Coquitlam River Watershed Strategy – Phase I Report The Story of the River Watershed: Past, Present and Future Presented by: Alan Kenney – Golder Associates Ltd. February 25, 2009 Background

¾ Phase I report was prepared by Jahlie Houghton – JR Environmental (April 2008)

¾ Report was updated by the Watershed Working Group (October 2008)

¾ Golder hired to assist with Phase II – Stakeholder Engagement (January 2009)

¾ Golder is presenting JR Environmental’s Phase I report Phase I Objectives ¾ Research and summarize key documents relevant to the history and health of the watershed;

¾ Develop an accountability framework to define the many stakeholders and their various legislations and mandates;

¾ Identify watershed interests and establish initial dialogue with: ¾ Government agencies ¾ Stewardship groups ¾ Industry

Coquitlam Watershed – First Nations

¾Last Ice Age – 9,000 Years Ago

¾Kwikwetlem First Nation traces its ancestry back to this time

¾Kwikwetlem means “red fish up the river”

¾Kwikwetlem First Nation derives its history, culture and heritage from the watershed’s salmon resource

¾Kwikwetlem First Nation continues to play a leading role in the management of the watershed. Earliest known picture of salmon jumping in Coquitlam River Coquitlam Watershed – Pre 1914

¾ CPR entered watershed in 1884

¾ Salmon fishing and canneries expanded along Fraser

¾ Logging industry clears forests for settlement Coquitlam Watershed – Pre 1914 ¾ Coquitlam Dam Construction (1904) with fishway

¾ Coquitlam/ Diversion (1905)

¾ Coquitlam Dam Construction (1914)

¾ Led to loss of sea-run sockeye population with kokanee confined in Coquitlam reservoir

¾ Also cut-off habitat for coho, chinook, chum and steelhead Coquitlam Watershed – Pre 1914

Buntzen Reservoir Coquitlam Reservoir

Generating Station on 1914 Dam Construction Clay Model – Diversion Project Flooding Events

¾ Flooding events occurred in ¾ 1892 ¾ 1921 (1:200 year event) ¾ 1955 ¾ 1961

¾ Dykes were constructed to protect the City and agricultural land (Colony Farm) Mining and Dredging Sediment Impacts

¾Late 1950’s – Start of gravel mining operations ¾In-river dredging was a common practice up to 1965 ¾Resulted in destruction of pink and chum salmon spawning beds

Gravel Pit Operations Other Sediment Impacts

¾Or Creek watershed poorly logged in 1970’s

¾Exposed its clay banks which are now a significant sediment source

¾Natural landslides

¾Caving erosion due to groundwater seepage Logging

¾ Logging has occurred in the watershed since the late 1800’s ¾ 1972 – 1993 approx. 1400 ha logged, including 82 cutblocks and 100 km of logging roads ¾ Result: Water quality / slope instability issues Urban Development

¾Coquitlam’s population is currently over 114,000

¾Port Coquitlam is over 57,000

¾A significant component of the Port Coquitlam’s Population 1961 - 2021 watershed’s drainage is now carried by the storm drain system

¾Erosion and riparian impacts of urban development are also an issue Community Stewardship ¾ Currently at least 15+ groups

¾ Majority formed in the 1990s

¾ Mitigate impacts and restore ecosystem through: ¾ Awareness and education ¾ Advocacy and involvement in watershed planning process ¾ Salmon enhancement ¾ Habitat restoration ¾ Surveillance activities Local Stewardship Groups

¾ Burke Mountain Naturalists ¾ Como Watershed Group ¾ Colony Farm Park Association ¾ Coquitlam River Watershed Society ¾ Coquitlam Riverwatch ¾ Friends of Mundy Park Heritage Society ¾ Institute of Urban Ecology ¾ Hoy Scott Watershed Society ¾ Maple Creek Streamkeepers ¾ North Fraser Salmon Assistance Project ¾ Port Coquitlam and District Hunting and Fishing Club ¾ River Springs Streamkeepers ¾ Rivershed Society of BC ¾ Riverview Horticultural Centre Society ¾ Watershed Watch Salmon Society Reports and Initiatives - 1978-present

¾ Phase I report describes over 25 reports initiatives undertaken in the watershed since 1978

¾ Provides documentation and references of these various initiatives and the groups / agencies involved.

¾ Demonstrates stakeholders working collaboratively together on a wide variety of watershed initiatives. Stakeholder Initiatives

¾ BC Hydro Water Use Plan ¾ Initaited in 2000 / Completed in 2003 / Adopted in 2005

¾ Goal: To recommend a preferred operating strategy by using a public participatory process

¾ Over 60 Consultative Committee meetings

¾ Engaged Kwikwetlem First Nation, all levels govt. and stewardship community

¾ Achieved consensus

¾ $2.5 M for 12 year Monitoring Program

¾ BCRP invested $1.03 M over 1999-2009 Stakeholder Initiatives

¾ Coquitlam River Aggregate Committee ¾ Formed by City of Coquitlam Council to address sediment issues in 1999

¾ Industry; federal, provincial, regional and municipal governments; BC Hydro, CRWS

¾ Mandate to address impacts related to aggregate mining

¾ Issues / challenges identified include: • Reduction of overburden by-product • Improvement of sediment run-off controls • Offsite strategies • Testing and monitoring of sedimentation • Rehabilitation Multidisciplinary Stakeholder Initiatives

¾ Kwikwetlem Salmon Restoration Program ¾ Initiated by BC Hydro in 2003

¾ Kwikwetlem First Nation, BC Hydro, all levels government and stewardship groups

¾ Mandate to assess and implement sockeye reintroduction

¾ Low water level allowed release of kokanee juveniles to river in 2005 and 2006.

¾ In 2007, 2 female sockeye returned / both died

¾ In 2008, 13 sockeye returned and 2 died Phase I - Issues, Concerns and Recommendations

COMMUNICATION ¾Need for participation at all levels of government ¾First Nations continued involvement ¾Workshop needed to communicate Phase I Report ¾Communication Strategy needed between all stakeholders and the community ¾Define a vision for this urban river Phase I - Issues, Concerns and Recommendations (cont’)

ENVIRONMENT ¾ Mitigation of sedimentation/erosion in Or Creek

¾ Installation of run-off interceptor ditch above gravel pit operations

¾ Vegetation salvage in development zones

¾ Re-evaluation of steelhead hatchery program Phase I - Issues, Concerns and Recommendations (cont’)

ENVIRONMENT

¾ Long-term water quality monitoring – point source identification

¾ Study on current environmental stressors in watershed

¾ Fish ladder installation at the dam Phase I - Issues, Concerns and Recommendations (cont’)

Perception of lack of legislation and enforcement regarding: ¾ Monitoring and enhancement requirements ¾ Environmental concerns for agencies governing utilities ¾ Municipal environmental management ¾ Provincial environmental management ¾ Water quality and flow Governance Accountability and Management Issues Frameworks

¾Governance Accountability Framework ¾Provides graphical overview of various government agencies and their legislative authority ¾Management Issues Framework ¾Identifies government agencies, legislation and watershed management issue responsibility ¾14 government agencies ¾36 pieces of legislation Phase I - Conclusions Lessons learned: ¾ Importance of communication between stakeholders and community

¾ Consultation with the community and stakeholders in decision-making process

¾ Continuum of funding needed

¾ Need for a governance structure

¾ Involvement of all levels of government and stakeholders QUESTIONS