Consolidated Environmental Management Plan for Burrard Inlet ...

Appendix 3:
BIEAP Accomplishments
34
Consolidated Environmental Management Plan for Burrard Inlet / Appendices
B
IEAP’s vision for Burrard Inlet is “a thriving
port and urban community co-existing with
a healthy environment”. The mandate of the
program is to promote a sustainable balance between
the environment and the economy. The overall goals of
BIEAP are to:
• Improve Water Quality in Burrard Inlet
• Improve Sediment Quality in Burrard Inlet
• Protect and enhance fi sh and wildlife habitat and the
natural biodiversity of Burrard Inlet
• Ensure that the ecological health of Burrard Inlet is
maintained or enhanced in the presence of economic
growth and development
• Promote awareness and stewardship of the ecological
health of Burrard Inlet
Collectively and individually, BIEAP and its program
partners have made improvements to Burrard Inlet’s
water quality over the past ten years by reducing the
amount of pollution entering the Inlet’s receiving waters.
In collaboration with various other parties, the BIEAP
partners have participated in a number of research
activities, provided ongoing project review and managed
public consultation initiatives.
Research and Abatement
Over the past twenty years, BIEAP’s efforts have
concentrated on gathering scientifi c evidence to
understand Burrard Inlet. Since 1992, the BIEAP
partners have conducted and co-sponsored a number of
research studies examining contaminated discharges
(e.g., point source inventories), patterns of recent and
historical contamination (e.g., sediment core profi ling
and sampling), and sediment movement within the
Inlet. The partners have also developed and promoted
abatement strategies to reduce and control pollution
discharges in the Inlet, including best management
practices or voluntary guidelines to reduce the potential
for contamination. Currently, BIEAP is fostering the
development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention
Initiative in collaboration with Metro Vancouver, Ministry
of Environment and surrounding municipalities.
Habitat and Biophysical Inventories
of the Inlet
To better assess the components of the Burrard Inlet
ecosystem, BIEAP compiled a biophysical inventory for
Burrard Inlet’s subtidal, intertidal and backshore areas
over the 1995-1996 period. Using an underwater sled
and a Global Positioning System, divers inventoried
substrates and fl ora and fauna at varying depths. BIEAP
also participated in annual bird surveys with the Wild
Bird Trust of BC. With the help of volunteers, information
was collected and used to assess bird habitat
requirements, species diversity, seasonal abundance
and movement. The data has proven especially useful
for recovery strategies associated with environmental
accidents requiring rescue efforts (i.e., oil spills).
Building on this work, BIEAP recently developed an
environmental indicator Shoreline Change Over Time that
provides baseline information on the status of marine
habitat. During the summer of 2009, BIEAP surveyed
the entire foreshore of the inlet from Point Atkinson to
Point Grey (excluding Indian Arm) by foot and/or boat to
produce the Burrard Inlet Habitat Inventory. Surveys will
be conducted periodically into the future to determine
changes in shoreline over time.
A comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS)
has been created classifying intertidal substrate and
vegetation and identifying areas where invasive species,
erosion and overhanging vegetation are present
(Map 3). The entire shoreline has also been recorded
by video and is linked to the online GIS. The GIS can be
viewed at: www.cmnbc.ca
A fi nal report summarizing fi ndings and their
implications for fi sh and wildlife habitat in Burrard Inlet
is available at:
bieapfremp.org/bieap/publications/current.html