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

most powerful initiatives, put forth by the Department of Fisheries and
Oceans, is the no net loss initiative. This initiative requires that if any of
the remaining valuable habitats, as designated by FREMP, are developed
they must be replaced two fold by the developer. Due to this initiative,
valuable marsh habitat in the main channels of the lower Fraser has
increased over the last decade.
Another concern facing the Fraser River other than loss of habitat is
water quality. Over the years and continuing today countless amounts of
materials are inputted into the Fraser directly and indirectly due to
actions of humans in the Fraser Watershed. From increased sediment and
nutrient loading due to deforestation, to industrial waste, to household
cleaning products, many of the activities that we are involved in have an
affect on the Fraser. It is important to remember that we are at the mouth
of the Fraser River, which drains 233 000km 2 of land. Water quality in
the Fraser River at New Westminster is directly affected by all upstream
discharges into the river as well as the contributions from urbanization in
and around the New Westminster area. Stormwater runoff can contain an
array of pollutants including organic matter, heavy metals, hydrocarbons,
and nutrients. Local practices can provide improvements to the water
quality discharged into the river from around New Westminster, many of
which can be implemented at the idividual level (see page ##).
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Waterway Profiles