Story of the Watershed: Past, Present and Future

Coquitlam River Watershed Strategy – Phase I Report The Story of the Coquitlam 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 Coquitlam River 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/Buntzen Lake 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 Indian Arm 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.

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