.org/2021/10/scat-tracks-and-spawning-salmon-following-signs-of-wolves-along-the-south-coast/Walters K.E. 2020. Restoring the Upper Pitt River. Raincoast Conservation Foundation. https://www.raincoast.org/2020/11/restoring-the-upper-pitt-river/
Webinar series produced
2021. Connected Estuary. Raincoast Conservation Foundation. https://www.raincoast.org/estuary-webinar/
Recent articles
Behind the scenes of the multi-faceted Lower Fraser Salmon Conservation Program
Considering the importance of the Lower Fraser River ecologically, culturally, and economically, we developed our Lower Fraser Salmon Conservation Program back in 2016 with a goal of working towards healthy…
Lower Fraser River Salmon Recovery Brief
Over the last 150 plus years, salmon habitats in the Lower Fraser River and Estuary have undergone a vast transformation, drastically reducing the quantity and quality of these habitats. Yet,…
Funding habitat restoration and conservation in the Lower Fraser Region
The Lower Fraser Region is a complex geography that is home to both BC’s largest human population and the most important salmon-producing river in Western Canada that empties into the…
Rooting people to place through the Connected Estuary webinar series
Over the course of the Connected Estuary webinar series, we explored the connectivity and ecological importance of the Fraser River Estuary to a myriad of species, including Pacific salmon, Southern…