The Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative, with funding from the Habitat Stewardship Program and Rio Tinto, has partnered with School District 91 and the communities of Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake and Fort St. James to undertake in a public education and outreach project for the endangered Nechako white sturgeon. School children paint sturgeon and salmon images at storm drains around the communities. The fish images will help remind citizens that storm drains lead to fish habitat. Putting hazardous materials, or even soap from washing your car, down storm drains can negatively impact aquatic systems and fish populations including the endangered Nechako white sturgeon.

A collect of images from the 2025 Juvenile Sturgeon Release Event held in Vanderhoof on June 6. 63 hatchery-raised sturgeon were released that day as part of the recovery initiative to return the population to a self-sustaining population.