NNAANNAAIIMMOO EESSTTUUAARRYY MMAANNAAGGEEMMEENNTT PPLLAANN CATHERINE BERRIS ASSOCIATES INC. February 2006 Canada A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS Steering Committee Department of Fisheries and Oceans: Scott Northrup, Chair Snuneymuxw First Nation: Kathleen Johnnie, (2002 - 2004), Andrew McNaughton (2005) Environment Canada: Ken Brock, Andrew Robinson, Alice Cheung Land and Water B.C. Inc.: Ron Creber (until 2004) Ministry of Environment – Judy Davis (until 2004), Drew Chapman (2005) Nanaimo Port Authority: Mike Davidson Regional District of Nanaimo: Pam Shaw Interest Group Participants in Steering Committee Meetings Nanaimo River Estuary Log Storage Association: Bob Colclough Tim Clermont, The Nature Trust of B.C. Nanaimo Community Estuary Support Coalition: Geoff Robins and Carey McAllister (2004-2005), previously Tony Dorling, Guy Monty, Jack Whitlam Consultants Catherine Berris Associates Inc., Prime Consultant, Planning and Facilitation Catherine Berris, Principal in Charge Bill Gushue, GIS Analysis and Mapping R.U. Kistritz Consultants Ltd., Aquatic Biology Ron Kistritz, Primary Aquatic Biologist Dana Haggarty, Assistant Aquatic Biologist (self employed) Gebauer & Associates Ltd., Terrestrial Biology Martin Gebauer, Terrestrial Biologist Coastal and Ocean Resources Inc., Oceanography Dr. John Harper, Marine Geologist, Project Advisor Snuneymuxw First Nation Technical Support Andrew McNaughton, Shellfish Project Coordinator Kelly Poulin, GIS Coordinator Photographs Andrew McNaughton, Tim Clermont, Scott Northrup and other Steering Committee members and consultants T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Page 1.0 B ACKGROUND AND P LAN F RAMEWORK ............................................ 1 1.1 The Study Area ..................................................................1 1.2 Context for a Plan .............................................................5 1.3 Planning Process ..............................................................7 1.4 Plan Framework .................................................................8 1.5 Plan Format ......................................................................10 2.0 F ISH AND W ILDLIFE ............. 11 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................11 2.2 Upland Habitat .................................................................12 2.3 Marine Habitat ..................................................................13 2.4 Wildlife ...............................................................................14 2.5 Fish .....................................................................................17 2.6 Habitat Classification .....................................................20 2.7 Habitat Evaluation ..........................................................26 2.8 Issues and Opportunities ..............................................27 2.9 Objectives .........................................................................29 2.10 Management Strategies ..............................................29 3.0 W ATER Q UANTITY AND Q UALITY .................................................. 32 3.1 Water Quantity .................................................................32 3.2 Water Quality....................................................................34 3.3 Issues and Opportunities ..............................................39 3.4 Objectives .........................................................................39 3.5 Management Strategies ................................................40 4.0 H UMAN A CTIVITIES .............. 42 4.1 Culture and Heritage ......................................................42 4.2 Industrial Development and Activities.......................44 4.3 Other Land Uses .............................................................49 4.4 Recreation .........................................................................51 4.5 Objectives .........................................................................58 4.6 Management Strategies ................................................58 5.0 D ESIGNATION P LAN .............. 61 5.1 Designation Plan Categories .......................................61 6.0 M ONITORING P LAN ................ 63 6.1 Context for Monitoring ...................................................63 6.2 River Flow Monitoring ....................................................65 6.3 Water Quality Monitoring ..............................................66 6.4 Vegetation Monitoring ....................................................69 6.5 Fish Monitoring ................................................................71 6.6 Wildlife Monitoring ..........................................................72 6.7 Recreation Use Monitoring ...........................................73 6.8 Log Storage Monitoring .................................................73 7.0 I MPLEMENTATION P LAN .......... 75 7.1 A Commitment to Work Together ................................75 7.2 Partnerships .....................................................................77 7.3 Decision-making Process .............................................77 7.4 Monitoring .........................................................................79 7.5 Coordination of Activities .............................................79 7.6 Funding ..............................................................................80 7.7 Plan Review and Updating ...........................................81 A PPENDIX A: C OMMON AND S CIENTIFIC N AMES ......................... 82 Part 1 ...........................................................................................82 Part 2 ...........................................................................................84 A PPENDIX B: A GENCY AND O THER G ROUP I NTERESTS AND J URISDICTION ..................................... 95 A PPENDIX C: P ARTICIPATION P ROTOCOL ............................................ 102 R EFERENCES ....................................... 104 Map Index Map 1: Nanaimo River Watershed Map 2: City and RDN Official Community Plans Map 3: Ownership and Tenure Map 4: Aerial Photograph Map 5: Eelgrass Map 6: Biophysical Units Map 7: Environmental Value Map 8: Sampling Sites Map 9: Historical Aerial Photographs Map 10: Firearm Discharge Area Map 11: Designation Plan [Note: Base maps were prepared in 2002. Industry names have changed since then, as noted in the report.] E XECUTIVE S UMMARY Background The Nanaimo River estuary is the largest estuary on Vancouver Island and is a very significant regional feature. It is also a highly productive biological system, particularly in terms of the intertidal plant life, fish, shellfish, and bird species supported. The first known inhabitants were the Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN or Snuneymuxw), to whom the Nanaimo River estuary is still an important spiritual and traditional use area. The estuary is also surrounded by the rapidly growing population of the Nanaimo area. The estuary is used extensively for log storage as well as recreation. Over the next few decades, the challenge will be to restore the productivity and diversity of this ecosystem with consideration for social and economic benefits to the community. Prior to this Nanaimo Estuary Management Plan (NEMP), various studies had been undertaken within the Nanaimo estuary, but no integrated process to consider all resources and involve all interests had occurred. Triggered by the impending expiration of a head lease from the Province to the Nanaimo Port Authority, a number of organizations came together to initiate preparation of an overall management plan for the Nanaimo Estuary that would encompass all human activities and uses. The planning process began in February 2002. It was conducted by an interdisciplinary team of consultants guided by a multi-interest Steering Committee (SC). The planning process involved many SC meetings, communication through the media and a Web site, and two public sessions. Scientifically, the Nanaimo River Estuary covers a large marine area, with its influence extending into Departure Bay and surrounding channels. However, given the time constraints of the project, the SC decided to focus on the immediate estuary first, and to save the larger area for a later phase of work. Plan Framework The following plan framework was developed in collaboration with the SC, with input from the public. Cooperation as the Core The central focus of the plan reflects the desire for all governments, including the SFN, to work cooperatively together, with input from key interest groups, on a management regime within the estuary. N ANAIMO E STUARY M ANAGEMENT P LAN i Vision The following is the vision for the study area. It is written in the present tense since it describes how it is hoped the estuary will be perceived in the future. The Nanaimo River estuary, the largest estuary on Vancouver Island, has rich resources that include salmon, shellfish, intertidal vegetation and significant bird populations. The estuary is also the site of human activities including cultural, traditional, industrial, residential, agricultural and recreational uses that benefit the community as a whole. Purpose The purpose of planning and management is to restore the productivity and diversity of the natural resources in the estuary with consideration for social and economic returns and benefits to the community as a whole. The plan will provide a balanced approach to the future management and use of the Nanaimo River estuary, recognizing that it is one of the greatest natural