Colony Farm tidal restoration proposal, causing concerns

Colony Farm park habitat compensation risks disrupting wildlife By Anne Murray, Georgia Straight

Colony Farm fish habitat will hurt birds, naturalist says. By Kelly Sinoski, Vancouver Sun June 18, 2010

Fish habitat will hurt birds, naturalist says. By Kelly Sinoski, Vancouver Sun June 19, 2010

Draft conceptual plan for Wilson Farm north tidal channels. ( PDF 809 Kb ) The plan has been changed a few times since this report was generated.

Metro Vancouver, Parks Committee agenda for June 17, 2010. ( PDF 4.96 Mb )


Dr. Golds brings up an important point, in that there is nothing in place to protect bird, small mammal habitat loss, through the existing parks bylaws, via a "No net loss policy".

If a portion of the parks are removed for other uses, they should be replaced with the same amount of habitat, preferrably nearby. These proposed "tidal" channels will impact considerable hectares of land, now used by other forms of life. Restoration of part of the farm to tidal flows, may seem a good thing at first glance, but the bed of the Coquitlam River is actually raised above the surrounding area, a condition that did not exist prior to the dikes being built in 1908.

The riverbed of the Coquitlam River, has infilled considerably mainly due to gravel extraction, channelization throughout most of its length, and lastly urbanization of a large part of the lower watershed.

DFO, affectionately known as the Dysfunctional Fisheries Organization, is also to blame for their policy of not restoring old channels, but creating entirely new ones, that can take many years, if ever to gain their full potential. Whereas the old channels frequently still have intact riparian areas, and the streambeds are intact.

Wilson Farm proposed destruction, Open House

Notice of Open House

Colony Farm Tidal Restoration and Habitat Enhancement Project

Metro Vancouver Regional Parks and the Transportation Investment Corporation invite you to attend an open house on Monday, May 3 to view and comment on a proposed project to restore tidal flow and enhance habitat for fish and wildlife in the Wilson Farm, an area within Colony Farm Regional Park that was drained and diked for agriculture in the early 1900s. This work is proposed as part of Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement Project’s environmental commitments.

The project has been designed to meet multiple objectives including: the restoration of natural tidal flows to improve water quality; the provision of winter rearing habitat for juvenile coho and chinook; greater control and flexibility of drainage regimes for vegetation management; and enhanced habitat for resident and migratory birds.

The open house will provide information on:
· Existing conditions and project objectives
· Proposed work required to restore tidal flows and allow fish passage
· Drainage improvements and the implications for park management
· Potential benefits for salmon and other aquatic wildlife
· Habitat enhancement components for resident and migratory birds

When: Monday, May 3, 2010

5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Informal open house
7:00 – 7:20 p.m. Presentation
7:20 – 8:00 p.m. Question and answer session

Where: The Outlet, 2100 - 2253 Leigh Square Place, Port Coquitlam

For more information, contact Metro Vancouver Parks at 604-520-6442.