As CBC reported on Friday, federal scientists fear the possible extinction of some salmon populations following last year's landslide at Big Bar.

That didn't come as a surprise to Snyder.

"We've seen these stocks continuously decline, and what the Big Bar situation has done is really bring them to their knees," he told CBC.

Those familiar with the state of salmon stocks on the upper Fraser say immediate action is needed to address the devastating impact of the landslide, and one of the first steps needs to be granting more power to First Nations and other local bodies.

Chief Terry Teegee, B.C. regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations, said the transfer of authority would allow Indigenous groups to "make proper decisions" based on longstanding, firsthand knowledge of the crisis.