p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

Linking Navigation Dredging to Ecosystem Restoration CEER 2014 Michael Cho, M&N

Habitat Enhancement Program

Agenda

1. Port Metro Vancouver and the Habitat Enhancement Program (HEP)

2. The Fraser River

3. Linking Navigation Dredging to Habitat Enhancement

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p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

• Non shareholder, financially self-sufficient corporation established by the Government of Canada

• Accountable to federal Minister of Transportation

• Offices in Vancouver and Beijing

1. PORT METRO VANCOUVER

p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

• Canada’s largest Gateway to the Asia-Pacific Region

• Connects Canadians with trading partners in more than 160 economies

• Handles more than $505 million of cargo daily on average

STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED

Pacific Ocean

Source: National Geographic

p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

• PMV focuses on long-term economic, social and environmental performance so that future generations will enjoy the benefits of trade, improved quality of life, and a healthy and vibrant ecosystem.

PORT METRO VANCOUVER’S APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY

p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

• Co-ordinated project environmental review

• Marine mammal monitoring and stewardship

• Habitat creation and enhancement

STEWARDSHIP OF LAND & WATER

p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

•Creating and improving fish & wildlife habitat in advance of port development projects

•Used to off-set the impacts of port development projects on existing habitat

PORT METRO VANCOUVER'S HABITAT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

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Before

After

p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

HABITAT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM PROPOSED/ACTIVE PROJECTS

Musqueam Foreshore Tidal Marsh Project

Point Grey Tidal Marsh Project

South Arm Jetty Tidal Marsh Project

Westham Island/Canoe Pass Tidal Marsh Project

McDonald Tidal Marsh Project

Steveston Island Tidal Marsh Project

Glenrose Reach Tidal Marsh Project

Salt Marsh Restoration Projects

Vancouver Strait of Georgia

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2. The Fraser River

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p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

FRASER RIVER – OVERVIEW

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Vancouver

Geographic Location (Source: watercanada.net)

p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

LOWER FRASER RIVER ESTUARY

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• Total river sediment discharge ~12 Million m3/yr

• Navigation dredging ~2.5 Million m3 /yr

• Ocean disposal ~1 Million m3 /yr

Fraser River

Vancouver Strait of Georgia

Sediment Plume (Source: NASA website) Source: The Sedimentary Record

p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

Rock Jetty

Fraser River Training Wall

Strait of Georgia

Flood Tide Current

Vancouver

• River channelization and dredging occur for navigation and flood control

• Sediment is directed away from Sturgeon Bank 12

HUMAN/PHYSICAL PROCESSES

Sturgeon Bank

FRASER RIVER SOUTH ARM JETTY

• Sturgeon Bank is considered to be in ‘sediment deficit’

• ‘Sand Island’ was created in 1980

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Sturgeon Bank

3. Linking Navigation Dredging to Habitat Enhancement

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p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

• Marsh with design wave conditions: 50-year wave, NW Direction, and 2.4m GD (HHWLT)

COASTAL ENGINEERING ANALYSIS

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p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

Sturgeon Bank

Fraser River

SOUTH ARM JETTY TIDAL MARSH PROJECT CURRENT STATE – LOW WATER

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p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

SOUTH ARM JETTY TIDAL MARSH PROJECT PROPOSED CONCEPT – LOW WATER

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p o r t m e t r o v a n c o u v e r.c o m

• The proposed South Arm Jetty Tidal Marsh Project allows for the beneficial reuse of over 300,000 m3 of dredgeate from the Fraser River

• 40+ hectares of new fish rearing marsh is proposed to be created as a result of this project

LINKING DREDGING TO RESTORATION

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Questions/Discussion

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