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

Burrard Inlet Environmental Indicators Report February 2008
Map 1: Basins and Catchments of the Burrard Inlet Watershed
Adapted from BIEAP
The mountains of the North Shore and the waters of Burrard Inlet give Vancouver its
reputation as one of the most scenic cities in the world. Over 650,000 people live in the
watershed and they, along with visitors and the remaining 1.4 million lower mainland residents,
enjoy the many recreational opportunities the Inlet provides. Characterized by a temperate
marine climate, the Burrard Inlet ecosystem includes rugged mountain peaks, magnificent old
growth forests and fjords rich with terrestrial and aquatic life. Its forested slopes provide habitat
for deer, bears, cougars and many small animals and birds and its shorelines, intertidal areas,
mudflats and salt marshes support many species of marine organisms. The Pacific Flyway
transects the inlet, attracting tens of thousands of migratory birds each year. An aerial view
(Map 2) shows the variety of natural and developed landscapes of the watershed.
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