Consolidated Environmental Management Plan for Burrard Inlet ...

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20 Consolidated Environmental Management Plan for Burrard Inlet / Existing Policy and Planning Initiatives in Burrard Inlet In 1988, the Province designated the uplands surrounding Indian Arm as a protected area under the Environment and Land Use Act. Known as Say-Nuth- Khawyum Heritage Park and as Indian Arm Provincial Park, the lands are co-managed with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation through a memorandum of understanding. The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (BCS) for the Metro Vancouver Region was a partnership initiative under the Georgia Basin Action Plan involving Metro Vancouver, Environment Canada, BC Ministry of Environment and BIEAP-FREMP working in conjunction with municipalities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), stewardship groups and post-secondary institutions. The purpose of the project was to assess the network of areas contributing to the region’s biodiversity and develop and implement coordinated strategies and actions to conserve biodiversity. In 2009, The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Partnership released Strategic Directions for Biodiversity Conservation for the Metro Vancouver Region, which outlines specifi c strategies and implementation measures. Following release of the document, BIEAP-FREMP hosted a Forum to promote collaborative implementation of the Strategic Directions and identify next steps. Forum proceedings outlining ideas for future program development are available on the BIEAP website. Marine Protected Areas Federal and provincial governments create marine protected areas intended to protect marine biodiversity and/or cultural heritage areas. These areas are set aside to encourage scientifi c research, public appreciation and awareness, and recreation. Designated marine protected areas are representative of important ecosystems and are protected from certain development activities. There is a marine protected area off Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver, and there are Rockfi sh Conservation Areas in east Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm. Local Government Initiatives In addition to the work of the BIEAP partners, the local governments within Burrard Inlet play an important and active role in the maintenance and enhancement of Burrard Inlet’s entire ecosystem. Within Burrard Inlet there are eight municipalities bordering the basin, and one Electoral Area administered by Metro Vancouver. The municipalities in Burrard Inlet include the cities of Burnaby, North Vancouver, Port Moody, and Vancouver, the districts of North Vancouver and West Vancouver and the villages of Anmore and Belcarra. These municipalities provide services and regulate land use within their boundaries in accordance with the Local Government Act through Offi cial Community Plans (OCPs) and other zoning and planning mechanisms. All municipalities in Burrard Inlet have adopted the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) which provides the framework for municipal growth and development decisions in the Burrard basin. Most municipal OCPs contain broad policy statements respecting the environmental management of lands within their boundaries. These policy statements emphasize sustainability within urban and rural contexts and provide the basis for many innovative municipal environmental management systems. Municipal environmental management strategies address such issues as the acquisition of parkland, environmentally sensitive areas and green space, the identifi cation of wildlife ecological corridors and greenway trail systems, and the classifi cation and prioritization of urban streams for protection and renewal. Many municipalities are examining alternate forms of housing and urban infrastructure that make more effi cient use of land and energy resources and contribute to a healthier environment. The RGS is based on fi ve goals: Create a compact urban area, support a sustainable economy, protect the environment and respond to climate change impacts, develop complete communities and support sustainable transportation choices. Many of the municipalities within the Burrard Inlet watershed are currently mapping its characteristics and prioritizing watershed features for protection and enhancement. For example, the Cities of Burnaby, Port Moody and North Vancouver are implementing
strategies to preserve environmentally sensitive and ecologically signifi cant areas. The Districts of West and North Vancouver are involved in larger watershed planning projects and are working closely with community streamkeeper groups. In conjunction with the Integrated Liquid Waste and Resource Management Plan (ILWRMP) and other planning initiatives, local governments are developing programs to improve stormwater practices. Street sweeping, storm drain cleaning, encouraging natural drainage in new developments, and creek and watercourse maintenance and monitoring have helped to improve water quality and have often provided more hospitable environs for fi sh and wildlife. Many municipalities are developing and implementing integrated storm water management plans that take into account the natural watersheds or catchment areas draining into Burrard Inlet. First Nations Initiatives Many aboriginal First Nations, including the Musqueam, the Squamish, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and others, take active interest in the environmental health of Burrard Inlet. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN, meaning “the People of the Inlet”) in particular has developed a Marine Stewardship Plan that focuses on the long-term ecological health of Burrard Inlet. Under this plan, the TWN in 2007 implemented a water quality monitoring program, targeting marine water quality for shellfi sh consumption. The TWN takes an active interest in development proposals within their area of interest and applies the stewardship plan to ascertain their environmental effects. Community Groups and Stewardship Activities in Burrard Inlet The Burrard Inlet has a wealth of diverse projects and dedicated volunteers who work cooperatively to enhance and restore habitat, and educate and engage in watershed planning and stewardship activities. Rapid urban development is of great concern to groups trying to protect the watersheds that support creeks in their communities. Some groups focus on restoration projects in the many small coastal streams, while others focus on maintaining and enhancing their existing watersheds and enriching local streams with fry or providing smolts for release into Burrard Inlet. School groups are very active and classroom incubators are in much demand. School groups release fry into local streams in the spring, often in combination with Streamkeeper and streamside learning activities. Considered an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International, Burrard Inlet also hosts several community groups involved in programs to assist bird conservation. Activities by birding groups include monitoring of the Pacifi c subspecies of the great blue heron and bald eagle. Other groups focus on the monitoring of migratory species stopping in the area while travelling the Pacifi c Flyway. Some groups assist in management of specifi c areas such the Maplewood Conservation Area and Stanley Park, and provide ecotours to enhance public awareness of birds in Burrard Inlet. 21 Existing Policy and Planning Initiatives in Burrard Inlet / Consolidated Environmental Management Plan for Burrard Inlet
Page 1: Consolidated Environmental Manageme
Page 5 and 6: Foreword The Burrard Inlet Environm
Page 7 and 8: Executive Summary Burrard Inlet is
Page 9 and 10: Burrard Inlet Environmental Action
Page 11 and 12: Physical Settings Burrard Inlet is
Page 13 and 14: BIEAP Partners Environment Canada E
Page 15 and 16: Municipalities The municipalities f
Page 17 and 18: Water Quality Water quality informa
Page 19 and 20: Sediment Quality Contamination pres
Page 21 and 22: conducted by Environment Canada and
Page 23: to conserve a wide range of migrato
Page 27 and 28: Goals and Objectives 1 Improve 2 Im
Page 29 and 30: Funding Commitments for Implementat
Page 31 and 32: Appendix 1: Glossary BIEAP Partners
Page 33 and 34: Provincial Municipal Sewage Regulat
Page 35 and 36: Burrard Inlet encompasses 109,300 h
Page 37 and 38: Traditional Uses of Burrard Inlet B
Page 39 and 40: Map 3 Monitoring One of the key com
Page 41 and 42: Appendix 4: Community Groups and St
Page 43 and 44: ) “Consensus” means lack of dis
Page 45 and 46: Public Involvement 16. Public invol
Page 47: Appendix 6: BIEAP Partners Environm
Page 50: BIEAP/FREMP Suite 501, 5945 Kathlee

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