Burrard Inlet Environmental Indicators Report - the BIEAP and ...

Burrard Inlet Environmental Indicators Report February 2008
BIEAP remains committed to translating information into action. As our understanding of the
connections between a healthy environment, society and economy deepens, we learn about
the many actions that individuals, communities, businesses and corporations can take to
maintain the health of Burrard Inlet.
Table 1: Key Findings and Trends for Burrard Inlet Environmental Indicators
Indicator Current Status
1. Tree Canopy
Cover
2. Parks and
Protected
Areas
3. Waterbird
Abundance
The urban tree canopy provides economically valuable environmental services such as
improving air quality, purifying water and helping manage stormwater. It is assessed for
developable and undeveloped areas of the watershed 2 based on 2002 satellite imagery. Tree
canopy cover is 42% in the developable areas (ranging from 26% in the English Bay and Inner
Harbour catchments to 84% in the Indian Arm catchment) and 96% in the higher elevation
undeveloped areas. The 42% value for tree cover in the developable area is high compared to
many cities in Canada and the United States (25% to 40%), indicating that communities in the
Inlet currently do a better than average job at protecting their urban forests. However, the 26%
cover in some areas indicates the need to continue to protect urban forests through planning.
In developable areas 2 , 59% of the land is urban and suburban and 41% has some form
of protection (wildlife reserve, regional or municipal park, green belt, golf course).
Considering the entire watershed, 19% is urban and suburban land and 81% has some
type of protection. These percentages are unlikely to change over time, as the land uses
are designated, but habitat quality may decrease recreational uses increases.
Populations of four species of resident waterbirds (Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic
Cormorant, Black Oystercatcher) have been stable or increased since the mid 1990s.
Glaucous-winged Gull populations have declined since 1975. Gulls are very sensitive to
predation by the Bald Eagle, and their decreased abundance may reflect movement out
of the Inlet as they adapt to the increasing danger posed by eagles. Results for waterbird
populations indicate stable and favourable environmental conditions in the Inlet to date.
4. Air Quality Air quality in the Burrard Inlet airshed is currently acceptable most of the time, and has
improved notably over the past 20 years. Levels of “Criteria Air Contaminants” generally
are below Metro Vancouver management targets. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide
and sulphur dioxide levels have declined since the 1980s. Particulate matter (PM10) and
ozone levels have been more stable. There are not enough data yet for PM2.5 to establish
a time trend. Emissions of smog-forming pollutants have declined steadily since 1985.
5. Greenhouse
Gas
Emissions
6. Water and
Sediment
Quality
(copper and
PCB levels)
7. Recreational
Use and
Fecal
Coliform
Bacteria
Greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) have increased steadily
since 1990 and are projected to increase along with population growth. The rate of increase has
slowed since 1990 (from 19% increase between 1990 and 1995 to 7% increase between 2000
and 2005). Emissions are projected to increase by 4% per five-year period to 2025.
Copper levels in water are variable; although 20% of samples collected since 1985
exceeded the provincial water quality guideline for copper, no trend over time is
apparent. Copper levels in sediment have declined since 1985, although two locations
(Outer Harbour North, Inner Harbour) still exceeded Burrard Inlet sediment quality
guidelines in 2005. In the 1980s, PCB levels in sediment were well above Burrard Inlet
guidelines at most sites; however, levels have decreased markedly at most sites. Four of
six samples collected in 2004 were below objectives but two sites (False Creek and Inner
Harbour) remained above objectives. The trend of improved levels of copper and PCB in
sediment over time is related to reduced discharges of these contaminants.
Water quality at 15 of the 19 Burrard Inlet beaches is excellent for swimming, with no closures
for elevated coliform levels over the past five years. Four beaches (Deep Cove and Cates Park
in North Vancouver, Barnet Marine Park and Old Orchard Park in Port Moody) had periodic
closures in 2002, 2005 and 2006, in part related to the lower amount of tidal flushing in these
areas. Fecal coliforms are present at other beaches but not at, levels high enough to trigger
beach closures. Shellfish harvesting has been prohibited in Burrard Inlet since the 1970’s.
There have been no closures for secondary contact recreation (boating, kayaking, windsurfing).
2
The boundary for developable vs. undeveloped land is set at 320 m elevation to the west of Lynn Creek (in
North Vancouver) and 200 m to the east.
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