11 Ecology - Vancouver€¦ · Ecology How can Creekway Park contribute to the overall ecosystem?...

1
HB Lanarc-Golder Raincoast Applied Ecology Golder Associates Kerr Wood Leidal Drdul Community Transportation Planning CREEKWAY PARK Ecology How can Creekway Park contribute to the overall ecosystem? 11 Creekway Park will become a critical part of the stream network connecting Hastings Park to the shore of Burrard Inlet in New Brighton Park. As part of the Hastings Park 2011 Master Plan, the City made a commitment to pursue the development of a stream connection through Creekway Park. The proposed constructed watercourse and wetland provides a functional amenity of ecological value, connecting the Sanctuary with Burrard Inlet. To some, the reference to this historic stream provides a connection to the past. Dragonflies will skim across the sedge marsh on the stream margins, and songbirds will call from shrub thickets and the adjacent tree canopy. The greenway trail will cross the stream channel and provide a destination for park visitors and commuters to watch how water flow and ecological communities change with the seasons. Like many natural wetlands and small streams, flow will dwindle to a trickle in August and September but moist soils will sustain wetland plants. Storm flows in early fall will rapidly fill the wetland channel and weirs will be used to control water elevation. Biofiltration will improve water quality. Downstream of Creekway Park, the proposed New Brighton Saltmarsh will become a significant ecological feature in Vancouver’s park system. Below the fish barriers, regular flow of clean water from Creekway Park will be important for restoring fish and waterfowl populations in the created saltmarsh. Creekway Park may also capture and treat water from roads and paved surfaces surrounding the park. CREEKWAY PARK BURRARD INLET NEW BRIGHTON PARK NON FISH BEARING ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR MAJOR ROAD FISH BEARING STREAM RAILROAD SITE BOUNDARY STREAM CONNECTION TO BURRARD INLET CP RAIL CONNECTION TO THE SANCTUARY PROPOSED SALT WATER MARSH FISH BEARING STREAM NON-FISH BEARING ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR Due to variable flow, impaired water quality, and fish passage barriers, Creekway Park will not support native salmon and trout populations, however, it will be a biologically rich habitat: Restoring Ecological Health Interpretive panels can be used to tell the story about the site’s restored ecology Creekway Park will support a variety of habitats Wetland plants will be sustained throughout the year Regular flow of clean water will be important for restoring waterfowl populations in the saltmarsh Biofiltration will improve water quality

Transcript of 11 Ecology - Vancouver€¦ · Ecology How can Creekway Park contribute to the overall ecosystem?...

Page 1: 11 Ecology - Vancouver€¦ · Ecology How can Creekway Park contribute to the overall ecosystem? 11 Creekway Park will become a critical part of the stream network connecting Hastings

HB Lanarc-GolderRaincoast Applied EcologyGolder AssociatesKerr Wood LeidalDrdul Community Transportation Planning

CREEKWAY PARK

EcologyHow can Creekway Park contribute to the overall ecosystem?

11

Creekway Park will become a critical part of the stream network connecting Hastings Park to the shore of Burrard Inlet in New Brighton Park.

As part of the Hastings Park 2011 Master Plan, the City made a commitment to pursue the development of a stream connection through Creekway Park. The proposed constructed watercourse and wetland provides a functional amenity of ecological value, connecting the Sanctuary with Burrard Inlet. To some, the reference to this historic stream provides a connection to the past.

• Dragonflieswillskimacrossthesedgemarshonthe stream margins, and songbirds will call from shrub thickets and the adjacent tree canopy.

• The greenway trail will cross the stream channel and provide a destination for park visitors and commuterstowatchhowwaterflowandecologicalcommunities change with the seasons.

• Like many natural wetlands and small streams, flowwilldwindletoatrickleinAugustandSeptember but moist soils will sustain wetland plants.

• Stormflowsinearlyfallwillrapidlyfillthewetlandchannel and weirs will be used to control water elevation.

• Biofiltrationwillimprovewaterquality.

• Downstream of Creekway Park, the proposed NewBrightonSaltmarshwillbecomeasignificantecological feature in Vancouver’s park system.

• Belowthefishbarriers,regularflowofcleanwaterfrom Creekway Park will be important for restoring fishandwaterfowlpopulationsinthecreatedsaltmarsh.

• Creekway Park may also capture and treat water from roads and paved surfaces surrounding the park.

CREEKWAY PARK

BURRARD INLET

NEW BRIGHTON PARK

NON FISH BEARING ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR

MAJOR ROAD

FISH BEARING STREAM

RAILROAD

SITE BOUNDARY

STREAM CONNECTION TO BURRARD INLET

CP RAIL

CONNECTION TO THE SANCTUARY

PROPOSED SALT WATER MARSH

FISH BEARING STREAM

NON-FISH BEARING ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR

Due to variable flow, impaired water quality, and fishpassage barriers, Creekway Park will not support native salmon and trout populations, however, it will be a biologically rich habitat:

Restoring Ecological Health

Interpretive panels can be used to tell the story about the site’s restored ecology

Creekway Park will support a variety of habitats

Wetland plants will be sustained throughout the year

Regularflowofcleanwaterwillbeimportantforrestoringwaterfowlpopulationsinthe saltmarsh

Biofiltrationwillimprovewaterquality