New Westminster Environmental Almanac (2917 ... - Douglas College

Status of Original Ecosystems
Fraser River and the Delta
The Fraser has been flowing into
the Pacific for at the least the last
ten thousand years, since the end
of the last ice age. However, as
the sea level rose due to melting
ice sheets, the mouth of the Fraser
River valley was flooded.
The mainland portion of New
Westminster remained dry, as it
was located on higher ground. At this time, the land where
Queensborough is located did not exist and Point Roberts was an island
off the coast.
Over time the Fraser River
continuously deposited its
sediment load as the river
released from the confines of the
Fraser Canyon. Gradually, the
sediment formed into islands at
the mouth of the river. Some of
these islands were only
temporary, others continued to
grow and meld into one another to
create larger islands and form a recognizable delta. During spring
freshet, the increased water flow due to the melting snow pack, the river
would often breach its channels and redistribute previously deposited
sediment. The main channels of
the river used to creep across the
face of the delta, constantly
looking for the easiest route to the
ocean.
In the 1800s and early 1900s
people began to dyke the shores
of the River to drain land for
agricultural use and reduce
flooding, confining the channels
to their present locations.
8
Growth of the Fraser River Delta
10 000 years ago
5 000 years ago
Today
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