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.

Veterans Unit at Colony Farm in 1949

Aerial view in 1928

From the 1928 Hospital annual report

Farm House,(Farm Cottage) 1924

This building housed the patients who worked the farm. The building was removed many years ago.

Clydesdale at Colony Farm 1924

"Colony Lady Pride" They actively bred Clydesdales at Colony Farm.

Holstein herd 1913

Holstein herd at Colony Farm in 1913, note the drover in the background.

Clearing of Colony Farm 1910

Clearing of Colony Farm in 1910, they eventually utilized six Donkey engines to clear the site.

Dredging at Colony Farm in 1910

Dredging the ditches at Colony Farm in 1910.

Colony Farm 1921 map

Note the sloughs on this map, they have nearly all been filled in through the years. The Indian Reserve, shows where the Catholic church was, since destroyed.

Colony Farm 1920 map

The fields were all numbered, extensive records of the production of each field still exist in the Hospital annual reports. Map is from the 1921 annual report.

The tank house on the right, missing its water tower today. The Farm "Cottage" on the left,now gone. Essondale,(Riverview) Hospital visible in the distance.

Map of Colony Farm 1914

This is the earliest map that I have been able to find of Colony Farm. Notice the two steamer landings!. Paddlewheelers at one time also over-wintered in the Coquitlam River, to escape the river ice in the Fraser River.

Tank House in 2006

The Tank House,(Bunkhouse) in 2006, before the roof was rebuilt later on 2006.

Farm managers house

The farm managers house at Colony Farm in 2006, with a new roof.

Colony Farm barns

This picture was taken from the roof of the Tank House,(Bunkhouse) in 1911. All that remains is the brick wall in the foreground, and the rebuilt tankhouse.

Clydesdale mares at Colony Farm

The young Dutch Elm trees, that line the road into Colony Farm are visible in this picture. Most have been removed today(2006)

Tank House,(Bunkhouse) during 1921 flood