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METRO VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT (MVRD) - PARKS REGULAR BOARD MEETING Friday, February 24, 2017 9:00 A.M. 2nd Floor Boardroom, 4330 Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia

Membership and Votes

A G E N D A1

A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

1. February 24, 2017 Regular (Parks) Meeting Agenda That the MVRD Board adopt the agenda for its regular (Parks) meeting scheduled for February 24, 2017 as circulated.

B. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES

1. October 28, 2016 Regular (Parks) Meeting Minutes That the MVRD Board adopt the minutes for its regular (Parks) meeting held October 28, 2016 as circulated.

C. DELEGATIONS

D. INVITED PRESENTATIONS

E. CONSENT AGENDA Note: Directors may adopt in one motion all recommendations appearing on the Consent Agenda or, prior to the vote, request an item be removed from the Consent Agenda for debate or discussion, voting in opposition to a recommendation, or declaring a conflict of interest with an item.

1. REGIONAL PARKS COMMITTEE REPORTS

1.1 Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy That the MVRD Board approve the “Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy” as presented in the report dated January 23, 2017, titled “Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy”.

1 Note: Recommendation is shown under each item, where applicable.

February 15, 2017 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 1 MVRD Board Agenda - Parks February 24, 2017 Agenda Page 2 of 3

1.2 Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve – Background Information and Public Engagement Development of a Regional Park Management Plan That the MVRD Board: a) authorize staff to undertake public engagement associated with the preparation of a park management plan for Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve; and b) direct staff to report back to the MVRD Board with a summary of the feedback received from the public engagement events and a draft Widgeon March Regional Park Reserve Management Plan.

F. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

G. REPORTS NOT INCLUDED IN CONSENT AGENDA

1. REGIONAL PARKS COMMITTEE REPORT

1.3 Metro Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017 That the MVRD Board: a) give first, second and third reading to Metro Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017; and b) pass and finally adopt Metro Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017.

H. MOTIONS FOR WHICH NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN

I. OTHER BUSINESS

J. BUSINESS ARISING FROM DELEGATIONS

K. RESOLUTION TO CLOSE MEETING Note: The Board must state by resolution the basis under section 90 of the Community Charter on which the meeting is being closed. If a member wishes to add an item, the basis must be included below.

That the MVRD Board close its regular (Parks) meeting scheduled for February 24, 2017 pursuant to the Community Charter provisions, Section 90 (1) (e) as follows:

“90 (1) A part of a board meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to or is one or more of the following: (e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the board or committee considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the regional district.”

L. RISE AND REPORT (Items Released from Closed Meeting)

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 2 MVRD Board Agenda - Parks February 24, 2017 Agenda Page 3 of 3

M. ADJOURNMENT/CONCLUSION That the MVRD Board adjourn/conclude its regular (Parks) meeting of February 24, 2017.

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 3 Section B 1

GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS - PARKS

Minutes of the Regular Parks Meeting of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) Board of Directors held at 9:08 a.m. on Friday, October 28, 2016 in the 2nd Floor Boardroom, 4330 Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Port Coquitlam, Chair, Director Greg Moore North Vancouver District, Director Richard Walton Vancouver, Vice Chair, Director Raymond Louie Pitt Meadows, Director John Becker Abbotsford, Director Moe Gill Port Moody, Director Mike Clay Anmore, Director John McEwen Richmond, Director Malcolm Brodie Belcarra, Director Ralph Drew Richmond, Director Harold Steves Bowen Island, Director Maureen Nicholson Surrey, Director Bruce Hayne Burnaby, Director Sav Dhaliwal Surrey, Director Linda Hepner Burnaby, Director Colleen Jordan Surrey, Director Mary Martin Coquitlam, Director Craig Hodge Surrey, Director Barbara Steele Coquitlam, Director Richard Stewart Surrey, Director Judy Villeneuve Delta, Director Lois Jackson Vancouver, Director Heather Deal Electoral Area A, Director Maria Harris Vancouver, Director Kerry Jang Langley City, Director Rudy Storteboom Vancouver, Director Geoff Meggs Langley Township, Director Charlie Fox Vancouver, Director Andrea Reimer Langley Township, Director Bob Long Vancouver, Director Gregor Robertson Lions Bay, Director Karl Buhr Vancouver, Director Tim Stevenson Maple Ridge, Director Nicole Read West Vancouver, Director Michael Smith New Westminster, Director Jonathan Coté White Rock, Director Wayne Baldwin North Vancouver City, Director Darrell Mussatto

MEMBERS ABSENT: Abbotsford, Director Henry Braun Tsawwassen, Director Bryce Williams Burnaby, Director Derek Corrigan

STAFF PRESENT: Carol Mason, Chief Administrative Officer Janis Knaupp, Assistant to Regional Committees, Board and Information Services Chris Plagnol, Corporate Officer

A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

1. October 28, 2016 Regular Parks Meeting Agenda

It was MOVED and SECONDED That the GVRD Board adopt the revised agenda for its regular Parks meeting scheduled for October 28, 2016 as circulated. CARRIED

Minutes of the Regular Parks Meeting of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) Board of Directors held on Friday, October 28, 2016 Page 1 of 4 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 4 B. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES

1. September 23, 2016 Regular Parks Meeting Minutes

2. October 21, 2016 Metro Vancouver Joint Board Budget Workshop Minutes

It was MOVED and SECONDED That the GVRD Board adopt the minutes for its regular Parks meeting held September 23, 2016 and the minutes for the Metro Vancouver Joint Board Budget Workshop held October 21, 2016 as circulated. CARRIED Director Jang absent at the vote.

C. DELEGATIONS No items presented.

D. INVITED PRESENTATIONS No items presented.

E. CONSENT AGENDA

It was MOVED and SECONDED That the GVRD Board adopt the recommendations contained in the following items presented in the October 28, 2016 GVRD Board Consent Agenda: 1.1 Kanaka Creek Regional Park – Contribution Agreement for Operation of the Kanaka Creek Bell‐Irving Hatchery 1.2 Belcarra Regional Park - BC Hydro Metro North Transmission Project Update and Implications 2.1 2017 GVRD Budget – Regional Parks CARRIED

1.1 Kanaka Creek Regional Park – Contribution Agreement for Operation of the Kanaka Creek Bell‐Irving Hatchery Report dated October 13, 2016 from Wendy DaDalt, East Area Division Manager, Regional Parks, seeking GVRD Board approval to enter into a one‐year Contribution Agreement in the amount of $21,000, with the Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society toward the operation of the Kanaka Creek Bell‐Irving Hatchery, commencing January 1, 2017 and ending on December 31, 2017.

Recommendation: That the GVRD Board approve the Contribution Agreement between the Greater Vancouver Regional District and the Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society toward the operation of the Kanaka Creek Bell‐Irving Hatchery for a one‐year term in the amount of $21,000, commencing January 1, 2017 and ending on December 31, 2017.

Minutes of the Regular Parks Meeting of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) Board of Directors held on Friday, October 28, 2016 Page 2 of 4 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 5 Adopted on Consent 1.2 Belcarra Regional Park - BC Hydro Metro North Transmission Project Update and Implications Report dated October 12, 2016 from the Regional Parks Committee, together with report dated September 16, 2016 from Jamie Vala, Central Area Division Manager, Regional Parks, providing an update on the BC Hydro Metro North Transmission Project.

Recommendation: That the GVRD Board: a) write a letter to BC Hydro regarding BC Hydro’s Metro North Transmission Project, seeking clarification on the rationale for a separate route, which may involve an additional Right of Way through Belcarra Regional Park, and requesting that BC Hydro respond to Metro Vancouver concerns on the preservation of ecological values in the park as part of the Project; and b) direct staff to bring forward any response from BC Hydro to the Regional Parks Committee. Adopted on Consent

2.1 2017 GVRD Budget – Regional Parks Report dated October 21, 2016 from Phil Trotzuk, Chief Financial Officer, seeking GVRD Board approval of the 2017 Revenue and Expenditure Budget, use of Reserves and Capital Expenditures for Regional Parks.

Recommendation: That the GVRD Board approve the 2017 Revenue and Expenditure Budget, use of Reserves and Capital Expenditures, as presented for Regional Parks, and shown in the following schedules: A1 Revenue and Expenditure Summary A4 2017 Budget – Proposed Application of Reserves B27 Regional Parks – 2017 Budget B28 Regional Parks – 2017 Capital Programs & Project Details Adopted on Consent

F. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA No items presented.

G. REPORTS NOT INCLUDED IN CONSENT AGENDA No items presented.

H. MOTIONS FOR WHICH NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN No items presented.

I. OTHER BUSINESS No items presented.

Minutes of the Regular Parks Meeting of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) Board of Directors held on Friday, October 28, 2016 Page 3 of 4 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 6 J. BUSINESS ARISING FROM DELEGATIONS No items presented.

K. RESOLUTION TO CLOSE MEETING

It was MOVED and SECONDED That the GVRD Board close its regular Parks meeting scheduled for October 28, 2016 pursuant to the Community Charter provisions, Section 90 (1) (e) and (g) as follows: “90 (1) A part of a board meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to or is one or more of the following: (e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the board or committee considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the regional district; and (g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the regional district.” CARRIED

L. RISE AND REPORT (Items Released from Closed Meeting) No items presented.

M. ADJOURNMENT/CONCLUSION

It was MOVED and SECONDED That the GVRD Board adjourn its regular Parks meeting of October 28, 2016. CARRIED (Time: 9:09 a.m.)

CERTIFIED CORRECT

Chris Plagnol, Corporate Officer Greg Moore, Chair

19812350 FINAL

Minutes of the Regular Parks Meeting of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) Board of Directors held on Friday, October 28, 2016 Page 4 of 4 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 7 Section E 1.1

To: Regional Parks Committee

From: Craig Sobering, Division Manage (Acting), Planning and Engineering Services, Regional Parks

Date: January 23, 2017 Meeting Date: February 15, 2017

Subject: Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy

RECOMMENDATION That the GVRD Board approve the “Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy” as presented in the report dated January 23, 2017, titled “Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy”.

PURPOSE To seek GVRD Board approval on establishing formal guidance on the types of facilities that Metro Vancouver will develop to provide the visiting public with access to nature for passive outdoor activities in regional parks.

BACKGROUND The GVRD Board initiated a Regional Parks service review early in 2013, concluding the process with receipt of the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Service Review Report in April 2014. At its November 28, 2014 meeting, the GVRD Board released the service review report and endorsed 23 recommendations contained therein.

In early 2015, staff commenced work on implementation of these recommendations. A facilities policy was not explicitly identified as one of the deliverables flowing from the GVRD Board’s adoption of the 2014 Regional Parks Service Review report. Metro Vancouver staff determined however, that the adoption of a policy clarifying the facilities that Metro Vancouver would develop to support public access to nature was necessary to ensure the continued translation of the 2014 Regional Parks Service Review and the Regional Parks Plan into planning, development, land acquisition and other program areas. Adoption of this policy will support goals 1 and 2, as well as strategies 2 and 5 described in the Regional Parks Plan (2016).

Often regional parks’ agencies focus on the types of activities sanctioned within their parks; however, after deliberations Metro Vancouver staff concluded that a facility-based approach was superior as it better recognized the realities of Metro Vancouver influence over regional park service provision and allowed for a clearer policy document.

18640932 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 8 Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy Regional Parks Committee Meeting Date: February 15, 2017 Page 2 of 7

POLICY OVERVIEW The purpose of this policy is to establish the facilities that Metro Vancouver will provide to facilitate passive outdoor activities within regional parks. To date the GVRD Board has not formally adopted a policy on the type of outdoor activities or facilities it will provide within regional parks. As noted above, in the past Regional Parks’ service focused on the outdoor activities that should be supported in the parks system. The 1966 Regional Parks Plan for the Lower Mainland Region identified the following park activities: · Swimming and beach activity · Strolling · Picnicking · Boating · Hiking · Fishing · Sightseeing · Nature study · Pleasure driving · Trail riding · Water sports (other than swimming, boating and beach activities) · Winter sports (other than advanced skiing) · Golfing · Group camping

Over time, Metro Vancouver did not provide facilities for activities such as golfing, watersports, winter sports and pleasure driving. At the same time societal interest and participation in outdoor activities evolved to include other activities such as cycling, geocaching and special events such as Country Celebration. This proposed policy identifies facilities for Metro Vancouver’s regional parks. These are: · Pedestrian trails; · Multiuse trails for pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians; · Picnic areas and group picnic shelters; · Launching facilities for non-motorized vessels; · Day use and staging areas; · Beaches; · Access facilities for fishing; · Group camp grounds; · Nature centers; · Viewpoints, blinds and viewing structures; and · Interpretive features.

When the two lists are compared, the strong alignment between the 1966 Regional Parks activities and the endorsed facilities is apparent. In addition to the above list, the new policy contains a table expanding the description of the elements contained in each of the above facilities, defines key terms and includes a general statement about considering proposals for facilities not on the list (Attachment).

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 9 Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy Regional Parks Committee Meeting Date: February 15, 2017 Page 3 of 7

ALTERNATIVES 1. That the GVRD Board approve the “Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy” as presented in the report dated January 23, 2017, titled “Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy”.

2. That the GVRD Board endorse the policy as presented in the report dated January 23, 2017, titled “Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy” with amendments provided at the Regional Parks Committee February 15, 2017 meeting.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS If the GVRD Board approves Alternative 1, the adoption of the Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy, it does not commit the GVRD Board to any specific capital or operational costs. Funding of any capital or operational proposals will be reviewed in detail by the Regional Parks Committee and GVRD Board through the annual work planning and budget approval process.

SUMMARY / CONCLUSION This report provides the GVRD Board with a Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy and a recommendation to adopt the policy. The adoption of the policy supports implementation of the service review recommendations and is a planning, development, classification, and land acquisition tool that provides guidance to the delivery of Regional Parks’ service, especially the ongoing land acquisition strategy.

Staff recommends Alternative 1.

Attachment: Regional Parks Facilities for Connecting People with Nature Policy

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 10 Attachment

BOARD POLICY

REGIONAL PARKS FACILITIES Effective Date: Approved By:

PURPOSE To establish the types of facilities that Metro Vancouver will provide to facilitate passive outdoor activities located within regional parks and connect people with nature.

DEFINITIONS “Regional Park Lands” – All properties held by the GVRD as regional parks or greenways.

“Facility” – A collection of constructed elements introduced to a park by Metro Vancouver in order to provide visitor access to a natural area for leisure activities. Facilities include major elements such as trails/paths, picnic shelters, grass fields, parking lots, washrooms, etc.

“Element” – A single constructed piece that in aggregation forms a park facility. Elements may be major (e.g. a trail) or minor (e.g. a water fountain).

“Passive Outdoor Activities” – These leisure pursuits primarily have the following characteristics: · Enable people to connect with and experience nature; · Are unstructured, self-directed and use a large, natural setting; · Minimally disturb natural values; · Occur on a day use basis; and · Are non-motorized.

POLICY The “2014 Regional Parks Service Review” report, adopted by the GVRD Board in November 2014, confirmed that the Regional Parks Service exists primarily to protect the region’s important natural areas while also seeking to provide opportunities for people to connect with, enjoy, be active within and learn about the region’s natural environment. It also confirmed that the facilities provided in regional parks are intended to facilitate passive outdoor activities in nature which complement the active outdoor recreation provided in municipal park systems. Examples of the types of active outdoor recreational facilities provided by municipalities include sports fields, courts for racquet sports, outdoor swimming pools, playgrounds, and skateboard parks.

There are historical instances where the Regional Parks service has built or acquired land with pre- existing facilities or activities inconsistent with the list that follows. It is recognized that these facilities are special cases and do not establish a precedent for their expansion within the system. The status of these facilities will not be affected by adoption of this policy.

20328805 Regional Parks Facilities Policy Page 1 of 7 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 11 BOARD POLICY

PARK FACILITIES Metro Vancouver provides facilities that connect regional park visitors to nature to enable them to enjoy and learn about the environment or be active through passive outdoor activities during their leisure time. The following lists the typical facilities provided in regional parks to connect people to nature, where and when suitable in a particular regional park:

· Pedestrian trails; · Multiuse trails for pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians; · Picnic areas and group picnic shelters; · Launching facilities for non-motorized vessels; · Day use and staging areas; · Beaches; · Access facilities for fishing; · Group campgrounds; · Nature centers; · Viewpoints, blinds and viewing structures; and · Interpretive features.

In the event that a facility not on the above list is proposed, the facility will be evaluated based on all relevant factors to determine if it is consistent with Metro Vancouver’s definition of passive outdoor activities and suited to the proposed location.

The provision of and arrangement of facilities within a regional park is specified in the Park Management Plan for each regional park.

Attachment: Table 1: Typical Elements Associated with Regional Park Outdoor Facilities

Other Related Guidance Documents: The Regional Parks Services June 9, 2010 Accessibility Commitment Statement.

20328805 Regional Parks Facilities Policy Page 2 of 7 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 12 BOARD POLICY

Table 1: Typical Elements Associated with Regional Park Outdoor Facilities Pedestrian trails · Trails are primarily unpaved (but may be paved under certain circumstances) · Includes boardwalks, stairs and bridges Multiuse trails for pedestrians, bicyclists · Frequently unpaved trails or roads on dykes within and equestrians regional parks · Trails must meet shared trail and equestrian standards (see design standards and guidelines) for width, grade, sight distances, etc. as appropriate · Horse trailer compatible parking, watering stations and tying post(s) if appropriate · Gates and fencing as required · Regional trails and/or greenway routes connecting to trails outside of a regional park may be paved, especially if connecting to paved trails · Bicycle racks · Includes boardwalks, stairs and bridges · Bicycling trails within regional parks are not lighted Picnic areas and group picnic shelters · Picnic tables and natural grassed areas · Picnic shelters · Commonly associated with day use and staging areas · Commonly associated with open air group campgrounds Launching facilities for non-motorized · Simple water access (to put in vessels) vessels · May include floats, docks and/or natural or modified landing spots · May include vessel rental facilities where suitable · Commonly associated with day use or staging areas Day use and staging areas · Parking · Typical location of many basic facilities · Frequently associated with group picnic shelters and picnic areas, beaches, group campgrounds, park buildings, fishing access, non-motorized vessel launching facility, interpretive displays, features, and nature discovery areas* · Sometimes associated with concessions and equipment rentals.

20328805 Regional Parks Facilities Policy Page 3 of 7 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 13 BOARD POLICY

Beaches · Beach or waterfront access, grassed areas, changing facilities, and concessions, if warranted · Swimming is unsupervised (i.e. no lifeguards and associated facilities) and the opportunity to swim is dependent on natural water quality and shoreline configuration · Often associated with group picnic areas as well as day use or staging areas Access facilities for fishing · Water access and fish cleaning station · Fishing float or dock may be offered · Frequently associated with day use or staging area Group campgrounds; · Tent pads and/or natural grassed gathering areas & BBQs · These areas may be associated with facilities for picnicking, fishing access, beach access and non- motorized vessels Nature centers · Usually buildings or structures designed or adapted to support understanding of natural areas found within park · May be open air on occasion · Typically associated with day use or staging areas Viewpoints, blinds and viewing · Buildings, structures or areas designed to support structures viewing or nature study in regional parks · Sited adjacent to natural feature with high nature study or viewing value · May include interpretive feature(s) Interpretive features · Includes signage, landscape exhibits or other installations intended to enhance public connection to nature or the regional park · Sited adjacent to park feature meriting interpretation · May be composed of a single or multiple elements · May change seasonally or evolve over time Basic Facilities · Restrooms/toilets, waste/recycling receptacles, drinking water standpipe/tap/fountain, benches, All outdoor activities require the way finding signage, connecting paths, vehicle provision of the following basic facilities parking and related park access elements (e.g., at the appropriate scale. bollards, gates, fencing, stiles, etc.)

*Nature discovery areas are discretionary features that may be suitable for provision within regional parks on a case by case basis.

20328805 Regional Parks Facilities Policy Page 4 of 7 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 14 Section E 1.2

To: Regional Parks Committee

From: Jamie Vala, Division Manager, Central Area, Regional Parks

Date: January 3, 2017 Meeting Date: February 15, 2017

Subject: Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve – Background Information and Public Engagement Development of a Regional Park Management Plan

RECOMMENDATION That the GVRD Board: a) authorize staff to undertake public engagement associated with the preparation of a park management plan for Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve; and b) direct staff to report back to the GVRD Board with a summary of the feedback received from the public engagement events and a draft Widgeon March Regional Park Reserve Management Plan.

PURPOSE To provide the Regional Parks Committee and GVRD Board with background that contributes to the preparation of the Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Management Plan and to request authorization to proceed with the first round of public engagement.

BACKGROUND Situated at the confluence of Pitt Lake, Widgeon Creek and the lower Pitt River (Attachment 1), Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve protects some of the most ecologically sensitive lands in the region. The regional park reserve encompasses 626 hectares of wetland and uplands on the west side of the Pitt River near the mouth of Pitt Lake. The southern portion of the regional park reserve is within the City of Coquitlam, while the northern half lies within Electoral Area A.

The site is currently not open to the public. No park facilities have been developed and access is gated, entry limited to staff, tenants, neighbors and a caretaker and others by special permit (e.g. Filming).

The preparation of a Park Management Plan for Widgeon Marsh has been identified as a high priority in the regional parks work program. The plan will set the stage for then park to be opened to the public, and will identify capital investments, natural area protection, park operations education, stewardship and management activities as described in the Regional Parks Plan (2016). The Management Plan will be adopted by the GVRD Board.

In 2015, Metro Vancouver initiated the research and information gathering that will inform the park management plan. Staff now need authorization to proceed with the planning and engagement process as described below. The typical management planning process is illustrated in Attachment 2.

20433054 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 15 Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve – Background Information and Public Engagement Development of a Regional Park Management Plan Regional Parks Committee Meeting Date: February 15, 2017 Page 2 of 4

SITE DESCRIPTION The regional park reserve is bordered by Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park to the west, Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Reserve to the north and the Katzie First Nation to the northeast. The Pitt-Widgeon wetland complex is surrounded by a vast wilderness area that includes Pinecone Burke, Golden Ears and Garibaldi Provincial Parks, making it one of the largest protected areas in southwestern British Columbia. Situated on the doorstep of this vast wilderness area, the regional park reserve offers untapped opportunities to connect people with nature.

BIOPHYSICAL SUMMARY The Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Biophysical Summary (December 2016) describes the regional park reserve’s relatively undisturbed natural environments with rare wetland features and ecological context (Attachment 3). Its value as an ecological system is enhanced by its immediate adjacency to protected wilderness areas. Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve is one of the most ecologically diverse parks in Metro Vancouver, encompassing marshes and shrub fen, bogs, ponds, mountain streams, riparian habitat, forest and rocky outcrops. Seventy-three percent of the lands within Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve are rated at the highest sensitivity category in the regional park system.

Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve is bounded by Widgeon Creek, Widgeon Slough, Pitt River, and Pitt Lake. Streams flow from steep mountain slopes through Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve to feed Widgeon Creek and Widgeon Slough. The presence of these water systems influences the wildlife and species assemblages found on site. The slough and creek are home to two red listed ecosystems (sweet gale-Sitka sedge fen, and western hemlock-red cedar – deer fern), and several blue listed ecosystems. These water bodies also contain the spawning grounds for a unique population of late-run sockeye salmon. A number of red and blue listed species are or likely to be found at Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve. These include the Pacific water shrew, peregrine falcon, tailed frogs, and American bittern.

Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve is a site with a rich cultural and natural history. Both the Katzie and the Kwikwetlem First Nation have place names for many geographic and cultural features present in the marsh; Katzie IR #4 is located adjacent to Widgeon Marsh. An archaeological overview assessment of specific locations in the regional park reserve has been undertaken and will inform planning and operations going forward.

SITE PLANNING ANALYSIS The Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Site Planning Analysis (November 2016) is presented as Attachment 4. Metro Vancouver expects park visitation across the system to continue to increase due to population growth and as a result of increased visitation by regional users. Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve has the waterfront and wilderness opportunities preferred by a majority of people and is close to a growing urban centre making it likely that a future park in this location would be popular with the public.

Analysis has identified some limitations to recreational use at this site. These include steep slopes, limited vehicular access, barriers to water access, and ecological and archaeological sensitivity. Mountain slopes and steep grades are a feature of the northwestern edge of the site making parts of the site unsuitable for recreational uses. Currently, access to Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 16 Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve – Background Information and Public Engagement Development of a Regional Park Management Plan Regional Parks Committee Meeting Date: February 15, 2017 Page 3 of 4

is limited to a single unpaved road, which is suitable for one-way vehicular traffic, cyclist, and pedestrian use only. While opportunities for water access to the slough exist, these are limited by reduced water levels in the slough at low tide, and strong winds and currents on Pitt River. Care must be taken to protect ecologically sensitive sites, which may limit the locations and types of facilities provided.

The unique ecological values, which limit potential recreation uses, also provide rare opportunities for people to connect with nature. Many locations on site provide iconic regional views including views to near and distant mountains and water bodies; within the site itself, there are views to scenic waterfalls and ponds, and many opportunities to view wildlife. There are possibilities to improve connections to trails at neighbouring sites by land and to increase opportunities for kayaking and canoeing to adjacent recreation areas by improving access by water. Pinecone Burke Provincial Park is immediately adjacent to Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve and may provide future trail connections for extended hikes.

PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN TEMPLATE The attached template for park management plans (Attachment 5) shows the approach, content, and level of detail expected in each regional park management plan. The information included in this report fulfills the pre-planning part of the planning management process.

PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN PROCESS NEXT STEPS In 2017, an engagement process will be undertaken as a step in preparing a draft park management plan. The typical park management planning process is shown in Attachment 2. The process provides for two rounds of public engagement and a third is optional, to be undertaken if needed.

Ongoing Consultation and Outreach Meetings will be held with local governments, First Nations and park agencies to share process and identity key issues. Meetings with stakeholders will be held to share information regarding process and solicit feedback. Advertisement of public engagement events will take place. The information gathered will be compiled as part of the record of the process and shared with the Regional Parks Committee.

Public Engagement Event(s) 1 Public engagement events will take place to gather feedback. Opportunities for in person and on-line input will be provided. The information gathered will be compiled as part of the record of the process and shared with the Regional Parks Committee.

Draft Management Plan The results of the public engagement process will be gathered and summarized that used to inform park planning going forward. A draft management plan will be developed following the initial phases of the public engagement process and brought back to the Regional Parks Committee for input.

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 17 Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve – Background Information and Public Engagement Development of a Regional Park Management Plan Regional Parks Committee Meeting Date: February 15, 2017 Page 4 of 4

ALTERNATIVES 1. That the GVRD Board: a) authorize staff to undertake public engagement associated with the preparation of a park management plan for Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve; and b) direct staff to report back to the GVRD Board with a summary of the feedback received from the public engagement events and a draft Widgeon March Regional Park Reserve Management Plan.

2. That the Regional Parks Committee receive for information the report dated January 23, 2017, titled “Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve – Background Information to Aid in Development of a Park Management Plan” and provide staff alternative direction.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The Planning Program, as outlined, can be accommodated within the existing operational budgets. The draft management plan will be accompanied by a cost estimate of proposed development. The GVRD Board through the annual budgeting process decides capital budget allocations and priority projects.

SUMMARY / CONCLUSION Metro Vancouver staff has completed the pre-planning work necessary prior to undertaking a management plan for Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve. A management plan will prepare the park reserve for opening to the public and for subsequent use as a regional park. Background reports indicate that, with its highly sensitive natural systems and spectacular setting, this site presents a unique opportunity to connect people to nature. It also presents an opportunity to preserve some of the most ecologically sensitive land in the region. A delicate balance of access and conservation will be critical for the success of this future regional park.

Staff recommend Alternative 1 that the Board authorize staff to use the attached technical information and to undertake the first round of public engagement associated with parks management plan for Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve. If authorized, a public engagement process will be undertaken in 2017 to solicit feedback from with local governments, First Nations, stakeholders, and the general public. Information gathered in the public engagement process will be incorporated into a draft park management plan, which will be brought to the regional parks committee and Board for review.

Attachments: (orbit doc 20430448) 1. Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Location Map 2. Regional Park Management Plan Process Diagram 3. Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Biophysical Summary, December 2016 4. Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Site Planning Analysis, November 2016 5. Regional Park Management Plan Document Template

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 18 Attachment 1 WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE LOCATION MAP

ELECTORAL AREA A

Pitt Lake

ANMORE WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE

COQUITLAM

Quarry Rd

MINNEKHADA REGIONAL PARK MAPLE RIDGE

Pitt River CODD WETLAND P O R T M O O D Y ECOLOGICAL CONSERVANCY PORT COQUITLAM AREA

BLANEY BOG REGIONAL PARK RESERVE PITT MEADOWS

Lougheed Hwy COLONY FARM REGIONAL PARK

Hwy 1

Tril rai T

Le s R ob so n T rai l

T rai l

rai lT

T rai l

Fe rgu so n T rai l Ca ny on Tra il Regional Park Boundaries T rai l

Trew t h ew e y Tr ai l

Fe rgu so n T rai l

SURREY BEND Tur key Tro tT rai l l rai t T Tro key Tur REGIONAL PARK BARNSTON 0 2,500 5,000 ISLAND F Metres Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 19 Attachment 2

Figure 1 - TYPICAL MANAGEMENT PLANNING PROCESS

Design the Research & Revise Draft Planning Information A 1 Draft Management Plan Development B 2 C 3 D Management Plan Process Gathering

First Nations engagement

Online & stakeholder engagement Pre-Planning Management Planning (year) (year)

POLITICAL REPORTING ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

A Regional Parks Committee & Board 1 Public Engagement Event 1 Request authorization to undertake the park management plan Share park values / draft zoning & purpose statement, solicit preliminary input & identify key issues to inform draft plans B Regional Parks Committee & Board Report 2 Public Engagement Event 2 Endorse draft management plan and Solicit feedback on draft management plan approve Public Engagement Event 2 3 Optional Public Engagement / Information Sharing Event 3 Share draft management plan and / or con rm support for C Optional Regional Parks Committee & Board Report management plan Endorse revised management plan and approve Public Engagement Event / Information Sharing Event 3

D Regional Parks Committee & Board Report Approval of management plan

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 20 Attachment 3 `

Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve

Biophysical Summary

December 2016

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 21 Prepared by:

Alison Evely, R.P.Bio Natural Resource Management Specialist Metro Vancouver

Revised December 2016

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 22 Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Biophysical Summary Contents Background ...... 1 Widgeon Marsh Context ...... 2 Cultural History ...... 2 Geomorphology ...... 3 Soils ...... 3 Hydrology ...... 4 Wetland Ecosystems ...... 6 Widgeon Slough and Widgeon Creek ...... 6 Wetland Plant Communities ...... 7 Aquatic Community (AQ) ...... 7 Marsh ...... 8 Fen ...... 9 Swamp ...... 10 Bog ...... 11 Floodplain...... 12 Terrestrial Ecosystems ...... 12 Forested Ecosystems...... 12 Western hemlock-flat moss...... 12 Douglas-fir-Western hemlock-salal ...... 12 Red cedar – sword fern...... 13 Red cedar – foam flower...... 13 Western Hemlock-Red cedar – Deer Fern...... 13 Redcedar — Sitka spruce — skunk cabbage...... 13 Lodgepole Pine - sphagnum...... 14 Non-forested terrestrial Ecosystems...... 14 Disturbed Sites ...... 14 Mountain Streams and Riparian Areas ...... 15 Ponds...... 16

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 23 Invasive Species ...... 17 Terrestrial Invasive Plants ...... 18 Scotch Broom ...... 18 Japanese Knotweed ...... 18 European mountain-ash ...... 19 Orange Hawkweed ...... 19 Yellow Archangel ...... 19 Purple loosestrife ...... 19 Sticky Ragwort ...... 20 Himalayan Blackberry and evergreen blackberry ...... 20 English Ivy ...... 20 Aquatic Invasive Plants ...... 21 Purple loosestrife ...... 21 Yellow flag iris ...... 21 Reed canarygrass ...... 21 Bog loosestrife ...... 22 Southern wild rice ...... 22 Ecosystems and Species at Risk ...... 23 Habitat Heterogeneity ...... 24 Planning Considerations ...... 24 Ecosystem Sensitivity ...... 24 Legal Considerations ...... 25 Built Features and Utilities ...... 25 Research and Conservation Activities ...... 26 Recreation Potential ...... 28 Works Cited ...... 30

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 24 List of Figures Figure 1: Map. Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve ...... iv Figure 2: WMRPR. Looking north over marsh...... 1 Figure 3: Soils of WMRPR ...... 4 Figure 4: Widgeon Slough and wetland communities ...... 7 Figure 5: Meadow with Mt Burke ...... 15 Figure 6: Stewart Creek ...... 16 Figure 7: Pond connected to Nathan Creek ...... 17 Figure 8: Amphitheater ...... 26 Figure 9: Rental properties, Buildings 1 and 2, pond in foreground ...... 26 Figure 10: Building 7 ...... 27 Figure 11: Building 9 ...... 27 Figure 12: WMRPR viewed from Widgeon slough ...... 29

List of Appendices Appendix A – Maps WMRPR Protected Areas context ...... A1 WMRPR topographic map ...... A2 WMRPR soils (11x17) ...... A3 WMRPR wetland plant communities ...... A4 WMRPR terrestrial ecosystem mapping ...... A5 WMRPR disturbed sites (south) ...... A6 WMRPR disturbed sites (north) ...... A7 WMRPR Invasive species...... A8 WMRPR Relative Conservation Value ...... A9 WMRPR legal parcels and status ...... A10 Appendix B – Native Plants Appendix C – Non-native plants Appendix D – Vertebrate Species Appendix E – Species-at-risk Appendix F – Property interests

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 25 Figure 1: Map. Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 26 Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Biophysical Summary

Background In 1992, Metro Vancouver, Duck Unlimited and Nature Trust of BC, on behalf of the Pacific Estuary Conservation Program, partnered to purchase 580 hectares of land to establish Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve (WMRPR). Since the original purchase, successive purchases and land donations have expanded the land base to 626 hectares of wetland, second-growth forest and minimally disturbed areas with road access. The site is managed as a regional park reserve, essentially a park-in-waiting. No park facilities have been developed and access is limited to a small group of residents and researchers under permit.

In 2015, Metro Vancouver initiated a park planning process with the goal of developing a plan that will eventually see WMRPR open as a regional park. This report provides an overview of the biophysical and built features of the park reserve based on available information at the outset of the planning process. It is intended to inform the park plan.

Figure 2: WMRPR. Looking north over marsh

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 27 Widgeon Marsh Context Situated at the confluence of Pitt Lake, Widgeon Creek and the lower Pitt River, Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve (WMRPR) protects some of the most ecologically sensitive lands in the region. The park reserve encompasses 626 hectares of wetland and uplands on the west side of the Pitt River near the mouth of Pitt Lake. The park reserve is bordered by Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park to the west, Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Reserve to the north and the Katzie First Nation to the north east (Figure 1). The southern portion of the park reserve is within the City of Coquitlam, while the northern half lies within Electoral Area A. Access to the park reserve is via Quarry Road, an un- paved municipal road or via small watercraft on Widgeon Slough.

The park reserve is part of a regionally and nationally significant tidal wetland and wilderness area. The wetland complex is recognized as the largest freshwater marsh in southwestern BC, and is an important stop over on the Pacific flyway, providing wintering habitat for a variety of wetland birds, including green-winged teal, gadwall, American wigeon, trumpeter swans, ring-necked ducks, wood ducks, buffleheads and hooded mergansers. The wetlands also provide year round or breeding habitat for a variety of species including sandhill crane, great blue heron, American bittern, bald eagle, osprey, beaver and river otter. The Pitt-Widgeon wetland complex is surrounded by a vast wilderness area that includes Pinecone Burke, Golden Ears and Garibaldi Provincial Parks, making it one of the largest protected areas in south-western British Columbia. Situated on the doorstep of this vast wilderness area, the park reserve offers untapped opportunities for nature appreciation and wilderness recreation (Map Appendix A1).

Cultural History The park reserve falls within the asserted territories of Katzie First Nation, Kwikwetlem First Nation, Stó:lō Nation, Stó:lō Tribal Council, Tsawwassen First Nation, Soowahlie First Nation, Seabird Island Band, Shxw'ow'hamel First Nation, and Skawahlook First Nation. The Katzie, in particular, have a strong connection with the area. Ethnographic records show an ancient and rich history of Katzie use of the Pitt Lake watershed, including Widgeon marsh, slough and the adjacent upland forest (Katzie Development Corporation Archaeology, 2015). A Katzie village site was situated adjacent to Widgeon Marsh (on what is now IR #4). Both the Katzie and the Kwikwetlem First Nation have place names for many geographic and cultural features present in the marsh (Katzie Development Corporation Archaeology, 2015).

Widgeon Marsh was, and continues to be an important resource to the Katzie First Nation. The marsh, river and upland forest provide an abundant supply of large game, fish, freshwater mussels, roots and berries which were and continue to be an important resource for the Katzie people:

Katzie continue, as they have done for millennia, to harvest the resources located throughout Widgeon Marsh. In particular Widgeon Marsh is the one of the last remaining sites where wapato (Sagitaria lattifollia), a starchy semi-aquatic herbaceous tuber, similar to a potato grows in abundance. Katzie are renowned for their ancient attachment to this important resource. Archaeological evidence suggests that Katzie management of wapato and other wetland resources stretches back at least 4000 years. (Katzie Development Corporation Archaeology, 2015).

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 28 The Katzie consider the wapato population within Widgeon Slough a critical resource as it represents the only known population where the lack of urban development and/or industry ensures the tubers are free of pollutants and safe to eat. Wapato is harvested annually from at least three locations on Widgeon Slough in January and February (Roma Leonne, pers. Comm). The population is stable and appears to be growing. Geomorphology The present landscape is a product of glacial and fluvial processes. During the Pleistocene period at least three major glacial advances occurred – the last of which, the Fraser glacial period, ended approximately 11,000 years ago. During the glacial periods, ice covered the region to a depth of at least 2500 meters, scouring out U-shaped valleys in the Coast Mountain Range along north-west and north-east joint lines. As the ice retreated at the end of the last glacial period, it left numerous fiords and elongated lakes in interior valleys. In the early post-glacial period the location of the shore fluctuated as a result of complex interaction of sea level rise and isostatic rebound. Melt-water from retreating glaciers cut through valley bottoms, forming new rivers and bringing massive amounts of sediment to form moraines and deltas.

Widgeon Valley is a typical U-shaped valley. The valley is approximately 4 to 5 km wide at the bottom and is bordered by Coquitlam Mountain and Widgeon Peak to the west and an un-named ridge to the east that separates the Widgeon Valley from the Upper Pitt River Valley. Widgeon Valley connects to the lower Pitt River Valley near the mouth of Pitt Lake. Evidence suggest that that Widgeon Valley and Pitt Lake were former fiords that were sealed off with the rapid expansion of the Fraser River Delta approximately 8000 years ago (Roddick & Armstrong, 1965).

WMRPR is situated at the confluence of Widgeon Valley and the Pitt River Valley, the park reserve includes the wetland margins of Widgeon Creek and Widgeon Slough, all of Siwash Island and the lower slope of Mount Burke. Topography ranges from depressions or flat in wetland areas to very gently sloping on adjacent lands and very steeply sloping (up to 90%) on the valley sides. (Map Appendix A2)

Wetland morphology is strongly shaped by tidal processes. Flood tides carry Fraser River sediments upstream on the Pitt River where they are deposited at the mouth of Pitt Lake forming a unique reverse delta, the largest reverse delta in North America (FREMP Water and Land Use Committee, 2005). In general, coarser material is deposited in the Pitt River on flood tides and finer silts are deposited at the southern end of Pitt Lake on ebb tides. These materials are virtually identical in composition and structure to materials deposited in the lower Fraser Delta (Luttmerding, 1981) suggesting a shared origin. The material in Widgeon Slough and Siwash Island are similar in character but have slightly different composition, indicating a different pattern of deposition that is not well understood (Ashley, 1977).

Soils Siwash Island and lands adjacent to Widgeon Creek and Widgeon Slough are characterized by recent alluvial deposits and/or medium-textured sediments overlain with decomposed organic materials (Luttmerding, 1981) (Map Appendix A3 )In contrast, upland soils are primarily glacial till, coarse- textured fluvial fan deposits or colluvium from the steep sided slopes. The steepest slopes have

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 29 exposed bedrock. The lower slopes of Mount Burke within WMRPR are classified as quartz diorite – a mixture of quartz, feldspar and hornblende minerals that frequently break along joint lines (Roddick & Armstrong, 1965). Rocks and boulders are various sizes litter the bottom of steep slopes and there is evidence of past landslides at a number of locations, with the most recent slide occurring in March 2013.

SOIL NAME SOIL MATERIAL DRAINAGE WETLAND ADDINGTON 15 – 40 cm of organic material over Very poor. High ground SOILS medium textured mixed floodplain water, subject to flooding materials GLEN More than 160 cm of decomposed Very poor, high ground VALLEY organic material mainly reeds, water table sedges and grasses STURGEON Medium textured mixed floodplain Poor to very poor, high deposits ground water table WIDGEON 40-160 cm of organic deposits over Very poor, high ground medium-textured mixed floodplain water, subject to flooding deposits UPLAND BUNTZEN Moderately course to medium moderately well drained SOILS textured glacial till CANNEL 10-50 cm of moderately course Well to rapid textured glacial till or colluvium over bedrock DEAN Course textured alluvial fan deposits Moderately well EUNICE More than 10 cm of organic material Well to rapid over bedrock ISAR Course textured alluvial fan deposits Well to rapid PATON Coarse textured alluvial-colluvial fan Well deposits SHALISH Course textured alluvial fan deposits Moderately well to well Figure 3: Soils of WMRPR Hydrology Widgeon Creek drains water from the steep mountain slopes to the valley floor forming a slow- moving wetland stream that flows into the Pitt River to the Fraser River and the Strait of Georgia. Widgeon Creek, Widgeon Slough and the Pitt River and Pitt Lake are strongly influenced by tidal processes, which vary seasonally. In general, water levels on Widgeon Slough and Widgeon Creek follow the stage levels in the Strait of Georgia. Rising water levels in the strait retard the flow of the Fraser River, raising the elevation, or stage level, progressively eastward. When water level at the confluence of the Fraser and Pitt River reaches a level that is higher than the Pitt River, the flow on the Pitt River reverses and water is diverted from the Fraser to the Pitt River. As the stage level falls in the strait, flows on the Fraser River accelerate and the surface level is lowered progressively eastward until the level at the Pitt-Fraser confluence is lower than that of the Pitt. Flow then reverses in the Pitt and drains to the sea.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 30 The influence of tides varies seasonally. During the winter months, water levels follow the tidal patterns on the Strait of Georgia, but with reduced tidal range and considerable lag-time. Ashley (Ashley, 1977) recorded an average lag of 5 hours and 15 minutes for flood tides and an even longer lag of 6 hours 20 minutes for ebb tides in winter. In contrast, the average lag time between high tide on the strait and high tide at the mouth of Pitt Lake was more than 15 hours during spring freshet. If water levels on the Pitt River and Fraser are very high the Pitt River may not reverse course at all.

Seasonal variation is largely a result of changes in basin discharge. Tidal influence is greatest during winter months (December to February) when basin drainage accounts for less than 5% of water flowing through the Pitt River (Ashley, 1977). River currents – both flood and ebb – are generally stronger in fall and winter when tidal influence is greater. In contrast, drainage from the Pitt and Fraser River basins may contribute more than 50% of flows during freshet (May to July). During freshet, water added by streams draining into the lake raises the surface level by as much as 3 meters. The elevation of the Fraser River is also increased and the net effect is a decrease of flow into the Pitt River. The raised lake elevation also accentuates the time-stage asymmetry of the tidal cycle and changes the proportion of flood and ebb flows. In summer, the ebb currant flows for a longer period of time (65 – 75% or total) at a lower discharge rate than in winter. Ashley recorded a mean tidal range of 1.4 meters in December, 0.45 meters in June and 0.64 meters in September 1977. Water levels can vary by as much as 4 meters on extreme tide events (FREMP Water and Land Use Committee, 2005).

A number of streams flow from the steep mountain slopes through WMRPR to feed Widgeon Creek and Widgeon Slough. The largest of these is Stewart Creek. Stewart Creek (aka Stuart Creek) is a high energy, third-order stream that is fed by a number of small lakes above 800 meters, cascades through a series of waterfalls and crosses under the bridge on Quarry Road before flowing into Widgeon Slough. There is an abandoned water intake structure and pipe on the upper falls (elevation 60 meters) that was originally created to divert water for domestic consumption and a failed crayfish rearing enterprise. The dam was abandoned when rock falls damaged diversion pipes (Ron Wood, personal communication).

Nathan Creek is the local name given to an unnamed creek flowing from Burke Mountain with branches flowing east through the wetland basin to Widgeon Creek and south-east to a constructed pond before flowing into Widgeon Slough. The lower reaches of the creek are tidal. Water is diverted from the upper reach at 40 meter elevation level to a cistern that provides water for the residences. The weir and cistern are located just outside the park border on Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park lands. The water licence is incorrectly assigned to Stewart Creek.

An unnamed stream near the southern end of the property flows from the mountain slopes through a culvert to a constructed pond. The pond was excavated by the former resident to 3 m (10 feet) at one end (south) and 0.3 m at the other end (Styx. 2007). It drains through a 2 meter diameter arched culvert that is inverted with the flat bottom on the top and the arch at the bottom to allow passage of salmonids. The outlet connects to a constructed channel through wetland to Widgeon Slough. The channel, which is accessible at high tides, was created by the former resident to provide boat access.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 31 Wetland Ecosystems Widgeon Slough and Widgeon Creek Widgeon Slough and Widgeon Creek are technically outside the park boundary and are under the jurisdiction of the province, these waterways are significant features of the park and have a profound influence on wildlife and species assemblages. Numerous marsh birds including American bittern, sandhill cranes, common yellowthroats and marsh wrens nest in the sedges and grasses adjacent to the slough. In winter, the calm waters attract large numbers of green-winged teal, gadwall, mallards, wood ducks, American wigeon, trumpeter swans, bufflehead and hooded mergansers. Greater and lesser yellowlegs forage on mudflats at low tides and bald eagles, northern harriers and osprey hunt over the open water and marshes year round. River otters, beavers, mink and muskrat move through streams into adjacent channels and marshes. Coho, chum, sockeye, cutthroat trout and steelhead spend time in Widgeon Creek and Widgeon slough before migrating to the ocean (BC Minstry of the Environment). The slough and creek are spawning grounds for a unique population of late-run sockeye salmon. Recognized as a distinct conservation unit (CU), this population of river-type sockeye arrives later than and is genetically distinct from the Pitt Lake sockeye salmon that spawn in the tributaries of the Upper Pitt and rear in Pitt Lake.

Widgeon (River-Type) Sockeye are possibly the most unique CU in the Fraser Watershed. This population is adapted to the tidal conditions of Widgeon Slough. The fish move back and forth between Pitt Lake and Widgeon Slough with the tides, moving into the slough to spawn on high tides and moving into Pitt Lake on low tides. Due to consistent Sockeye movement into the slough, a channel has developed through which they migrate, facilitating the counting of fish. Sockeye also move into areas in Widgeon Slough where eel grass covers the spawning gravel, though it is unclear whether they do this for protection from predators (defense) or for spawning. Water levels are very low during low tide (de-watered) with only sufficient cover for egg incubation, therefore, atypical of the Sockeye species, females cannot remain with their nests until they die. Overall, the spawning area is very small (~100 m in length) and visibility of Sockeye is good. Widgeon Sockeye migrate to the ocean after gravel emergence and do not rear in lakes as juveniles. Widgeon (River-Type) Sockeye are also the smallest adults in the watershed. (Grant , et al., 2011)

The Widgeon population spawns from mid to late November. Escapement (adult males, females) was estimated at 137 in 2015, 31% of the ten-year average of 444. (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2015).

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 32

Figure 4: Widgeon Slough and wetland communities

Wetland Plant Communities

The wetland communities were mapped and classified in 2015 by RainCoast Applied Ecology (Page & Schaefer, 2015) following the methodology described in Land Management Handbook #52: Wetlands of British Columbia: A Guide to Identification. (McKenzie & Moran, 2004). (MAP appendix A4). The study area for this inventory includes Widgeon Creek and Widgeon Slough, which are outside the park boundary but are integral to the ecology of the park. Page and Schaefer identified seventeen distinct wetland plant associations representing aquatic, marsh, bog, fen, swamp and floodplain-forest communities. Most were native plant communities, but three were dominated by non-native plants. The descriptions below are derived from Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve: Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping, Rare Plant Survey and Vegetation Assessment (Page & Schaefer, 2015).

Aquatic Communities (AQ) Aquatic communities consist of rooted submerged and floating-leaved vegetation in still or slow- moving shallow open water. Page and Schaefer identified five aquatic plant associations based on dominant plants in vegetation plots: bur-reed (Sparganium sp.); broad-leaved arrowroot or wapato (Sagittaria latifolia), Ussarian water-milfoil (Myriophyllum ussuriense); yellow pond lily and non-

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 33 native bulbous rush (Juncus bulbosus). Other aquatic species present include pondweed (Potamogeton sp), western water-millfoil (Myriophyllum hippuroides), flat-leaved bladderwort (Utricularia intermedia), greater bladderwort (Utricularia macrorhiza), pygmyweed (Crassula aquatic) and wild rice (Zizania aquatica var. aquatica). Because the species assemblages were frequently intermixed, there was no attempt to delineate specific aquatic plant assemblages. A total of 55.8 ha of wetland were mapped as “aquatic communities.” These include areas in Widgeon Slough and Widgeon Creek that are outside the park boundary as well as narrow tidal reaches within the park boundary. Marsh McKenzie and Moran (2004) define a marsh as “a permanent to seasonally flooded non-tidal mineral wetland dominated by emergent grass-like vegetation.” Marshes are typically found in shallow potholes and depressions, and along lake and river margins. They are often floristically simple plant communities dominated by one or two aggressive plant species that are well adapted to fluctuating water levels (McKenzie & Moran, 2004). At WMRPR, the hydrological regime is also influenced by daily tidal cycles and active sedimentation. Thus, the plant communities may share characteristics in common with estuarine ecosystems. However, unlike typical estuarine ecosystems, where plant species are adapted to repeated (diurnal) flooding sedimentation and brackish water, the plant communities at WMRPR are exposed only to fresh water. Salt intrusion rarely extends to the confluence of the Pitt and Fraser Rivers (FREMP Water and Land Use Committee, 2005).

Marshes are critically important wetland ecosystems for many wildlife species. They are the most heavily used wetland type for most wetland-obligate wildlife species, as they support a large amount of palatable vegetation, plankton, and aquatic invertebrates. Page and Schaefer (2015) mapped 155.8 ha of marsh in the study area, 115 ha of which was dominated by native vegetation. Five ecological communities were identified. Three of these are consistent with site associations described in Wetlands of British Columbia. The marsh plant associations were frequently intergraded from one to another, or were mixed and as a result were frequently mapped as complexes of two or three community types. The following descriptions are ordered from the wettest to driest.

Wild rice marsh (WR): Wild rice (Zizania aquatica var. aquatica) was first recorded in Widgeon Marsh in 2004 by J. Saarela and C. Sears (2006). In some locations, wild rice is co-dominant or associated with aquatic plants, including Rocky Mountain pond-lily (Nuphar polysetum), western water-milfoil (Myriophyllum hippuroides) and/or pondweed (Potamogeton) species. As the plant community is based on an uncommon non-native species, there is no corresponding plant community in the Wetlands of British Columbia.

Swamp horsetail – Beaked sedge marsh (SH): This provincially blue-listed community is found infrequently in the Interior Region of BC, but also occurs along the Outer Coast in tidal reaches of large rivers above saltwater influence (MacKenzie and Moran, 2004). Swamp horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) tolerates extreme variations in water rates and high rates of sedimentation. It is often co- dominate with Beaked Sedge-Marsh. In WMRPR, swamp horsetail is the dominant plant in the community, accounting for 35-80% cover; beaked sedge (Carex utriculata) is absent or a very minor component. This plant community covers approximately 90 hectares. Other native plants present include three-way sedge (Dulichium arundinaceum), hemlock water-parsnip (Sium suave), skullcap speedwell (Veronica scutellata), field mint (Mentha arvensis). Two blue listed (threatened) species

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 34 are also present: the aquatic Ussurian water-milfoil (Myriophyllum ussuriense) on wet sites and mountain sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale var. grandiflora) on drier sites at the margins of mud flats. Non-native plants include bog loosestrife (Lysimachia terrestris), Canada rush (Juncus canadensis), brown-fruit rush (J. pelocarpus) and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).

Sitka sedge – Hemlock-parsley marsh (SM): This provincially blue listed community occurs in the Georgian Depression and the Coast Region in basins, and along slow moving streams, ponds and lakeshores, where it often appears as a mono-culture of sitka sedge (Carex sitchensis) (McKenzie & Moran, 2004). At WMRPR, this plant association accounts for approximately 4.7 hectares. Sitka sedge is the dominant plant with an average 70% cover. Hemlock-parsley (Oenanthe sarmentosa) does not appear to be present. Other native species noted by Page and Schaefer (2015)include swamp horsetail, three-way sedge (Dulichium arundinaceum), skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum), hemlock water-parsnip, and Douglas’ water-parsnip (Cicuta douglasii), bluejoint reedgrass (Calamagrostis canadensis) and tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa). Non-native species present include bog loosestrife and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundincea).

Bluejoint reedgrass marsh (BJ): There is no provincial equivalent site series for this plant community. Bluejoint reedgrass (Calamagrostis canadensis) is relatively common in Widgeon Marsh. Usually associated with swamps and flood ecosystems, bluejoint reedgrass occurs predominantly in the transition zone between marsh and sweet gale swamp in WMRPR, where it accounts for an average of 64% cover. It occurs with Sitka sedge averaging 18% cover, but ranging from 0.5 to 40%. Associated plants include marsh cinquefoil (Comarum palustre), hardhack (Spiraea douglasii ssp. douglasii), tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), skunk cabbage, field mint, Douglas’ aster (Symphyotricum subspicatum), and king gentian (Gentiana sceptrum).

Reed canarygrass marsh (RG): McKenzie and Moran identify reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) dominated plant association as a disclimax community - a self-perpetuating community that strongly differs in species composition from edaphic or climatic climax for the site (McKenzie & Moran, 2004). At WMRPR, Reed canarygrass averages 82% cover, reaching 90-100% cover and choking out native species on some sites. Other species present in this plant community Sitka sedge and blue joint reedgrass and, to a lesser extent, skunk cabbage, field mint and purple loosestrife (the latter also an invasive) on wetter sites.

Generic Marsh (GM): Page and Schaefer (2015) used this classification to identify marsh communities that were not visited in the field. The generic marsh unit was used for approximately 21 ha. Fen Fens are nutrient-medium peatland ecosystems typically dominated by sedges and brown mosses, where mineral-bearing groundwater is within the rooting zone. Low shrub or graminoid cover is typical, as the high water table precludes tall shrubs and trees (MacKenzie and Moran, 2004). Fens develop where permanently saturated soil conditions are maintained. Although fens are the most common wetland class in the province of BC (MacKenzie and Moran, 2004), they are relatively rare in the Lower Mainland and are highly valued ecosystems.

Sweet gale – Sitka sedge fen (SX): This red-listed ecosystem is located along the northern boundary of the park. Here sweet gale, the dominant shrub averaging 70% cover, is stunted and typically less

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 35 than 40 cm tall (compared to 1.5m tall in the sweet gale shrub swamp). Bog cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) is a common associate in the shrub layer, averaging just over 10% cover. Sitka sedge is present although at low cover (average of 4%). Herbaceous species not found in the marshes or swamps of the study area are also found here. These include few-flowered sedge (Carex pauciflora), white beak-rush (Rynchospora alba) and the non-native tawny cotton-grass (Eriophorum virginicum). The bryophyte layer is well-developed, with an average 80% cover of peat-mosses, mostly magellanic peat-moss (Sphagnum magellanicum). The closest fit of this ecological community to the classification system for wetlands of BC (MacKenzie and Moran, 2004) is the Sweet Gale – Sitka Sedge Fen (Wf52), although Sitka sedge is much less common in these occurrences than typical, cottongrass is common and the peat-moss layer is significantly more developed. Almost 18 ha hectares of this fen type were mapped. Swamp Swamps are nutrient-rich wetland ecosystems with flowing or fluctuating semi-permanent near- surface water table (MacKenzie and Moran, 2004). They are characterized by a high cover of tall shrubs and/or trees plus a typically well-developed herb layer. The length and depth of flooding and the degree if water flow are primary factors affecting species composition. At WMRPR swamp communities may be affected by extreme high tides and seasonal flooding associated with local run-off and annual freshet. Thus, they share characteristics in common with flood ecosystems and estuarine environments. Swamps are important habitats for wildlife. Swamps often contain skunk cabbage, an important food item for black bears. They have more vertical structure than other wetland classes and therefore provide cover and nesting habitat for many bird species.

Sweet gale shrub swamp (GB): Sweet gale shrub swamps are the dominant ecological community in WMRPR, occupying approximately 247 ha. There is no corresponding site series identified in the Wetlands of British Columbia. This community are likely transitional between swamp and Sweet gale – Sitka sedge fen described in McKenzie and Moran (Page & Schaefer, 2015). It is found closer to river channels compared to the fen community described above, thereby receiving periodic flooding and some input of nutrients. Skunk cabbage is occasionally present, a species more typical of swamps than of fens. Shrubs are taller and denser. Sweet gale forms a dense thicket of typically 1.5 m, at an average of 75% cover. Hardhack is sub-dominant averaging 14% cover. The herbaceous layer is occupied by bluejoint reedgrass on some sites (14% cover); sitka sedge is present but at very low cover (2% on average). Species richness overall is very low. Peat-moss abundance is highly variable, only occurring in one third of the plots studied, but averaging 30% cover at those sites.

Hardhack – Sitka sedge shrub swamp (HG): Although hardhack is relatively common throughout the sweet gale and pacific crab apple swamps, there are few areas where hardhack is the dominant shrub. Although Sitka sedge was not present in assessed plots, this plant community is consistent with Hardhack-Sitka sedge swamp (Ws:50) in Wetlands of BC. Diversity is generally low, with a dense shrub layer of hardhack (45-75% cover). Sweet gale (Myrica gale) is a lesser dominant. Reed canarygrass is often intermixed, and skunk cabbage is present at low cover in some areas. Unlike other swamp communities, hardhack shrub swamps are typically low in diversity and are less used by wildlife (Page & Schaefer, 2015). This plant association, which covers approximately 0.65 hectares, is yellow-listed (not at risk) in British Columbia.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 36 Pacific crabapple shrub swamp (CB). Pacific crabapple shrub swamp occupies approximately 31.6 ha in WMRPR. This plant association is characterized by thickly vegetated overstorey of Pacific crabapple (5–10 m tall), compromising approximately 80% cover. Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), hardhack and cutleaf evergreen blackberry (Rubus laciniatus) make up the shrub layer. False lily-of- the-valley (Maianthemum dilatatum) and few-flowered sedge (Carex pauciflora) are found where shrub density is reduced, often beneath dense crabapple. Bryophytes are abundant with magellanic peat-moss (Sphagnum magellanicum) averaging 27% cover (although ranging from 1-60%) and haircap moss (Polytrichum sp.) at approximately 6% cover. The same community was also documented by Page and Schaefer in three plots in the Pitt Polder Ecological Reserve in 2012 (Page & Schaefer, 2015). MacKenzie and Moran (2004) describe a flood site association of Pacific crabapple – False lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum dilatatum), occurring on BC’s outer coast at the upper limit of tidal influence in the transition between the upland forest and estuarine ecosystems. There is no provincial wetland code for the site association it has not been assessed for rarity.

Paper birch swamp (BH). One occurrence of a paper birch (Betula papyrifera) swamp is found within the study area. The canopy is quite open (30% cover) and the largest trees are 10-15m in height. The shrub layer is dominated by birch saplings with some hardhack present. Peat moss occupies most of the forest floor. Bluejoint reedgrass and sitka sedge are found in the herbaceous layer; skunk cabbage is also found in the wetter pockets. There is no provincial wetland code listed for this swamp, as it likely represents an early seral stage, perhaps of a climax community of Western red cedar / Sitka spruce – Skunk cabbage (CWHdm/12). This swamp type accounts for 1.1 ha of the study area. Bog A bog is a nutrient-poor peat-moss (Sphagnum) dominated ecosystem in which the rooting zone is isolated from mineral-enriched groundwater, soils are acidic, and few minerotrophic plant species occur (MacKenzie and Moran, 2004). True bogs only receive water inputs as precipitation. There was one forested bog unit located in the northeast portion of the study area. There was also a smaller unit in the National Wildlife Area to the north. While the bog community of Widgeon Marsh may receive some groundwater input and therefore not be a true bog, it is best encompassed in the BC wetland classification system as a bog community based on its floristic and physiognomic characteristics (Page & Schaefer, 2015). MacKenzie and Moran (2004) describe a Georgia Basin bog unit as an associated ecological community. Under the provincial terrestrial ecosystem mapping system, the bog is also classified as a forested ecosystem and is designated as Lodgepole Pine / Peat- moss (site series 11) of the Coastal Western Hemlock Dry Maritime Subzone (CWHdm).

Lodgepole pine / Peat-moss bog (LS): The northeastern portion of the study area contains a treed bog. Lodgepole pine or shore pine (Pinus contorta) trees accounted for 30% cover on average. Tree growth was variable including older trees, as well as young trees with rapid growth. Labrador-tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) was abundant in the shrub layer, covering roughly two-thirds of the bog. Western bog-laurel (Kalmia microphylla) is present in varying amounts among the Labrador-tea and bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) oval-leaved blueberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium) and bog cranberry (Oxycoccus oxycoccus). Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) is also found at these sites, but at very low cover. The bog floor is dominated by peat moss, usually common red peat-moss (Sphagnum capillifolium) averaging 40% cover, and magellanic peat-moss at 20% cover in half the

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 37 plots. Haircap moss is a frequent associate in the bryophyte layer. The bog area accounted for 17.4 ha of the study area. Floodplain Like bog forests, floodplains are classified both as wetlands and terrestrial ecosystems. Flood ecosystems occur in narrow benches along streams and are classified according to height of bench, and frequency and duration of flooding. These ecosystems are dominated by willows, dogwoods and deciduous trees that are tolerant of extended flooding, deposition and erosion.

Cottonwood-red alder/salmonberry (CD). Page and Schaeffer identified a narrow strip of medium bench broadleaf forest adjacent to Widgeon Creek. This blue listed ecosystem is consistent with Cottonwood-red alder-Salmonberry (Wf50) site association described in Wetlands of BC (McKenzie & Moran, 2004) and Cottonwood-Red osier dogwood (CWHdm/09) described in Field Guide to Site Identification and Interpretation for the Vancouver Forest Region (Green & Klinka, 1994). This site association covers approximately 1.5 hectares.

Terrestrial Ecosystems Forested Ecosystems WMRPR lies within the Coastal Western Hemlock dry maritime (CWHdm) biogeoclimatic zone. Approximately 295 hectares of the lands are forested. Blackwell and Associates (2006) identified seven CWHdm forested site series soil moisture and nutrient regimes and floristic composition (Pojar, Klinka, & Demarchi, 1991). (Map Appendix A5) Five are provincially blue-listed (of special concern) and one is red- listed (endangered or threatened) (BC Conservation Data Centre, 2013). Forest stands range in age from approximately 30 years to 100 years. The most recent logging occurred in the mid-1980s when approximately 42 hectares were logged. The logged areas were assessed in 1992 and were observed to be regenerating naturally.

Western hemlock - flat moss: This blue listed site series covers an estimated 100 hectares, accounting for approximately 34% of the forested lands at Widgeon. Soils are slightly dry to fresh with a very poor to medium nutrient regime. The site series typically occurs on middle slopes and gently sloping heights of land. Associated soils are sandy to loamy-skeletal and are moderately deep to deep. Western hemlock, Douglas-fir and western red cedar are the dominant species forming dense stands. Shrub and herb layers are typically poorly developed in mature stands. Vine maple, salal, huckleberry and Oregon grape and sword fern may be present in forest gaps and openings. The moss layer is well-developed, featuring Oregon beaked-moss (Kindbergia oregano) in early successional stages, and step moss (Hylocomium splendens), lanky moss (Rhytidiadelphus loreus), and flat moss (Plagiothecium undulatum) in later successional stages.

Douglas-fir - Western hemlock – salal: This blue-listed site series accounts for approximately 32 hectares or 11% of the forested lands in WMRPR. It occurs with or above the Western-hemlock flat moss site series on water shedding sites. This association is characterized by moderately dry and nutrient very poor to medium soils. Sites are dominated by Douglas-fir, with smaller amounts of western hemlock and western red cedar. Tree growth is generally slower on these sites due to a severe nitrogen deficiency and summer water deficit. In contrast to the Western hemlock-flat moss

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 38 site series, the shrub layer is well developed with salal the dominant shrub species and Oregon grape and huckleberry scattered throughout. The herb layer is very poorly developed with bracken fern as the only constant species. The moderately developed moss layer includes primarily Oregon beaked moss and step moss.

Red cedar - sword fern: This blue-listed site series accounts for approximately 30% of the forested lands at Widgeon Marsh Park Reserve. The site series is characterized by slightly dry to fresh, nutrient rich to very rich sites. It occurs primarily on mid slopes and is dominated by western red- cedar, douglas-fir and western hemlock. Big leaf maple and red alder occur on younger sites. The shrub layer is moderately well developed with vine maple and Oregon grape the dominant species. The herb layer is dominated by sword fern. The moss layer is poorly develop and includes flat moss, lanky moss and coastal leafy moss (Plagonmioum insigne)

Red cedar - foam flower: This blue-listed site series covers approximately 17% (50 hectares) of forested lands. It occurs with or below Cw-sword fern site series on water receiving sites. Soils are moist to very moist and rich to very rich in nutrients. Western red cedar, hemlock and Douglas-fir are dominant trees species along with red alder and big leaf maple. This is a floristically rich site series. Vine maple and salmonberry are the dominant shrubs and devils club may be present in seepage areas. The herb layer is well developed with sword fern, lady fern, wood fern, deer fern and foam flower. Mosses include flat moss, lanky moss, coastal leafy moss, palm tree moss (Leucolepis menziessii) and common feather moss (Kindbergia praelonga).

Western Hemlock-Red cedar - Deer Fern: This site series is provincially red-listed (endangered or threatened). Blackwell et al identified three small stands totalling approximately 6 hectares, or 2% of the forested lands at Widgeon. A fourth stand adjacent to the View House was identified by Styx and Associates (2007), this area was not included in the forest inventory by Blackwell. The site series is characterized by moist to very moist, nutrient poor (very poor to medium) soils. Dominant tree species include western hemlock, western red cedar and douglas-fir. The shrub layer is dominated by Ericiaea shrubs – red huckleberry, Alaskan blueberry, false azalea and salal. Deer fern, spiny wood fern, sword fern, kinnikinnik and bunchberry make up the herb layer.

Redcedar - Sitka spruce - skunk cabbage: This blue listed site series is consistent with a swamp- forest wetland. It is associated with wet nutrient medium to very rich sites at lower elevations and accounts for approximately 1% of the forested lands at Widgeon. Vegetation is strongly affected by micro-topography with western red cedar, Sitka spruce and western hemlock occurring on drier organic mounds. Red alder is found on younger sites and may persist in depressions. Salmonberry dominates the moderately well-developed shrub layer, and herb, including skunk cabbage, false lily of the valley, bunchberry, lady fern, deer fern and foam flower are generally confined to depressions. The moss layer is also well developed with common feather moss the dominant species.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 39 Lodgepole Pine – sphagnum: This site series is consistent with a treed bog, and may be classified as wetland or a terrestrial ecosystem. Lodgepole pine is the dominant tree species with smaller amount of western red cedar. It is characterized by wet, acidic nutrient poor soils. Labrador tea and bog laurel are the dominant shrubs, other Ericacea shrubs – including red huckleberry, blueberry, cranberry and salal are also present. Sphagnum is the dominant moss and is crucial in maintaining an acidic environment. Although this site series is provincially yellow listed (not-at-risk), bogs are sensitive ecosystems that depend on a unique set of ecological characteristics. They are relatively rare in the Lower Mainland and are priorities for environmental protection in Metro Vancouver Parks.

Non-forested terrestrial Ecosystems The rocky-outcrops, boulders and exposed slopes support unique plant assemblages that vary depending on the availability of light, moisture and soil development. These areas are home to plants that are able to grow in shallow, water shedding sites, often exposed to full sun. Mosses and lichens predominate, with and ferns such as parsley fern, maidenhair fern and licorice fern in shady cracks and crevices. A few western red cedar and shrubs such as salal, serviceberry and ocean spray have established in areas where shallow soils have developed. Scotch broom has become established on some rocky knolls. Disturbed Sites Disturbed sites refers to areas that have been significantly altered. Buildings, trails, parking lots and lawns are included here. (Map Appendix A6 and A7) These areas generally have much lower wildlife values than natural areas, however they may provide additional shelter foraging areas for wildlife. For example, American robins, and northern flicker often feed on worms and insects in manicured lawns. Killdeer nest in gravel lots, and garter snakes sunbathe on gravel roads and clearings. American goldfinches, house finches, white crowned sparrows, golden crowned sparrows, song sparrows and dark-eyed juncos feed on seeds of weedy species that grow along trail edges and in planted areas. Bats, barn owls and barn swallows may nest in abandoned buildings. Tree swallows nest in bird boxes and forage over manicured lawns and man-made ponds. Brush and log piles may provide cover for small mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

An expansive lawn area (approx. 7 hectares) dotted with mature trees provides nesting and foraging habitat for a wide range of birds including woodpeckers, hummingbirds, flycatchers, sparrows, thrushes, swallows, waxwings and warblers. The lawn and meadow areas on either side of Stewart Creek are frequented by larger wildlife including black bears, bobcats and mule deer. Building 1 is home to a colony of little brown bats. During the day bats roost in spaces between the outer walls and siding, emerging at night to feed over lawns, ponds and marshes. Big brown bats have also been observed flying over open fields at dusk, but their roost has not been identified. Sites that are severely disturbed, such as former building sites and storage areas may be candidates for restoration and/or for new facility development. Clean-up work has been started on the log storage area and shed sites where debris was left by a previous owner.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 40

Figure 5: Meadow with Mt Burke

Mountain Streams and Riparian Areas The lower reaches of Stewart Creek and Nathan Creek are tidal and suitable habitat for salmon rearing. The middle reaches of Stewart Creek below the waterfall, have a series of runs, pools and shallow gravel beds that create excellent salmon spawning habitat. Coho, chum and cutthroat trout have all been reported. Tailed frog tadpoles have been observed in Stewart Creek, just below the lower falls (L. Castagner, pers. comm). This blue-listed coastal species lay eggs in cold fast moving mountain streams in fall. The developing tadpoles attach to rocks and boulders, clinging to rocks via an oral sucker. It can take up to four years for tadpoles to metamorphose into adults and several more years for froglets to reach sexual maturity. American dippers nest in riparian areas and forage for insects in fast moving streams, catching their prey under water. Dippers have been observed in Stewart Creek below the upper falls and are likely to nest in riparian areas within the park. Red- listed Pacific Water Shrew have been confirmed in and around mountain streams within the Widgeon Valley and at Munroe Creek just south of WMRPR and are likely to occur in the park.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 41 Figure 6: Stewart Creek

Ponds Two constructed ponds at Widgeon Marsh Park Reserve were created by former residents. The pond on the Ecogift property is a natural shaped perched pond covering approximately 2000 m2. Plant species around pond margins include small flowered bulrush, common rush and common cat- tail. The pond is fed by a mountain stream that crosses Quarry Road through a culvert and drains to a dredged channel through wetland marsh leading to Widgeon Slough. Until 2007 the pond and channel were maintained by the former resident, who installed a fish ladder annually to allow passage of salmonids. Sivak (2003) observed chum and coho spawning in the gravel beds in the lower reaches of the steam feeding the pond. Strix (2003) observed amphibian eggs, possibly Northwestern salamanders and non-native bullfrogs in the pond in 2007. Bullfrogs could be heard calling in July 2015. No further studies have been undertaken and it is not clear if the pond is still accessible to salmonids.

The second pond near Building 2 is a shallow rectangular depression approximately 35 x 60 meters surrounded by native vegetation, primarily sedges on three sides and lawn on the other. The pond is fed by and drains to Nathan Creek. No amphibian surveys have been done, but green frogs were observed around pond margins and in the pond in August 2015.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 42 Figure 7: Pond connected to Nathan Creek Invasive Species A small percentage of the plants and animals that occur at Widgeon are non-native species. These have become established in disturbed areas alongside roads and clearings, and to a lesser extent in open native plant communities such as rock outcrops and wetland areas. Exotic plants may have arrived on industrial equipment, on vehicles or through dispersal by wind and water or animals. A few have been purposely planted and have spread into the park or are at risk of spreading through disposal of garden waste, soil movement or seed dispersal. The majority of exotic species at Widgeon are associated with disturbed areas, including residential properties, clearings, buildings and roadways.

Appendix C provides a list of exotic species identified in Widgeon plant inventories. A subset of these are invasive species. Invasive species pose a significant threat to the ecological integrity of natural areas. They may reduce biodiversity by displacing native species – including rare species and/or by forming monocultures that exclude virtually all other species. Some invasive plants can severely degrade ecosystem function by changing nutrient regimes, limiting natural succession or altering hydrological processes. Invasive animals may outcompete or prey on native species or carry diseases that decimate sensitive populations.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 43 At Widgeon, most terrestrial species are in the earliest stages of invasion. Invasive species of concern at Widgeon Marsh Park Reserve include Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor, Rubus armeniacus) and evergreen blackberry (Rubus laciniatus), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), yellow archangel (Lamiastum galeobdolon), orange hawkweed (Hieracium auranticum, reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinaca), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeiana). These are described below. Terrestrial Invasive Plants Metro Vancouver employs an integrated management approach to manage invasive plants that threaten the composition, structure or function of the park’s natural ecosystems. Emphasis is placed on prevention, early detection and response and management of invasive species in the earliest stages of invasion. Species and areas are prioritized based on stage of invasion, invasive species biology and potential threat, ease of treatment and ecosystem sensitivity. Metro Vancouver utilizes a variety of tools including mechanical, biological, cultural and chemical controls (Metro Vancouver, 2012). Eradication (the complete removal of all plants and seeds) of invasive exotics is difficult, time consuming, expensive and next to impossible to confirm with certainty. Chances of success are greatest when species are in the earliest stages of invasion and ecosystems are intact and resilient.

Most of these species are in the early stages of invasion. Invasive plants were inventoried and mapped in 2015 (Map Appendix A8) and an integrated pest management program was initiated. The goal is to eradicate species in the earliest stages of invasion and to prevent their spread of established into sensitive areas. It is expected that invasive plant management will be an ongoing program for the park.

Scotch Broom occurs on disturbed sites and on rock outcrops along Quarry Road. These outcrops support a unique community of mosses, lichens and forbs that tolerate shallow nutrient-poor soils, limited moisture, and full sun; Scotch broom poses a significant risk to these communities by altering soil nutrient regimes and shading out sun-loving plants. They are a high priority for invasive species management.

Mapped occurrences of Scotch broom were removed from rocky outcrops and from open areas in 2015. Plants on rocky outcrops along Quarry Road were removed by contractors in 2015. A large infested open site near the log dump was cleared through student volunteers in the spring of 2016. Some remaining plants have been identified on cliffs along Quarry Road and near the caretaker’s storage garage. These plants will be removed in 2017 before flowering by contractors. Monitoring of removal sites will continue to ensure successful eradication. As the seed bank may persist for decades, these areas should be inspected regularly and seedlings removed before they can mature. Plants can be removed using a weed wrench or cut back at or below ground level before seed-set. Pulling is generally preferred, as cut plants may sprout multiple stems, making later removal with a weed wrench more difficult.

Japanese Knotweed is an aggressive colonizer of moist areas that can rapidly displace native species in open areas and along edges of native plant communities. Once established, knotweed is extremely difficult to eradicate. Knotweed reproduces easily from root (rhizome) and stem fragments and can quickly colonize new sites when root or stem fragments are moved by water and

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 44 or mechanical means. Small fragments left in the ground or moved through the removal process can generate new colonies. Furthermore cutting around the plant may encourage lateral roots to sprout, resulting in renewed vigor and growth several meters form the parent plant.

At Widgeon isolated patches of Japanese knotweed are found along the road, in the meadows and in the developed areas near buildings where it was likely planted as an ornamental. Metro Vancouver has been treating knotweed in Widgeon Marsh Reserve since 2011. Currently, topical application of glyphosate in early summer is the preferred method of control. This initial treatment is followed with targeted spraying in fall, if new growth is present. Herbicide application continues and new plants are mapped and added to the treatment lists. Treated patches are inspected annually and retreated if new growth is present. It will likely take several years to locate and successfully treat every trace of knotweed at WMRPR. Ongoing monitoring will identify new infestations.

As new infestations may occur through the movement of contaminated soil, care must be taken to avoid soil disturbance in areas where knotweed is known to occur.

European mountain-ash is well adapted to moist nutrient-poor organic soils. It will grow in sun or shade and can become established in bogs and other sensitive ecosystems. Berries are attractive to birds and seeds can be spread some distance from parent plant. European mountain-ash was planted in the upper meadow area and has since spread to the forest edges and along the margins of the bog forest near the mid –park landing. Left unchecked, mountain-ash it is likely to spread into the bog, where it may displace native vegetation and change structure of this unique ecosystem.

Metro Vancouver began a mountain-ash removal program in 2015. Approximately 50 trees were removed in December 2015. The remaining seedlings will be targeted for pulling. This could be done as a potential volunteer program, but will likely take several years to locate and pull all seedlings and exhaust the seed bank.

Orange Hawkweed is an aggressive colonizer that forms dense mats. It is typically found in disturbed areas, but has locally invaded sensitive sub-alpine areas where it out-competes native species. A single patch of orange hawkweed to in the Widgeon lawn area was identified and treated with glyphosate in 2014. The area should be monitored to ensure that it has not spread beyond the initial patch.

Yellow Archangel is a very aggressive, rapidly spreading, shade tolerant ground cover. It was intentionally planted in the former residence gardens and has since spread to the north side of Quarry Road where garden waste was dumped at one time. It is a threat to native herb and ground- layer plants in forests and forest edge. Mapped occurrences of yellow archangel were treated in 2015. Plants were sprayed with glyphosate in spring and early fall. Herbicide treatments are scheduled to continue into 2017. Follow up treatments may be required for several years to eradicate the plant.

Purple loosestrife is a perennial plant of wetlands. A few scattered plants are present on lands adjacent to the spit and in the log storage area. Flower heads were snipped off in 2015 to prevent seed disbursal. During the initial removal of seed heads it was determined that this was not a

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 45 feasible practice due to the large amount of plants (1-5% cover throughout the wetlands area with denser patches along the eastern shore of Siwash Island).

Assessments in August 2016 mapped the farthest upstream occurrence of purple loosestrife along Widgeon Creek as well as any signs of predation from beetles. Predation was found throughout the area and only several hundred meters downstream of the farthest upstream occurrence of purple loosestrife. Beetles have appeared to have migrated there on their own from other locations, likely Minnekhada Regional Park. Continued monitoring will take place in the summer of 2017 to evaluate the overall cover in the marshes, upstream dispersal/movement, and beetle predation. If necessary, beetles will be released at the site but may be problematic due to the tidal nature of the wetland.

Sticky Ragwort was reported in the 2007 Strix inventory growing atop the rock outcrop and cliff in the upland forest area of the former Edwards property. Although the plants were well-spaced and scattered across this area the authors expressed a concern that an increase in density could result in the destruction of habitats for native plant species (forbs and bryophytes). Sticky ragwort has not been inventoried and no treatment plan has been developed.

Himalayan Blackberry and evergreen blackberry are present in scattered patches along Quarry Road and in disturbed areas. Small patches are also present in the mixed shrub swamp and mixed forest edges surrounding the Edwards property and the boat landing. A few larger patches are present close to out buildings and meadows. Although currently limited to disturbed areas, Himalayan blackberry can spread to riparian areas and natural clearings through seed dispersal and vegetative growth where it can displace native species and inhibit succession.

Evergreen blackberry was removed be volunteers in late September 2015 at the forest edge near the small meadow adjacent Nathan Creek. Himalayan blackberry was removed by contractors in 2016 north of Building 1. This site has since been planted with approximately 300 trees.

As blackberry is still fairly limited at Widgeon Marsh Park Reserve, small patches adjacent to sensitive areas should be cut back and roots grubbed out. Repeated cuttings, done over several years may exhaust the root system and eliminate blackberry from fields or open areas. Blackberry can also be cut-back in spring to encourage new growth and the regrowth treated with glyphosate. This may be an appropriate treatment for larger patches in open areas and disturbed areas slated for future park developments.

English Ivy is present near the log storage area, the old cottage and in the small clearing north of Quarry Road where garden waste has been dumped. English ivy has the potential to spread over the ground, destroying herb-layer and moss-layer plants and engulfing nearby trees. The seeds may be dispersed by to forested areas by birds, such as American Robin.

English ivy should be pulled from ground and cut from trees at breast height. The work is labour- intensive and is suitable for volunteer work parties.

In all cases successful management of invasive plants requires a commitment to on-going monitoring and long term management.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 46 Aquatic Invasive Plants Aquatic invasive plants pose significant management challenges. Fewer tools are available to manage invasive species in sensitive aquatic ecosystems, there are few barriers to recruitment from adjacent areas and the chance of re-infestation from adjacent areas is extremely high. Managing aquatic invasive species in Widgeon slough and marsh will require a watershed approach involving multiple agencies. The chances of success are low.

Purple loosestrife is present and appears to be spreading in Widgeon slough and the tidal marshes. Loosestrife displaces wildlife by replacing native food sources and eliminating nesting sites for marsh birds and wildlife. Galareculla calmeriensis, a beetle native to Eurasia has been bred and released as a biocontrol agent in several regional parks. The beetle has proven to be very effective in wet fields and non-tidal wetlands. It has had limited success as a biocontrol in tidal wetlands.

Loosestrife was not listed in the 2007 inventory, 1993 aquatic plant survey by BCIT students nor the 1984 Canadian Wildlife Service inventory. A few isolated plants were noted in the 2012 inventory of the Edward property and more were noted in the 2015 wetland inventory. Informal assessments of purple loosestrife by Metro Vancouver staff began in the summer of 2015. Generalized densities were estimated and the farthest upstream plants were mapped. Plants were also randomly assessed for signs of predation from control beetles that had been previously released in the Minnekhada Marshes. Predation was found to be present on most plants examined including many of the farthest upstream plants. Future assessments will continue to track density changes, upstream dispersal, and control beetle presence.

Yellow flag iris is present in small isolated patches along wetland channels. Yellow flag-iris reproduces quickly through seed dispersal and horizontal root systems. In infested areas, up to several hundred flowering plants may be connected under the water, and fragments can form new plants when they break off and drift downstream. Specially adapted floating seeds are dispersed by water. Tides and currents carry seeds up and down stream to infest new areas adjacent to water courses. Unless the small patches are removed, they are likely to increase in density and spread to new areas. No control programs have been initiated.

Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) forms dense monotypic stands that exclude most other species. In slow moving streams and ditches, reed canarygrass can impact water quality by reducing water flows leading to increased siltation, nutrient loading and a reduction in dissolved oxygen. There has been considerable debate about the status of reed canarygrass as an exotic species. Reed canarygrass is listed as native in North America by the US Department of Agriculture, and is found across the continent in most states and provinces (e-flora). However, cultivars brought in for erosion control and as pasture grasses have been introduced from Europe and Asia. These hybridize with native populations, producing aggressive offspring. Selective breeding of the grass has resulted in strains that are also drought resistant and extremely aggressive under a wide range of conditions.

Reed canarygrass is very common in Widgeon Slough, in the marshes and along stream edges. It is the dominant species in wet meadows, the tidal marshes and on Siwash Island. Treating reed canarygrass in this environment would be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 47 Bog loosestrife (Lysimachia terrestris) was introduced from eastern North America. Although uncommon in British Columbia, this wetland plant is prevalent in swamp horsetail marshes, sedge marshes and some bluejoint reedgrass marshes throughout Widgeon Slough. Along with reed canarygrass, it is one of the most wide spread invasive plants in Widgeon Marsh. There is little information available about this plant’s invasive potential and/or control methods. Other species of Lysimachia, notably Lysimachia vulgaris, are known to be extremely invasive.

Southern wild rice (Zizania aquatica var. aquatic) is an annual cereal plant native to eastern North America. One of three species of wild rice native to North America, southern wild rice is found primarily on the East Coast in brackish water, along tidal rivers and in shallow inland lakes. The widgeon population represents one of only five recorded occurrences of southern wild rice in British Columbia. The wild rice was first detected in 2004 by Sears and Saarela who speculated that the rice had been purposely planted and the grains harvested for consumption, possibly by the Katzie Frist Nation. However, when contacted in 2005, the Katzie were unaware of the population (Saarela & Sears, 2006).

Wild rice, particularly northern wild rice (Zizania palustris) is an important cultural and economic resource to many First Nations in North America. Northern wild rice is native to the Great lakes Region and wetlands of the Boreal Forest regions of Northern Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba and region of North America, the aquatic areas of the Boreal Forest regions of Northern Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada and Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan in the US. It has also been reported from a small number of sites in British Columbia where it was likely purposely planted for consumption (E-flora). Although the two species are closely related, and the species names often used interchangeably, there are key differences between the species. Z. palustris has been widely cultivated and seeds are readily available for purchase (Minnesota Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2004). Southern wild rice has smaller grains which shatter readily making harvest more difficult and time consuming. Hitchcock and Cronquist (Flora of the Pacific Northwest, 1973) report that Z. aquatica was frequently planted in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana as a lure for waterfowl. A brief internet search reveals several companies selling Z. aquatica as a wildlife attractant. Given WMRPR history as a private hunting lodge, it is quite possible that that the seeds were planted by former owners to entice waterfowl and enhance hunting opportunities.

The population appears to be expanding. Saarela and Sears (2006) estimated the population at several hundred plants in 2004, while Page and Schaefer estimate several thousand plants were present in 2015. However, it should be noted that wild rice is an annual grass that dies off each year. Natural variation in seed production can result in a crop that expands and contracts annually according to the previous year’s seed production which can vary dramatically (Minnesota Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2004). Wild rice is critical wetland component in its native range. It provides both food and shelter for a variety of wetland animals, and is an especially important seed source for waterfowl. On the other hand, wild rice can form dense monotypic stands that limit access to open water reducing recreational opportunities. Further research and monitoring is required to better understand the plants invasive potential and its risks and benefit to this highly valued ecosystem.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 48 Ecosystems and Species at Risk

Two red-listed ecosystems (Sweet gale-Sitka sedge fen and Western hemlock-red cedar –deer fern) and several blue-listed ecosystems have been identified in inventories at WMRPR. In addition, Page and Schaefer described two new wetlands ecosystems (Sweet gale Shrub swamp and Pacific Crabapple Shrub Swamp) that have not been previously described. After consultation with Del Meidinger, BC’s ecosystem classification expert, Page and Schaefer (2015)have proposed an amendment to the wetland classification system and have recommended that the plant communities be considered for red-listing by the Conservation Data Centre.

Red and blue listed ecosystems are defined as:

Red: Includes any ecological community that is Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened in British Columbia. Extirpated ecological communities no longer exist in British Columbia, but do occur elsewhere. Endangered ecological communities are facing imminent extirpation or elimination. Threatened ecological communities are likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed. Placing ecological communities on these lists flags them as being at risk and requiring investigation.

Blue: Includes any ecological community considered to be of Special Concern (formerly Vulnerable) in British Columbia. Ecological communities of Special Concern have characteristics that make them particularly sensitive or vulnerable to human activities or natural events. Blue-listed ecological communities are at risk, but are not Extirpated, Endangered or Threatened.

In addition, a number of communities that are blue (special concern) and yellow listed (not at risk) are under-represented in the region and have high ecological value. For example, the blue-listed Swamp horsetail – Beaked sedge community is known from the interior of British Columbia and on the outer coast. Its occurrence at WMRPR may the first known location in Southwestern mainland of BC (Page & Schaefer, 2015). Bogs, while relatively common throughout BC, are rare in Metro Vancouver and are very sensitive to changes in hydrology.

A number of red and blue listed species are known to or are likely to occur at occur at WMRPR. Red- listed Pacific Water Shrew (Sorex bendirii), for example, has been confirmed within the Widgeon Valley to the north of WMRPR and at Munroe Creek to the south. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) have been observed hunting over the marsh and are known to nest in Widgeon Valley area. Blue-listed tailed frogs breed in Stewart Creek and American Bittern are residents of Widgeon Slough and are likely breeding on Siwash Island. Three blue-listed plant species - Mountain sneezewort (Helenium autumnale var. grandiflorum), false pimpernel (Lindernia dubia var. anagallidea) and green parrot’s-feather (Myriophyllum pinnatum) occur at WMRPR. A complete list of red and blue listed species that are known to or are likely to occur at WMRPR is provided in Appendix E.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 49 Habitat Heterogeneity WMRPR is one of the most ecologically diverse parks in Metro Vancouver, encompassing marshes and shrub fen, bogs, ponds, mountain streams, riparian habitat, forest, open fields and rocky outcrops. While each of these features considered in isolation has distinctive ecological value, the combination of features and habitat types makes WMRPR unique. Some species, such as sandhill crane, tailed frog, American dipper and marsh wren have very specific habitat needs, while others will utilize a range of habitat types over a single day, some over a season. Bears move freely through the park from forest to wetland and open field foraging in all habitat types over the course of a day. Tree frogs, western toads and salamanders migrate to ponds and open water wetlands in spring and early summer to breed, their tadpoles emerge as adults in late summer and disburse to shrub, forests and riparian areas throughout the park. For many birds, WMRPR is a brief stopover, a place to rest and refuel on migration, for other WMRPR and the surrounding wetlands and forests are important winter feeding grounds or summer breeding grounds; still others will spend the entire year utilizing different habitat types for feeding, roosting and nesting.

A list of wildlife species known or likely to occur in the park is provided in Appendix D.

Planning Considerations Ecosystem Sensitivity Sensitive ecosystems are defined as ecosystems that are “at risk or ecologically fragile in provincial landscape.” (Ministry of Environment, 2006) In 2011 Metro Vancouver developed a comprehensive system to identify and classify sensitive ecosystems using existing Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping and provincial standards for ecosystem classification and ranking. (Meidinger, 2011) All forested lands, wetlands, riparian areas and other important ecosystems in Regional Parks were assessed and ranked based on rareness, community structure, size, condition, presence of species at risk and ecological context. Highest points were awarded for large, intact, functioning, red and/or blue listed ecosystems with well-developed community structure, natural species composition and little evidence of disturbance.

Seventy-three percent of lands within WMRPR had a score of 21 or higher, representing the highest sensitivity category in the regional park system (Appendix A9 map). By comparison, just 36% of all regional parklands fall in this category. Indeed, 58% of lands within Widgeon had a score of 27 or higher. While only 3% of all regional parklands fall into this category, 77% of those lands are at WMRPR. The high scores reflect the parks relatively undisturbed natural environment, rare wetland features and ecological context described in this report.

Regional parks that have more than 75% of the land base with a score of 16 or more, have been proposed for classification as Regional Park Preserves. Park management in preserves is focused primarily on protecting important ecological features and ecosystems. Opportunities for nature appreciation and passive recreation may be accommodated though developments in less sensitive areas of the park preserve, where appropriate. Future developments will require careful planning to ensure sensitive ecosystems are protected.

24

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 50 Legal Considerations WMRPR is made of 18 parcels totalling 383 hectares leased from the Nature Trust of BC, 4 hectares water lot lease and 11 parcels totalling 239 hectares that are owned fee-simple (Map Appendix A10map). An additional 6 hectares of land that fall within the park boundary are unassigned road allowances; these have not been included in the total park area.

The Nature Trust Lands are governed by a restrictive covenant that ensures the lands are preserved and/or developed as a “site of ecological interest for the use, enjoyment and benefit of the people of British Columbia.” Similarly, the 10.5 hectares purchased in partnership with Ducks Unlimited in 2012 require that land management focus on “protecting, preserving, and keeping lands in their natural state.” A complete list of covenants and rights of way are provided in Appendix F

A small section of water, the former site of a dock and boathouse which were removed in 2009, are leased from Port of Vancouver. Under the Canada Marine Act, Port of Vancouver is responsible for the administration, management and control of land and water within its jurisdiction, which includes the lower Fraser River, the lower Pitt River and all of Widgeon Slough. Under the legislation, Port of Vancouver administers a permitting process to ensure all developments and activities meet applicable standards. Any changes or developments in on the water lot or elsewhere in the slough such as the replacement of the dock and boathouse, and or dredging will require a review and permit from Port of Vancouver as described in the Project and Environmental Review Application Guide (Port Metro Vancouver, 2015) and in the Project Environmental Review Categories (2015). Built Features and Utilities A seven kilometer single-lane gravel road runs from the end of Quarry Road through WMRPR, past the residential areas to the northern boundary of the park. From here, the road continues as a rough four-wheel drive route through Pinecone Burk- Provincial Park to the provincial campground on Widgeon Creek. The first five kilometers are primarily on Metro Vancouver property, but a small portion of the road crosses private property and cuts into adjacent provincial park lands. The road is closed to the public but is used by BC Parks staff and contractors to access the provincial campground. Road access is governed by a covenant granted by the former owners. Secondary access roads run perpendicular to the main road providing access to the waterfront, residential properties, clearings and amphitheater – a rock-walled clearing on Burke Mountain situated between Stuart and Nathan Creek at approximately 40 meter elevation (Figure 8). An informal trail connects the amphitheater with the old intake structure below the upper waterfall.

There are a small number of residences and outbuildings in various states of repair. Four houses (figures 9 to 11) are currently rented. Both the entrance area and the mid-park area have electrical service, and septic fields. The power poles, which run apparel to the access road are rated in poor condition. Water is provided to the mid park area via water diversion on Nathan Creek. Building 9 is served by a well which was drilled in 2014 and Building 7 is served by a spring-fed stream north of Quarry Road. There is no water license assigned to the stream for the Building 7 intake or the pond.

25

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 51

Figure 8: Amphitheater

Figure 9: Rental properties, Buildings 1 and 2, pond in foreground

26

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 52 Figure 10: Building 7

Figure 11: Building 9

27

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 53

Research and Conservation Activities There are a number of on-going research and conservation projects at WMRPR. Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) is currently conducting swallow research at Widgeon Marsh to identify areas where breeding productivity is high and to determine habitat factors that contribute to high quality breeding habitat. WMRPR was chosen because it represents excellent quality habitat away from agricultural areas where pesticides are used. The Burke Mountain Naturalists monitor and maintain approximately 50 swallow nest boxes for tree swallows at WMRPR and a small group of volunteers conduct monthly bird counts which are posted on E-bird. The Hummingbird Monitoring Network has maintained a banding station at WMRPR for since 2006 and Fisheries and Oceans Canada conduct yearly sockeye stock assessments in the Widgeon Slough. In 2016, a research permit was issued to the South Coast Bat Conservation Association to gather data on presence and abundance of the regional bat population, monitor maternity colonies, and to conduct additional research to support ongoing work in the region such as health assessments for white-nose syndrome. Recreation Potential The mix of open space, forested slopes, river and wetland and the proximity to Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park provide exceptional opportunities for nature viewing and passive recreation. However, any recreational activities need to be carefully balanced against protection of sensitive ecosystems.

Tides can have a significant impact on recreational opportunities in WMRPR. Widgeon Creek and Widgeon slough are popular destinations for canoeing and kayaking. A canoe rental facility at Grant Narrows makes Widgeon Creek and Widgeon Slough easily accessible. The shallow protected waters are especially appealing to novice paddlers and young families. However, during low tides water levels on the north end of Widgeon Sough directly across from Grant Narrows, may be too low to provide access. Similarly, access to the landing near the entrance area through the dredged channel may be restricted at low tides. There are reports of former residents dredging the slough to maintain access (Ron Wood. Personal communication), but this was likely done without permits. Access is still possible from the south end of the slough but winds and strong currents may make it challenging for novice paddlers. An analysis of recreational opportunities and constraints is provided under separate cover.

28

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 54 Figure 12: WMRPR viewed from Widgeon slough

29

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 55 Works Cited Ashley, G. M. (1977). Sedimentology of a Freshwater Tidal System, Pitt River and Pitt Lake, British Columbia. PHD Thesis. Vancouver: UBC: Department of Geological Sciences.

BC Conservation Data Centre. (2013). BC Species and Ecosystem Explorer. (BC Minsitry of Environment) Retrieved August 15, 2015, from Ecological Communities Red and Blue Listed Ecosystems: http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/

BC Minstry of the Environment. (n.d.). Fisheries Inventory Data Query (FIDQ). Retrieved January 15, 2016, from Fisheries Inventory (Fish and Fish Habitat Inventory and Information): http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fish/fidq/

Blackwell and Associates. (2006). Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping for Metro Vancouver Parks. Metro Vancouver Parks.

E-flora. (n.d.). Zalinia palustris var. interior. (B. Klinkenberg, Editor, & Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis. Department of Geography. University of British Columbia) Retrieved January 27, 2016, from E-Flora BC Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2015). 2015 Summer Run Sockeye. Preliinary Escapement Estimates. Kamloops: Unpublished Repor for Fraser River Stock Assessment.

FREMP Water and Land Use Committee. (2005). A Reach Overview for the Lower Pitt River.

Grant , S., McDonald, B., Cone, T., Holt, C., Cass, A., Porszt, E., . . . Pon, L. (2011). Evaluation of Uncertainty in Fraser Sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) Wild Salmon Policy Status using Abundance and Trends in Abundance Metrics. Department of Fisheriesand Oceans. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat.

Green, R., & Klinka, K. (1994). A Field Guide to Site Identification and Interpretation for the Vancouver Forest Region. Province of British Columbia: Ministry of Forests.

Hitchcock, C. L., & Cronquist, A. (1973). Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle: University of Washington Press.

Katzie Development Corporation Archaeology. (2015). Archaeological Overview Assessment for Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve. Burnaby: Unpublished report for Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.

Luttmerding, H. (1981). Soils of the Langley-Vancouver Map Area. Report No, 15 Vol 1-6. Kelowna: Province of BC: Ministry of Environment.

McKenzie, W., & Moran, J. (2004). Land Management Handbook #52. Wetlands of British Columiba. A Guide to Identification. Province of British Columbia.

Meidinger, D. (2011). Methodology for Sensitivity Assessment of Metro Vancouver Parks. BC: Unpublished report for Metro Vancouver.

Metro Vancouver. (2012). Integrated Pest Management Plan: A framework for the management of invasive plants in Regional Parks. Burnaby: Metro Vancouver.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 56 Ministry of Environment. (2006). Standard for Mapping Ecosystems at Risk in British Columbia: An Approach to Mapping Ecosystems at Risk and Other Sensitive Ecosystems. Ecosystems Branch. Terrestrial Ecosystems Task Force Resources Information Standards Committee. Victoria: Province of British Columbia.

Minnesota Natural Resources Conservation Service. (2004, December). Wild Rice Seeding Guidelines. Biology Jobsheet Number 14. Minnesota: Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Page, N., & Schaefer, C. (2015). Widgeon Marsh Reserve. Wetland Ecosystem Mapping, Rare Plant Survey and Vegetation Assessment. Unpublished report for Metro Vancouver.

Pojar, J., Klinka, K., & Demarchi, D. (1991). Chapter 6; Coastal Western Hemlock Zone. In J. Pojar, & D. Meidinger, Ecosystems of British Columbia. Victoria: Province of British Columbia.

Port of Vancouver. (2015, July). Project & Environmental Review Categories. Retrieved from Port of Vancouver.

Port of Vancouver. (2015, July). Project and Environmental Review and Review Application Guide. Retrieved from Port of Vancouver: http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/wp- content/uploads/2015/05/PER-Application-Guide-Final-2015-07-29.pdf

Roddick, J., & Armstrong, J. (1965). Geology Pitt Lake, Vancouver, East Half, British Columbia. Geological Survey of Canada. A Series Map.

Saarela, J. M., & Sears, C. J. (2006, June 17). A new record of Zinznia L. (Wild Rice) for British Columbia. Botanical Electronic News,. No. 363.

Sivak, B. (2003). An Ecological Assessement of the Edward Property. Unpublished Report for Metro Vancouver.

Strix Environmental Consulting. (2007). Edward Property Biophysical Information Consolidation. Unplublished report for Metro Vancouver.

31

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 57 WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Protected Areas Context Appendix A1 F

Pinecone Burke Provincial Park Golden Ears Provincial Park

Wigeon Valley National Widlife Area

Coquitlam Watershed (Metro Vancouver) Pitt Lake

Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Malcolm Knapp Reserve Research Forest (City of Maple Ridge)

Alouette Lake Pitt Polder Ecological Reserve (Provincial) PittPitt AddingtonAddington MarshMarsh WildlifeWildlife ManagementManagement AreaArea (Provincial)(Provincial) Codd Wetland Minnekhada Ecological Regional Park Conservancy Area

Pitt River

ProtectedSpaces Regional Park Jurisdiction Federal NGO Private Provincial Regional Maple Ridge

0 1,250 2,500 5,000 7,500 Last modified 2/23/2016 m Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 58 WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Topography (20m contours) Appendix A2

900 680 980 880 300 80 180 300

980 1080 380 260 F 260 120 440

200 1100 1140 380 120 400 460 420 320 1200 240

920 380 280 580 180 360 1040

760 620 180 1180 860 260

140 60 340 20 1120 1000 780 20 900

480 580

880 300 880 100 1020 960 60

460

260

540 140 820 200 680 40 220 940 200 60

920 720 900 100 220 160 240 640

900 840

820 620

740 880 160 160 920 860

800 80 920 640 40 900 720 100

320 160 120 20 840 500

780 60 320

120

440 140 20

420 780 140 760 20

600 40 780 700 20 560

380

280 20 680 880 840 880

880

700 880 220 40

860 120 880 600 740 500

360 840 240 20

520 300 100 860 400 880 660 200 80

20 800 880 240

280 80

20 60 540 340

240 120

660 480 40 560 360 140 520

400 440 220

180

60

140

Park Boundaries TRIM 20m Contours

0 250 500 1,000 Last modified 2/23/2016 m Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 59 WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Soils AAppendix A3 F Sample label Soil symbols in order of dominance

EU-CE-PN Topographic Stoniness IS g; S:3-4 BC class class

SG-WG WG-SG-AG SG-WG SG SG ab b ab b b EU g

SG-WG SG-WG ab ab

SH F EU-CE-PN SG-WG SG-WG HG ab ab

GV-WG ab EU GV g SG-WG ab ab

SN-BW GF SG-WG ab WG-SG-AG b SG-WG ab WG-SG-AG b SG-WG ab DN-IS WG-SG-AG FE ab

WG-SG-AG b

SG-WG ab

GV-WG ab PN H

SH-IS F; S:4-5

SH F; S:3-4 CE-BZ-EU g; S:3

CE-BZ-EU g; S:3

IS F; S:3-4

Soils IS Trail - Metro Vancouver soil_1, Soil_2, Soil_3 PN Trail (includes shared) Road CE, BZ, EU SG Waterbodies DN, IS, SG, WG Park Boundaries EU SH EU, CE, PN SH, IS GV SN, BW GV, WG WG, SG, AG

0 250 500 1,000 Last modified 3/9/2016 m Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 60 WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Wetland Inventory Appendix A4 F SX, 8 GB, 2

SX, 5 GB, 5 AQ, 7 MA, 3 AQ, 7 RG, 8 MA, 3 MA, 6 MA, 2 GB, 9 CB, 2 CB, 1 GB, 9 GB, 2 CB, 7 CB, 1 GB, 3 AQ, 7 SM, 3 MA, 7 RG, 3 MA, 8 AQ, 2 CB, 7 GB, 3 AQ, 7 CB, 7 RI, 2 AQ, 2 AQ, 5 WR, 1 GB, 1 SH, 3 MA, 2 MU, 6 RI, 2 SH, 8 AQ, 2 RG, 2 RG, 6 CB, 5 MA, 4 GB, 5 CD, 9 SH, 6 BL, 1 RI, 5 MA, 4 AQ, 5 AQ, 7 SH, 8 WR, 2 MA, 2 SM, 1 SH, 4 MA, 4 SM, 3 RG, 3 RG, 3 BJ, 3 AQ, 8 RG, 2 HG, 7 SM, 3 CB, 8 SH, 4 GB, 2 CB, 5 RG, 3 GB, 5 MA, 3 GB, 6 CB, 7 MA, 2 MA, 6 GB, 3 CB, 2 GB, 4

MA, 6 AQ, 4 CB, 6 AQ, 5 GB, 4 WR, 5 RG, 6 SH, 6 GB, 9 SH, 2 RG, 3 HG, 1 MA, 2 SM, 1 CB, 6 GB, 4 CB, 6 RG, 6 GB, 4 MA, 4 AQ, 7 WR, 3 SH, 7 AQ, 2 RG, 1 Sample Label Site Series code Decile

Site Series 1 RS, 6 HM, 2 Site Series 2 SH, 9 TA, 2 MA, 1 Site Series 3

[non-labeled polygons are of only single wetland type]

Park Boundaries CB - Crabapple Shrrub Swamp WetlandType (BCWC) GB - Sweet Gale Shrub Swamp RI - River (open water) HB - Hardhack-Sitka sedge Shrub Swamp AQ - Aquatic Communities BH - Paper Birch Swamp RG - Reed canarygrass marsh LS - Lodgepole pine-peatmoss Bog GM - Generic Maresh CD - Cottonwood-Red alder/salmonberry SH - Swamp horsetail-beaked sedge MF - Mudflat SX - Sweetgale-Sitka sedge Fen BL - barren land MA - generic marsh WR - wild rice marsh

0 250 500 1,000 Last modified 3/1/2016 m Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 61 Appendix A5 WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping F

05, 10, 6 05, 7, 4 01, 3, 4 05, 8, 5 05, 7, 6 01, 7, 4 05, 6, 5 07, 2, 5 07, 3, 6 07, 4, 5 01, 8, 6 05, 3, 4 07, 10, 5 05, 5, 4 05, 2, 6 05, 6, 5 01, 6, 6 01, 3, 4 01, 2, 5 03, 2, 6 03, 2, 4 01, 10, 6 07, 2, 5 05, 2, 6 LA, 10, 0 07, 7, 6 01, 3, 6 01, 6, 6 07, 7, 6 03, 2, 6 03, 10, 3 05, 3, 6 07, 2, 6 01, 6, 6 01, 10, 3 03, 4, 6 01, 6, 6 01, 10, 6 TA, 10, 0 03, 4, 6

05, 6, 6 07, 10, 6 05, 7, 6 01, 4, 6 01, 3, 6 05, 6, 4 TA, 10, 0 07, 4, 4 11, 10, 6 01, 10, 6 07, 10, 5 03, 5, 6 01, 5, 4 01, 3, 6 01, 7, 6 05, 5, 6 05, 3, 4 05, 2, 6 05, 6, 5 03, 3, 6 03, 10, 6 01, 3, 6 03, 2, 4 01, 4, 5 07, 6, 6 07, 2, 6 03, 7, 4 05, 2, 6 01, 3, 4 01, 2, 6 01, 6, 6 01, 8, 6 05, 4, 6 12, 6, 5 03, 2, 6 33, 2, 3 07, 2, 5 05, 4, 6 01, 3, 6 PD, 10, 0 07, 3, 6 05, 6, 3 BL, 4, 0 01, 8, 6 03, 2, 6 01, 8, 5 LD, 7, 2 05, 2, 5 07, 10, 5 BU, 3, 0 06, 8, 6 01, 8, 6 12, 2, 6 05, 2, 6 07, 7, 6 01, 6, 4 07, 8, 5 06, 3, 6 05, 2, 4 12, 2, 5 03, 2, 4 07, 10, 5 01, 6, 6 OF, 10, 2 05, 2, 6 03, 2, 6

01, 5, 6 05, 7, 6 06, 8, 6 05, 3, 6 07, 7, 6 07, 3, 6 03, 2, 6 05, 3, 6 12, 2, 6 12, 10, 6 11, 6, 6 07, 7, 6 06, 4, 6 05, 3, 6 07, 10, 6 06, 10, 6 01, 10, 6

07, 7, 6 07, 7, 6 05, 3, 6 05, 3, 6 05, 7, 6 05, 7, 6 01, 3, 6 05, 6, 6 01, 3, 6 01, 6, 4 Sample Label 01, 2, 6 05, 3, 4 TA, 2, 0 03, 1, 4 01, 5, 6 03, 7, 6 05, 3, 6 01, 7, 4 Site Series 01, 3, 6 05, 3, 4 Structural 07, 10, 6 03, 2, 6 code Decile 05, 5, 6 stage LD, 10, 2 01, 6, 6 05, 10, 4 07, 3, 6 07, 6, 6 05, 2, 6 01, 2, 6 01, 10, 6 05, 4, 6 TA, 2, 0 05, 7, 6 Site Series 1 05, 6, 6 01, 7, 6 BU, 10, 2 07, 3, 6 01, 2, 6 05, 3, 6 Site Series 2 01, 10, 6 07, 8, 6 05, 7, 6 TA, 2, 0 05, 2, 6 01, 3, 6 Site Series 2

Park Boundaries 12: CwSs - Skunk cabbage Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping BU: Buildings, parking etc. 01: Flat moss LA: Lake or reservoir 03: FdHw - Salal LD: Landscape grass and shrubs 05: Cw - Sword fern OF: Old field 06: HwCw - Deer fern PD: Pond 07: Cw - foamflower TA: Talus 11: Pl - Sphagnum

0 250 500 1,000 Last modified 3/9/2016 m Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 62 WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Disturbed areas, southern portion Appendix A6 0 25 50 100 150 F1 Meters

3

2

1 0 25 50 100 150 200 2 Meters

0 25 50 100 150 200 3 Meters

Disturbed area 1: Former residence and logging spit

Disturbed area 2: Former residences, log storage area, dredged channel and artificial pond

Disturbed area 3: Access road and former log handling area

Park Boundaries

Last modified 3/1/2016 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 63 WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Disturbed areas, northern portion Appendix A7 F

Map extent

Residences and outbuildings area; Water cistern artificial pond

Former quarry area/'amphitheatre'

Access trail

Former logging spit

Access road 0 25 50 100 150 200 Meters

Park Boundaries

Last modified 3/1/2016 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 64 WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Select invasive plants Appendix A8 F 1

0 50 100 200 Meters

2 0 50 100 200 Meters

1

2

0 250 500 1,000 m

InvasivesData Park Boundaries Purple Loosestrife European Mountain Ash Cutleaf Blackberry / Evergreen Blackberry English Holly English Ivy Japanese Knotweed Scotch Broom Yellow Lamium

Note: no exhaustive inventory of invasive plants present throughout the park has occured. Invasive plants pictured Last modified 3/1/2016 were target surveyed as candidates for treatment. Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 65 WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Relative Conservation Value F

Relative conservation value 0-5.9 6-7.9 8-10.9 11-13.9 14-15.9 16-20.9 21+

0 250 500 1,000 Last modified 3/9/2016 m Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 66 Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve - Parcels

WidgeonWIDGEON Marsh MARSH Regional REGIONAL Park PARK Reserve RESERVE - Parcels Property Interests 2015-04-15

Crown- Widgeon ValleyNational Wildlife Area status unknown

Lease, 1992 12

Pinecone-Burke

Provincial Park Katzie

Fee simple, 10 1992

ELECTORAL AREA A Fee simple, 2010 COQUITLAM Waterlot license, 1994 11

9

SIWASH ISLAND Pitt River

Interest type, year acquired [refer to Appendix F for detailed X InterestEdward detaileasement, ID property 2007 interest records] Fee simple, 1992

8 Fee simple, 2007

Fee simple, 2010

Fee + covenant, 2012; partnership with Ducks Unlimited 6 Fee simple, 2012 7 Fee simple, 2013

Lease + covenant, Nature Trust of BC, 1992 Interest type, year acquired Fee simple, Waterlot lease from Provincial Crown, 1994 2007 Edward easement, 2007 Park Parcels 4 Fee simple, 1992 5 Municipal boundary 3 Fee simple, 2007 Fee simple, 2013 Fee simple, 2010 PITT Last modified 2016-03-09 1 MEADOWS Fee + covenant, 2012 2 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 67 Metres F 0 250Fee simple,500 2013 1,000 1,500

Lease + covenant, Nature Trust of BC, 1992

Waterlot lease from Provincial Crown, 1994

Park Parcels

Municipal boundary

Metres F 0 250 500 1,000 1,500 Appendix B: Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Plant List

Plants recorded in biophysical inventories of WMRPR to December 2015. This list may be updated through successive inventories and bioblitzes. Native Conifers Picea sitchensis Sitka spruce Pinus contorta var. contorta shore pine Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas-fir Thuja plicata western red cedar Tsuga heterophylla western hemlock

Native Broad-leaved Trees Acer circinatum vine maple Acer macrophyllum bigleaf maple Alnus rubra red alder Betula papyrifera var. commutata paper birch Cornus nutallii Pacific dogwood Crataegus douglasii black hawthorn Malus fusca Pacific crab apple Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa black cottonwood Prunus emarginata bitter cherry Rhamnus purshiana cascara Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra Pacific willow Salix scouleriana Scouler's willow Salix sitchensis Sitka willow

Native Shrubs Arctostaphalis uva-ursa kinnikinick Amelanchier alnifolia Saskatoon Cornus stolonifera red-osier dogwood Corylus cornuta beaked hazelnut Gaultheria shallon salal Holodiscus discolor oceanspray Kalmia microphyla Western bog laurel Ledum greenlanica Labrador tea Lonicera involucrata black twinberry Menziesia ferruginea ssp. ferruginea false azalea Myrica gale sweet gale Oemleria cerasiformis June-plum Physocarpus capitatus Pacific ninebark Ribes lacustre black gooseberry

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 68 Rosa nutkana Nootka rose Rubus chamaemorus cloudberry Rubus parviflorus thimbleberry Rubus spectabilis salmonberry Rubus ursinus trailing blackberry Salix scouleriana Scouler's willow Salix sitchensis Sitka willow Sambucus racemosa coastal red elderberry Spiraea douglasii hardhack Vaccinium corymbosum highbush huckleberry Vaccinium ovalifolium oval-leaved blueberry Vacciunium oxycoccus bog cranberry Vaccinium parvifolium red huckleberry Vaccinium uliginosum bog blueberry Viburnum edule highbush cranberry

Fern and Fern-ally Adiantum aleuticum northern maiden-hair Asplenium trichomanes maidenhair spleenwort Athyrium filix-femina lady fern Blechnum spicant deer fern Cryptogramma acrostichoides parsley fern Dryopteris expansa spiny wood fern Equisetum arvense common horsetail Equisetum telmateia giant horsetail Equisetum fluviata swamp horsetail Polypodium glycyrrhiza licorice fern Polystichum munitum sword fern Pteridium aquilinum bracken fern Selaginella wallacei Wallace's selaginella

Native sedges, rushes and grasses Carex obnupta slough sedge Carex utriculata beaked sedge Carex pauciflora few-flowered sedge Carex sitchensis Sitka sedge Deschampsia sp. hairgrass Dulichium arundinaceum three-way sedge Eleocharis obtusa blunt spike-rush Glyceria elata tall mannagrass Rhynchospora alba white beaked rush Scirpus microcarpus small-flowered bulrush Juncus acuminatus Tapered rush

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 69 Juncus bufonius toad rush Juncus effusus common rush Typha latifolia common cattail Calamagrostis canadensis var. Canadensis bluejoint reedgrass Glyceria elata tall mannagrass

Native Aquatics Cassula aquatic pygmyweed Myriophyllum hippuroides) western water-milfoil Myriophyllum ussuriense Ussurian water-milfoil Nuphar polysetum Rocky Mountain pond-lily Potamogeton sp pondweed Sparganium sp Bur-reed

Forbs – including wetland plants Actaea rubra baneberry Alisma triviale American water-plantain Aruncus dioicus goatsbeard Cardamine sp. bittercress Claytonia sibirica Siberian miner’s-lettuce Cicuta douglasii Douglas water-hemlock Comarum palustre marsh cinquefoil Drosera rotundifolia Round leaved sundew Epilobium angustifolium fireweed Galium triflorum sweet-scented bedstraw Gentiana spectrum king gentian Heuchera micrantha small-flowered alumroot Hypericum anagalloides Bog St. John’s wort Lysichiton americanum Skunk cabbage Maianthemum dilatatum false lily-of-the-valley Menyanthees trifoliata buckbean Montia parvifolia small-leaved montia Oenanthe sarementosa Pacific water parsley Prosartes hookeri var. oregana Hooker’s fairybells Prunella vulgaris self-heal Sagittaria latifolia arrowhead Scutellaria laterifolia Blue skullcap Sium suave Hemlock water-parsnip Symphiotrichum subspicatum Douglas aster Tellima grandiflora fringecup Tiarella trifoliata three-leaved foamflower Trientalis latifolia northern starflower Urtica dioica stinging nettle

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 70 Veronica beccabunga American speedwell Veronica scutellata Skullcap speedwell Viola sp Viola

Mosses Atrichum undulatum common smoothcap Climacium dendroides tree-moss Hylocomnium splendens step-moss Isothecium stoloniferum isothecium moss Kindbergia oreganum (Eurhynichum oregonum) Oregon beaked-moss Kindbergia praelonga (Eurhynichum praelonga) slender beaked-moss Plagiothecium undulatum flatmoss Pleurozium schreberi red stemmed feather-moss Plagiothecium insigne silk-moss Plagiothecium undulatum hart’s-tongue thyme moss Pogonatum urnigerum grey haircap moss Polytrichum strictum bog haircap moss Polytrichum sp. haircap moss Racomitrium canescens (sensu lato) grey rock-moss Rhizomnium glabresens large leafy moss Rhytidiadelphus loreus lanky moss Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus electrified cat’s-tail moss Sphagnum capifolium common red peat-moss Sphagnum girgensohnii common green peat-moss Sphagnum magellanicum magellenic peat-moss Sphagnum pacificum pacific sphagnum Sphagnum sp. peat-moss

Lichens Usnea longissima Methuselah’s beard Cladina portentosa Maritime reindeer

Fungi Coprinus sp inky caps Lycoperdon perlatum puffball

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 71 Appendix C: Non Native Plants of WMRPR

Trees and Shrubs and Vines Buddleja davidii butterfly-bush Cytisus scoparius Scotch broom Hedera helix English ivy Ilex aquifolium English holly Rubus armeniacus Himalayan blackberry Rubus laciniatus cutleaf evergreen blackberry Salix x chrysocoma weeping willow Sorbus aucuparia European mountain-ash

Forbs (including wetland plants)

Cirsium arvense Canada thistle Convolvulus sepium hedge bindweed Digitalis purpurea common foxglove Geranium robertianum Robert’s geranium Hypericum perforatum common St. John’s-wort Hypochaeris radicata hairy cat’s-ear Impatiens parviflora small touch-me-not Iris pseudacorus yellow iris Lamiastrum galeobdolon yellow archangel Lysimachia terrestris bog loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Purple loosestrife Mentha arvensis Field mint Mycelis muralis wall lettuce Myosotis sp Forget me not Plantago lanceolata ribwort plantain Plantago major common plantain Polygonum cuspidatum Japanese knotweed Ranunculus repens creeping buttercup Senecio viscosus sticky ragwort Taraxacum officinale common dandelion Vicia sativa common vetch

Sedges, Rushes and Grasses

Agrosits alba redtop grass Dactylis glomerata orchard grass Eriophorum virginicum tawny cotton-grass Holcus lanatus velvet grass

DRAFT: Edward Properties – Biophysical Information Consolidation (August 2007) 1 Strix Environmental Consulting / Ryder Wildlife Research / Clover Point Cartographics Ltd Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 72 Juncus bulbosus bulbous rush Juncus canadensis Canada rush

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 73 Appendix D: Fauna of Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve

This list contains species reported by staff or identified in inventories. Animals marked with an (I) are introduced. List will be updated through successive inventories and bioblitzes. Amphibians Ascaphus truei coastal tailed frog MV Ambystoma gracile northwestern salamander Strix Ensatina eschscholtzii common ensatina Strix Plethodon vehiculum western red-backed salamander Strix Pseudacris regilla Pacific chorus frog Strix Rana aurora red-legged Frog Strix Lithobates catesbeiana American bullfrog (I) MV Lithobates clamitans green frog (I) MV Taricha granulosa rough-skinned newt Strix

Reptiles Elgaria coerulea principis northern alligator lizard Strix Thamnophis sirtalis common garter snake Strix

Mammals Sorex cinereus Cinereus shrew Strix Sorex vagrans ssp. vagrans vagrant shrew Strix

Tamiasciurus douglasii ssp. mollipilosu Douglas' squirrel Strix Castor canadensis beaver MV Peromyscus maniculatus deer mouse Strix Glaucomys sabrinus northern flying squirrel MV Neotamias townsendii Townsend’s chipmunk MV

Lontra canadensis river otter MV Mustela ermine short tailed weasel Strix

Eptesicus fuscus big brown bat MV Myotis lucifugus little brown bat MV

Odocoileus hemionus ssp. Columbianus Columbian black-tailed deer MV

Ursus americanus black bear MV Procyon lotor racoon MV Lynx rufus bobcat MV Canis latrans coyote MV Puma concolor cougar MV

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 74 Fish

Lota lota burbot FIDQ Oncorhynchus clarki clarki coastal cutthroat trout FIDQ Oncorhynchus keta chum FIDQ Oncorhynchus kisutch coho FIDQ Oncorhynchus mykiss rainbow trout FIDQ Oncorhynchus nerka sockeye FIDQ Oncorhynchus mykiss steelhead FIDQ

Birds As reported in E-Bird to December 2015

Branta hutchinsii Cackling Goose Nov 2015 Branta canadensis Canada Goose Nov 2015 Cygnus buccinator Trumpeter Swan Nov 2015 Aix sponsa Wood Duck Sep 2010 Anas acuta northern Pintail Anas strepera Gadwall Jan 2015 Anas penelope Eurasian Wigeon Jan 2014 Anas americana American Wigeon Nov 2015 Anas platyrhyncho Mallard s Nov 2015 Anas crecca Green-winged Teal Apr 2015 Aythya collaris Ring-necked Duck May 2015 Aythya affinis Lesser Scaup Apr 2015 Bucephala albeola Bufflehead Nov 2015 Bucephala clangula Common Goldeneye Apr 2015 Lophodytes cucullatus Hooded Merganser Nov 2015 Mergus merganser Common Merganser Nov 2015 Gavia immer Common loon July 2014 Dendragapus fuliginosus Sooty Grouse May 2015 Podilymbus podiceps Pied-billed Grebe Sep 2015 Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe Nov 2015 Phalacrocorax auritus Double-crested Cormorant Feb 2015 Botaurus lentiginosus American Bittern Sep 2015 Ardea herodias Great Blue Heron Nov 2015 Butorides virescens Green Heron May 1970 Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture Jul 2015 Pandion haliaetus Osprey May 2015 Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle Nov 2015 Circus cyaneus Northern Harrier Nov 2015 Accipiter cooperii Cooper's Hawk Sep 2010 Accipiter gentilis Northern Goshawk Jan 2015

Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle Nov 2015 Buteo jamaicensis Red-tailed Hawk Feb 2015

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 75 Fulica americana American Coot Sep 2010 Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane Jul 2015 Tringa melanoleuca Greater Yellowlegs Apr 2015 Gallinago delicata Wilson's Snipe Apr 2015 Larus delawarensis Ring-billed Gull Sep 2010 Larus occidentalis Western Gull Sep 2015 Larus glaucescens Glaucous-winged Gull Nov 2015

Patagioenas fasciata Band-tailed Pigeon Jun 2014 Cypseloides niger Back Swift Jul 2014 Bubo virginianus Great Horned Owl Sep 2010 Glaucidium gnoma Northern Pygmy-Owl Feb 2015 Cypseloides niger Black Swift Sep 2010 Chaetura vauxi Vaux’s Swift May 2014 Selasphorus rufus Rufous Hummingbird May 2015 Megaceryle alcyon Belted Kingfisher Nov 2015 Sphyrapicus ruber Red-breasted Sapsucker Jul 2015 Picoides pubescens Downy Woodpecker Sep 2010 Picoides villosus Hairy Woodpecker May 2011 Colaptes auratus Northern Flicker Nov 2015 Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon Nov 2015

Contopus cooperi Olive-sided Flycatcher Jul 2015 Tyranuus tyrannus Eastern Kingbird Aug 2015

Empidonax traillii Willow Flycatcher Jul 2015 Empidonax hammondii Hammond's Flycatcher May 2007 Empidonax difficilis Pacific-slope Flycatcher Jul 2015 Vireo gilvus Warbling Vireo Jun 2014 Vireo olivaceus Red-eyed Vireo Jul 2014 Cyanocitta stelleri Steller's Jay Nov 2015 Corvus caurinus Northwestern Crow Nov 2015 Corvus corax Common Raven Nov 2015 Stelgidopteryx serripennis Northern Rough-winged Swallow May 1970 Tachycineta bicolor Tree Swallow Jul 2015 Tachycineta thalassina Violet-green Swallow May 2015 Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow Jul 2015 Poecile atricapillus Black-capped Chickadee Jul 2015 Poecile rufescens Chestnut-backed Chickadee Jan 2015 Psaltriparus minimus Bushtit Feb 2015 Sitta canadensis Red-breasted Nuthatch Apr 2015

Certhia americana Brown Creeper Jan 2015 Troglodytes pacificus Pacific Wren Nov 2015 Cistothorus palustris Marsh Wren Nov 2015 Cinclus mexicanus American Dipper Apr 2015

Regulus satrapa Golden-crowned Kinglet Sep 2015

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 76 Regulus calendula Ruby-crowned Kinglet Apr 2015 Sialia currucoides Mountain Bluebird May 1970 Catharus ustulatus Swainson's Thrush Jul 2015 Turdus migratorius American Robin Sep 2015 Ixoreus naevius Varied Thrush Nov 2015 Dumetella carolinensis Gray Catbird Jul 2013 Sturnus vulgaris European Starling Apr 2015 Bombycilla cedrorum Cedar Waxwing Sep 2015 Oreothlypis celata Orange-crowned Warbler Sep 2010 Geothlypis tolmiei MacGillivray's Warbler May 1970 Geothlypis trichas Common Yellowthroat Jul 2015 Setophaga petechial Yellow Warbler Jun 2014 Setophaga coronate Yellow-rumped Warbler May 2015 Setophaga nigrescens Black-throated Gray Warbler Sep 2010 Selophaga twonsendii Townsend’s Warbler Jun 2015 Cardellina pusilla Wilson's Warbler May 2015 Junco hyemalis Dark-eyed Junco May 2015 Zonotrichia leucophrys White-crowned Sparrow Sep 2015 Zonotrichia atricapilla Golden-crowned Sparrow May 2015 Passerculus sandwichensis Savannah Sparrow Sep 2010 Melospiza melodia Song Sparrow Nov 2015 Melospiza lincolnii Lincoln's Sparrow Sep 2010 Pipilo maculatus Spotted Towhee Sep 2015 Piranga ludoviciana Western Tanager Jul 2015 Pheucticus melanocephalus Black-headed Grosbeak May 2015

Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged Blackbird May 2015 Euphagus cyanocephalus Brewer's Blackbird May 1970 Molothrus ater Brown-headed Cowbird May 2014 Icterus bullockii Bullock's Oriole May 2007 Haemorhous purpureus Purple Finch May 2015

Spinus pinus Pine Siskin Feb 2015 Spinus tristis American Goldfinch Jul 2015 Coccothraustes vespertinus Evening Grosbeak May 2007

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 77 Appendix E: Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Species at Risk

Red and blue listed species recorded in biophysical inventories of WMRPR to December 2015 and species that have been confirmed in similar habitat nearby.

Species confirmed in biophysical inventories to 2015

Species Common name Status Source

Plants

Helenium autumnale var. grandiflorum mountain sneezewort blue RAE, 2015 Lindernia dubia var. anagallidea false pimpernel blue RAE, 2015 Myriophyllum pinnatum green parrot’s-feather blue RAE, 2015

Amphibians Dicamptodon tenebrosus Coastal tailed frog blue MV, 2000 Rana aurorared red-legged frog blue Strix, 2007

Birds Ardea herodias fannini great blue heron, fannini blue MV Butorides virescens green heron blue Strix, 2007 Botaurus lentiginosus American bittern blue MV Contopus cooperi olive-sided flycatcher blue MV, 2015 Cypseloides niger black swift blue E-bird Falco peregrinus anatum Peregrine falcon, anatum blue MV. 2015 Hirundo rustica barn swallow blue MV Megascops kennicottii kennicotti western screech owl, kennicottii blue Strix, 2007 Patagioenas fasciata Band-tailed pigeon blue MV

Fish Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Coastal cutthroat trout blue FISQ

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 78

Species Identified in similar habitats nearby - may occur at WMRPR Plants Bidens amplissima Vancouver Island beggarticks blue CDC, 2008 Callitriche heterophylla var. heterophylla two-edged water starwort blue CDC, 1978 Carex scoparia pointed broom-sedge blue CDC, 1986 Eleocharis rostellata beaked spikerush blue CDC, 1978 Elodea nuttallii Nuttall’s waterweed blue CDC, 1980 Juncus oxymeris pointed rush blue CDC, 1973 Lilaea scilloides flowering quilwort blue CDC, 1978

Amphibians Anaxyrus boreas western toad blue MV Fish Thaleichthys pacificus white sturgeon red FISQ Spirinchus thaleichthys pygmy longfin smelt red FISQ Hybognathus hankinsoni brassy minnow blue FISQ

Source: RAE – Raincoast Applied Ecology (Page & Schaefer, 2015); Strix (Strix Environmental Consulting, 2007); CDC (BC Conservation Data Centre); MV – Metro Vancouver staff, FIDQ (Fisheries Inventory Data Query (FIDQ))

Red: Includes any indigenous species or subspecies that have, or are candidates for, Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened status in British Columbia. Extirpated taxa no longer exist in the wild in British Columbia, but do occur elsewhere. Endangered taxa are facing imminent extirpation or extinction. Threatened taxa are likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed. Not all Red-listed taxa will necessarily become formally designated. Placing taxa on these lists flags them as being at risk and requiring investigation.

Blue: Includes any indigenous species or subspecies considered to be of Special Concern (formerly Vulnerable) in British Columbia. Taxa of Special Concern have characteristics that make them particularly sensitive or vulnerable to human activities or natural events. Blue-listed taxa are at risk, but are not Extirpated, Endangered or Threatened.

(BC Conservation Data Centre, 2013)

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 79 Appendix F: Property Interest Summary

Interest Interest Interest Interest Signed date Expiry date Description ID type owner grantor Water lot Van Fraser Port 1 GVRD 2016-07-01 2021-06-30 For maintaining a public park. lease Authority Ministry of Water Environment, 2 GVRD NA NA IN PROGRESS. Water diversion at southernmost rental home. license Lands and Parks - Provincial

Perpetual road access agreement: Over the road easement area within the Edward parcel, GVRD has the right to pass over, through or under for the purpose of "(a) constructing, maintaining, inspecting, repairing, renewing and replacing a road on the Easement Area [involving] right to clear timber, remove obstructions, level, gravel and/or pave the road, install gates and other obstructions, erects signs and other improvements, clear snow or conduct similar work; and (b) access to and egress Mason Mason (now from the [GVRD lands] at all times hereafter by day or by night and with or without vehicles [...]." 3 Easement (now 1987-03-31 NA Edward) GVRD) Over the road easement area within the GVRD parcels to the south of the Edward parcels, Edward has the right to pass along for the purpose of access to and from the Edward property "by day or by night and with or without vehicles, provided [Edward] shall not interfere with the rights of the [GVRD], or the use of the Easement Area, pursuant to [GVRD's rights above]."

Modification of earlier road and easement agreements (covering the Edward property), adding provisions for installing, Mason Edward, & operating, maintaining, removing utility fixtures for electric, telephone, and cable services, within the easement area. GVRD 4 Covenant (now Edward (now 1992-02-01 NA may clear adjacent areas of vegetation, parts of buildings or other obstructions which any party may deem to interfere with GVRD) GVRD) the works or with access to the works. GVRD or Edward may repair or replace infrastructure within the easement area.

5 Easement GVRD Edward 2007-10-23 NA Easement of occupation for GVRD property's driveway extension over Edward lands.

IN PROGRESS. Right of road passage where access road passes over provincial parcels. May be a park use permit through 6 Permit GVRD Crown provincial NA NA Provincial Parks.

GVRD shall use, and shall permit use, only for regional park or protecting, preserving, conserving, maintaining and keeping the lands in their natural state. 7 Covenant GVRD Ducks Unlimited 2012-08-15 NA

Enforcement of this agreement is at the discretion of Ducks Unlimited.

Ministry Statutory of Water, 8 Right-of- Land and GVRD 1994-07-16 Year-to-year Right of road passage to Province, maintenance requirements by GVRD in exchange for $3850 yearly. Way Air Protection

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 80 Interest Interest Interest Interest Signed date Expiry date Description ID type owner grantor Ministry of Water Environment, 9 GVRD 1928-09-28 NA Stewart creek water diversion rights. Licence is in place but water currently not being diverted. license Lands and Parks - Provincial Ministry of Water Environment, 10 GVRD NA NA IN PROGRESS. Nathan creek water diversion-- supplies water to caretaker and rental homes. license Lands and Parks - Provincial

GVRD shall use the leased premises for the purposes of a docking facility to provide waterfront access to the general public to a recreational park and other non-commercial recreational facilities in the adjacent area (with no liveaboards permitted). One-time fee paid.

Port Metro Should there be damage to the premises covered by insurance, GVRD shall repair or rebuild the leased premises at its sole 11 Lease GVRD 2014-11-01 2024-10-31 Vancouver cost the same condition as required to be maintained during the term. GVRD shall perform maintenance to keep the area in good order and repair to the satisfaction of Port Metro Vancouver.

After lease termination, GVRD ma be required to remove all improvements and fixtures. Any improvements or alterations must have written consent of PMV.

GVRD will pay taxes and utilities, repair fences, not cut timber. Land is to be used for 'quiet enjoyment'. Any buildings or fixtures installed by GVRD will be property of GVRD, may remove these after termination of lease, providing land is restored-- otherwise these become property of the Nature Trust.

Nature trust of Lands are to be preserved and/or developed by GVRD as "site of ecological interest for the use, enjoyment and benefit of the 12 Lease GVRD 1999-01-31 2091-01-31 BC people of British Columbia and for park purposes." Should other uses or activities occur or be permitted by the GVRD to occur on the lands, the lease may be terminated.

The GVRD has right to erect all signs necessary for operation and management of the lands as a regional park. It may have to remove at its cost any signs at the Nature Trust's request.

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 81 Attachment 4

Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve

Site Planning Analysis

November 2016

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 82 Prepared by:

Karin England, MLA Park Planner Metro Vancouver

November 2016

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 83 Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Site Planning Analysis Contents Contents ...... i List of Figures ...... i List of Maps ...... ii Introduction ...... 1 User Demand ...... 2 Limitations to Recreational Use ...... 3 Topography ...... 3 Vehicular Access...... 3 Water Access ...... 4 Ecosystem Sensitivity ...... 6 Archaeology ...... 6 Opportunities to Connect with Nature ...... 7 Buildings ...... 7 Inholdings ...... 10 Important Views...... 10 Existing Roads and Trails ...... 11 Connections to Adjacent Lands...... 11 Works Cited ...... 13

List of Figures Figure 1: Map: Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve...... iii Figure 2: Canoes at mid-Island landing ...... 1 Figure 3: Visitor counts ...... 2 Figure 4: Mountain slopes and steep grades adjacent to flat site ...... 3 Figure 5: Quarry Road where it enters the Park Reserve ...... 4 Figure 6: Widgeon Slough is a popular spot with paddlers ...... 5 Figure 7: Constructed pond near the existing boat launch ...... 5 Figure 8: Constructed pond near Building 2 ...... 6

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 84 Figure 9: Building Inventory ...... 7 Figure 10: Building 1 ...... 7 Figure 11: Building 2 ...... 8 Figure 12: Building 3 ...... 8 Figure 13: Building 4 ...... 8 Figure 14: Building 5 ...... 8 Figure 15: Building 6 ...... 8 Figure 16: Building 7 ...... 9 Figure 17: Building 8 ...... 9 Figure 18: Building 9 ...... 10 Figure 19: View from mid-island landing ...... 11

List of Maps Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Existing Buildings ...... 14

Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Key Views ...... 15

Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Existing Roads and Trails ...... 16

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 85

Figure 1: Map: Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 86 Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Site Planning Analysis Introduction As the region continues to experience population growth and increased development, visitor rates are rising in regional parks. Increased population is a contributing factor, as are increased visitation rates among existing park users. There is a growing demand for access to nature. At the same time, there is an increased commitment to preserving natural systems in regional parks.

Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve (WMRPR), with its highly sensitive natural systems and spectacular setting, presents a unique opportunity to connect people to nature. It also presents an opportunity to preserve some of the most ecologically sensitive land in the region. A delicate balance of access and conservation will be critical for the success of this future Regional Park.

Figure 2: Canoes at mid-Island landing

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User Demand Metro Vancouver expects regional population to grow by one million people by 2040 (Metro Vancouver, 2011). Regional Parks expects park use to increase due to population growth and as a result of increased visitation by existing users.

“Over the past 20 years (1989 to 2009) Metro Vancouver Parks data show that the total number of visits to parks grew by 113%, from 3.68 to 7.86 million visits, while the population grew by only 48%. The increase in regional park visitation by more than double the rate of population growth suggests that each resident is using the park system more today than in previous years.… The analysis projects Metro Vancouver parks annual visitation to grow from just over 9 million today to between 12.7 and 13.2 million by 2031.” (Metro Vancouver, 2011)

Visitor counts from 2015 support this estimate; there were 11.3 million visits to regional parks and greenways last year (Metro Vancouver, 2015). Visitor rates are up not only in Regional Parks, but in Provincial Parks as well.

Park Most Recent Year Usage Trend Visitor Count Provincial Golden Ears1 763,242 2015 +13% over 3 years Metro Vancouver Minnekhada Regional Park2 126,051 2014 +5.5% over 5 years Figure 3: Visitor counts

1 Email from BC Parks Staff, Jeff Barber, January 26 2016 2 Data taken from Metro Vancouver counts

The City of Coquitlam is growing along with the rest of the region. Some of this growth will be accommodated in the northeast of the city near Widgeon Marsh. The City of Coquitlam as a whole expects to “add 100,000 residents over the next 30 years (Coquitlam. Planning and Development Department, 2013). Of that 100,000 residents, the City’s Northeast Area Plan envisions homes for “a future population of approximately 24,000-30,000 persons on Burke Mountain.” (Coquitlam. Planning and Development Department, 2013)

This growth will have an impact on WMRPR as part of the appeal of this new neighbourhood is its proximity to natural areas, a point that is highlighted in the City’s plan. This implies that a future park at Widgeon Marsh would be used regularly by residents of northeast Coquitlam.

“Plan policies reflect the need to make the best use of Northeast Coquitlam's magnificent natural setting and to recognize the natural recreational value provided by such areas as the Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park, Minnekhada Regional Park, Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve and Addington Point Nature Reserve.” (Coquitlam. Planning and Development Department, 2004)

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 88

Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve has the waterfront and wilderness opportunities most preferred by a majority of people making it likely that a future park would be very attractive to the public. Its relative proximity to an urban centre - approximately 15km drive to Coquitlam Centre - places it well within the hour to two hour travel time acceptable to a majority of visitors (Metro Vancouver, 2011). It is probable that people would make good use of a future park in this location. Limitations to Recreational Use Topography Mountain slopes and steep grades are a feature of the north western edge of the site. Refer to Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Biophysical Summary Map Appendix A2 for contour information. Where slopes exceed 1:12 wheelchair accessibility becomes an issue and where slopes exceed 1:4 the cost of construction of new structures and buildings is typically increased to a point where they become cost prohibitive. While rustic trails might be accommodated on these steep areas, it is likely that any new facilities would be located where slopes are 1:10 or lower.

Figure 4: Mountain slopes and steep grades adjacent to flat site Vehicular Access To reach WMRPR, one travels east from the City of Coquitlam on City owned Quarry Road. This road is paved until it reaches the Minnekhada Regional Park parking lot where it transitions to gravel surface; the remaining 4.7km (approximately) of the drive is unpaved. A locked gate maintained by Regional Parks staff is set 100m (approximately) into the Park Reserve. Within the Park Reserve, Quarry Road is unpaved and has a typical width of 4.3 meters with steep ditches on either side. The road narrows to 3.8 meters wide at the bridge crossing Stewart Creek (aka Stuart Creek), effectively limiting the road to one- way vehicular traffic, cyclist and pedestrian use.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 89

Figure 5: Quarry Road where it enters the Park Reserve

Presence of rocks and boulders along the bottom of steep slopes indicate that landslides occur from time to time. In 2013, two rockslides in occurred approximately one kilometer into the site from the gate. These rockslides buried the road requiring its temporary closure. Water Access The site is currently accessible by canoe and kayak and is a popular spot with paddlers. Canoe rentals are available at Grant Narrows providing an exciting opportunity to connect with other parks. There is an existing rudimentary boat launch, the southern-most property in the Park Reserve has a spit with potential for boat access, and the mid-island landing could offer a scenic stopping place for paddlers.

However, at low tide the waters in the channels at the north end of Widgeon Slough may be too low for easy boat access. This is also the case at the previously dredged channel leading to the existing rudimentary boat launch near the south entrance of the Park Reserve. These factors raise questions of whether or not it is appropriate to invite paddlers into areas where they may be have to walk their boats at low tide and what the responsibilities of park staff would be in such cases. It is possible that access at low tide could be provided through the slough by dredging the existing channel, but as the channel is located in a sensitive wetland marsh, that action would have environmental consequences which would have to be carefully considered before dredging takes place. Reliable water access at low tide is currently available at the southern mouth of the slough, but winds and currents on Pitt River can sometimes make this a route suitable for experienced paddlers only.

Clearly opportunities for water access to the slough exist, but are limited by reduced access at low tide, and strong winds and currents. These limiting factors will need to be addressed if access is to be provided. Options include installing signage that outlines the limitations of paddling opportunities in the area, restricting access to easily navigable areas or improving existing water access by dredging the channel.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 90

Figure 6: Widgeon Slough is a popular spot with paddlers

There are two constructed ponds on site. One is located near the existing rudimentary boat launch and the other is adjacent to Building 2. Both are near to existing roads, have clear access along a portion of their shores, and lend themselves to use in interpretive programs. Refer to Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Biophysical Summary for information about the ecological values of these features.

Figure 7: Constructed pond near the existing boat launch

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Figure 8: Constructed pond near Building 2 Ecosystem Sensitivity As has already been stated, Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve contains some of the most ecologically sensitive lands in the region and care must be taken to protect them. Refer to Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Biophysical Summary Map Appendix A8 for information regarding location and ecological sensitivity of these lands. Given that 73% of the Park Reserve has the highest sensitivity category found in the regional park system, it may be appropriate that parts of the site have restricted public use and are protected by environmental buffers.

Park visitor activities have varying degrees of impact on ecological values within a park. For example a gravel trail intended for wildlife viewing has a low environmental impact compared with a paved parking lot intended for use by visitors who come to the park by car. Siting of facilities should respond to the sensitivity of the land in which they are proposed. To minimize ecological impacts, improvements should, as much as possible, be located in previously disturbed areas. Refer to maps A6 and A7 in the Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve Biophysical Summary for locations of disturbed areas Archaeology The WMRPR is located within the asserted territories of several First Nations including the Katzie First Nation, Kwikwetlem First Nation, Stó:lō Nation, Stó:lō Tribal Council, Tsawwassen First Nation, Soowahlie First Nation, Seabird Island Band, Shxw'ow'hamel First Nation, and Skawahlook First Nation and is immediately adjacent to Katzie IR#4. Considering the long period of occupation of these lands there is considerable potential for archaeological sites to be found in the Park Reserve. An archaeological overview assessment of specific locations in the Park Reserve has been undertaken which will inform planning going forward.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 92 Opportunities to Connect with Nature Buildings There are several existing buildings on site of various character and condition, creating an opportunity for their use if a regional park appropriate need is identified (Map 1).

Building Asset Current Use Notes Number ID 1 BG002 Caretaker and Rental This duplex currently accommodates the site caretaker in one unit and a renter in another. 2 BG004 Rental This structure currently accommodates a renter. 3 NB005 None A rustic, un-serviced outbuilding. 4 BG007 Storage A wooden storage building adjacent to road. 5 NB002 Electrical Shed A simple wooden structure/ 6 BG006 Storage Currently used as storage for site caretaker. Large residence with views over slough to mountains 7 BG005 Rental beyond. 8 NB006 Generator Shed Provides backup power for Building 7. 9 BG009 Rental This structure currently accommodates a renter. Figure 9: Building Inventory

Figure 10: Building 1

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 93

Figure 11: Building 2

Figure 12: Building 3 Figure 13: Building 4

Figure 14: Building 5 Figure 15: Building 6

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 94

Figure 16: Building 7

Figure 17: Building 8

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 95 Figure 18: Building 9

Inholdings There are two properties within park boundaries that are not owned by Metro Vancouver. The first is a 3.8 hectare privately owned property with residence located in the southern portion of the park. The second is a 0.8 hectare undeveloped parcel at mouth of Widgeon Creek. Important Views WMRPR has many locations that provide iconic regional views, including views to near and distant mountains and water bodies. Within the site itself there are views to scenic waterfalls and ponds and many opportunities to view wildlife.

Future site planning should consider the location of important views. Care should be taken to provide and maintain a variety of viewing opportunities to a broad spectrum of potential site users. These may range from formal structures such as viewing towers and platforms to modest interventions such as benches and rest stops in trails to simple interventions such as regular vegetation maintenance to preserve views (Map 2).

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 96 Figure 19: View from mid-island landing Existing Roads and Trails The section of Quarry Road leading to WMRPR is maintained by the City of Coquitlam, and is in driveable condition but has potholes that require drivers to reduce their speed and remain alert. This this may be suitable for its current low level of use, but introduction of a Regional Park and additional users may cause additional pressure. Discussion with the City of Coquitlam staff is needed to understand their future plans for this road.

The circulation system within WMRPR is rudimentary, a function of the site’s limited development and restricted access. Vehicular access is gained by continuing on Quarry Road. This road passes Building 9 then continues as a 4-wheel drive track to Widgeon Creek campground located in adjacent Pinecone Burke Provincial Park. This track is currently used exclusively by BC Parks staff and contractors as a service access point to the campground. There are smaller roads which branch off of Quarry Road leading to residential properties, the waterfront and an amphitheater. Existing trails include a bermed walk from the main meadow to the spit, and informal trail from the amphitheatre to a waterfall and water intake structure.

The existing circulation system represents an opportunity for re-use and could serve as the backbone of an expanded trail network. Future planning should assess the current condition of the roads/trails and determine their suitability closure or re-use. Connections to Adjacent Lands There are opportunities to improve connections to trails at neighbouring sites – by land and by water. Pinecone Burke Provincial Park is immediately adjacent to WMRPR and may provide opportunities for trail connection for extended hikes (Map 3).

11

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 97 Many popular hikes into Pinecone Burke Provincial Park start at the Quarry Road trailhead approximately 1 km west of the Park Reserve boundary. Destinations within Pinecone Burke that can be accessed from this trailhead include Munro Lake, Dennett Lake, Ted Kay Lake, Hourglass Lake, Lily Pad Lake, Sweat Team Falls, Crystal Falls, and Mount Burke’s south summit.

Widgeon Creek campground is accessible by canoe or kayak. From the campground, hiking trails lead to Widgeon Falls, Hanging Creek Falls, and Widgeon Lake. Given that this campground is currently at or above its use capacity, BC Parks should be consulted to determine whether or not it is appropriate to encourage additional use by formalizing a trail connection from WPRPR to the campground. BC Parks is not interested in providing public vehicular access to the campground through WMRPR.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 98 Works Cited

Coquitlam. Planning and Development Department. (2013). Citywide official community plan. Retrieved from http://www.coquitlam.ca/planning-and-development/community-plans/community-plans.aspx

Coquitlam. Planning and Development Department. (2004). North east area plan. Retrieved from http://www.coquitlam.ca/planning-and-development/community-plans/community-plans.aspx

Metro Vancouver. (2011). Regional Outdoor Recreational Opportunities Study Phase 1 Demand Analysis. Burnaby: Metro Vancouver.

Metro Vancouver. (2011). 2040: Shaping Our Future. Burnaby: Metro Vancouver.

Metro Vancouver. (2015). Visits, Visitor Services and Volunteering by the Numbers. Burnaby: Metro Vancouver.

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Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 99 WIDGEONMARSHREGIONALPARKRESERVE - Existing buildings F

WIDGEONMARSHREGIONALPARKRESERVE - Existing buildings F

WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Existing buildings

WIGEON VALLEY F NATIONAL WILDLIFE RESERVE

k

e e r C

PINECONE-BURKE n

o PROVINCIAL PARK e

g KATZIE i W FIRST NATION

Detail map area

SIWASH ISLAND

Pitt River Road

Detail map 1 Trail Park boundary 2 6

5

4

3 7

0 250 500 1,000 8 Last modified 11/24/2016 m 9 0 50 100 200 500 m

Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Belcarra Existing buildings Regional Reserve Park Road Minnekhada Trail Regional Park Park boundary

Codd Wetland Ecological Conservancy Colony Farm Area Regional Park

0 250 500 1,000 Last modified 11/24/2016 m Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 100

Road

Trail Park boundary

0 250 500 1,000 Last modified 11/24/2016 m WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE Key views

Upper meadow to mid-island landing trail facing north Upper falls Amphitheatre facing north facing west

F 13 15

Building Lower falls 2 facing facing north east 12 14

Main meadow facing west

11

10

14 12 13 8 11 10 15 8 Lower 9 meadow facing west Mid-island landing facing north

7 9 Creek 7 viewpoint facing south

6

5 6 Boat launch facing north 5 3 4 Cove facing north

3 4 1 2 Orchard facing Building west 7 facing 1 west

2 Entrance gate facing north Spit facing north

0 250 500 1,000 m Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 101 WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Existing roads & trails F

WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Existing roads & trails WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Existing roads & trails F F

WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE - Existing roads & trails

Pinecone-Burke WIGEON VALLEY Provincial Park F STAFF ACCESS NATIONAL WILDLIFE ONLY RESERVE

k

e e r C PINECONE-BURKE n PROVINCIAL PARK o

e KATZIE g

i FIRST

W NATION

Detail map area

Road SIWASH ISLAND Trail

Pitt River d Park boundary

a

o

r

s s Detail map e

c

c

a

k r Amphitheatre a access road p i n Cove a access road M

Pond access road

Boat launch Upper waterfalls access roads access trail Mid-island landing access trail Lowerwaterfalls access trail 0 250 500 1,000 Building 7 Last modified 11/24/2016 m access road Lower meadow Mid-island landing access road access road Entrance gate Building 9 access road Spit access trail Main meadow access road 0 50 100 200 500 m

Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Belcarra Regional Reserve Road Park

Trail Minnekhada Regional Park boundary Park

Codd Wetland Ecological Conservancy Colony Farm Area Regional Park

0 250 500 1,000 Last modified 11/24/2016 m Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 102

Road Road Trail Trail Park boundary Park boundary

0 250 500 1,000 Last modified 11/24/2016 m 0 250 500 1,000 Last modified 11/24/2016 m Attachment 5

Metro Vancouver

Widgeon March Regional Park Reserve

Management Plan

PHOTO GOES HERE

Insert Date here

4813567 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 103 Letter of Transmittal

Letter from Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Committee Chair confirming approval of management plan by Committee and GVRD Board.

4813567 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 104 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 3 of 24

Executive summary

Provide an executive summary outlining when the management plan was completed, major engagement events and participants, key issues, highlights, conclusions and approvals.

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 105 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 4 of 24

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction 5

2.0 Existing Conditions 7

3.0 Park Sub‐Areas 8

4.0 Park Vision, Goals and Objectives 10

5.0 Concept and Program 12

6.0 Operational Statement 16

7.0 Plan Implementation 17

8.0 Appendices 18

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 106 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 5 of 24

1.0 Introduction ‐INSERT STANDARD CONTEXT MAP OF PARK IN REGIONAL SYSTEM‐

______is one of twenty three (23) parks, five (5) greenways, two (2) ecological conservancy areas and two (2) regional park reserves managed by Metro Vancouver.

1.2 Management Plan Purpose

The purpose of this Management Plan is to state the program, services, development and conservation priorities for______. The plan expresses a long‐term vision for the park and provides management strategies for natural area protection and the development of facilities to enable visitors to connect with, enjoy, be active and learn about the environment.

1.2 Metro Vancouver Context (standard)

Metro Vancouver is a federation of 22 municipalities, one electoral area, and one treaty First Nation committed to delivering essential utility services (drinking water, sewage treatment, recycling and garbage disposal) economically and effectively on a regional basis; and to maintaining and enhancing the quality of life in our region by managing and planning for development and by protecting air quality and green spaces. Metro Vancouver operates a regional park system on behalf of the regional federation. As of [insert date here] the regional park system is composed of twenty three (23) parks, five (5) greenways, two (2) ecological conservancy areas and two (2) regional park reserves. The regional park system currently protects approximately 14,500 ha of or approximately four percent (4%) of the regional land base. The regional parks service was established in 1967 and transferred to the jurisdiction of the Greater Vancouver Regional District in 1972. The Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Plan (2016) describes the vision, mission, goals, and strategies for the delivery of the Regional Parks Service, and provides a framework for the development of management plans for individual parks.

1.3 Municipal Context

Provide a brief overview of the local municipality including key stats and defining characteristics (population, major land use/industry, etc). Relevant municipal plans should be referenced (i.e. ‐ parks and recreation master plan, OCP).

1.4 Landscape Context

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 107 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 6 of 24

Provide a brief overview of the landscape context including both the broader region as well as the planning sector in which the regional park is located. Focus primarily on regional and sub‐regional defining characteristics and relate how the subject park relates to these.

1.5 First Nation Context

Identify the park’s inclusion in the traditional territory of First Nations. Provide a brief summary of the significance of the park to First Nations, and role in the park moving forward. This text should be reviewed with interested first nations. 1.6 Management Plan Process

Planning for ______Regional Park was commenced by Metro Vancouver in (Insert year). As indicated in Figure 1 below, the process is composed of a pre‐planning stage where basic research and information gathering on the regional park is conducted. And a management planning phase where the corporation uses the gathered information to work with the public and key stakeholders within the context of legislation and policy to develop a long term plan for the management, programming, and development of the regional park.

Include the flow chart below, adapted as required to suit the planning process.

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 108 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 7 of 24

See section 8.2 for a more detailed description of the regional park management planning process applied in this instance.

2.0 Existing Conditions

2.1 Park overview

Include an overview of the defining natural features, programs, experiences and facilities provided by the subject park.

2.2 Purpose

This section will describe the purpose of the park in the regional system.

 Include the official Park Purpose Statement. This statement should be clarified and updated with new, and more detailed information if required.

2.3 Park Features and Natural Resources

Provide a brief summary of the park’s key features. Use existing data on park features and resources as a base, supplemented and expanded with key information from background research, studies and information gathering. This summary should provide a snapshot of the park (more detailed information is available in appendices / background studies). Include:

 Recreational use, key facilities, trail routes, connections  Park ecosystem composition including key features, habitats, species at risk  Culture and history in and around the park (First Nation heritage, historic buildings, archeologically sensitive areas, cairns/monuments, etc.) in the park are noted.  Special designation or zoning or other consideration  SEI Map (relative sensitivity)  SEI Map (ecosystem types)  Buildings & structures  Other natural features

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 109 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 8 of 24

‐INSERT STANDARD PARK FEATURES & NATURAL RESOURCES MAP 2.4 Key Issues

This section provides an overview and summary approach to key issues affecting management and development of the park. The requirement for, and extent of, this section will vary from park to park and may include environmental, social and land use issues. The information presented in this section is typically high level. Complex issues may not be fully resolved during the management planning process. This section should provide basic background information required to understand the conclusions reached in later sections (i.e. concept, program, management issues). Some examples of challenges which may be included in this section are: erosion, flood mitigation, managing Heritage Resources, utility presence, inholdings, ecosystem enhancement, Special designation of Park (dark night sky, etc.), Agriculture in the park, Recreational Use Conflicts, Existing buildings demolition/preservation, parking capacity, visitation levels, facility capacity, dog management, invasive species, fire management, boundary management, and management of Sensitive Ecosystems. This information is presented on the ‘Park Features & Natural Resources Map’ and associated matrix. In addition provide a summary statement of recreational features and ecological enhancement potential of the park.

Table 1: Park Features & Natural Resources Table (Sample)

Park Features & Natural Resources (Sample) Park Sub‐Area Existing Facilities Ecological Features Challenges Opportunities

Activity Area  50 spot parking  Highly disturbed  After hours park use  Expanded staging and  Picnic area (10 tables)  Several wildlife  Insufficient parking recreational amenities  Beach access trees  Dog impact to stream  Accommodate large  Lawn area  Seasonal flooding groups with picnic  Event/programming shelters space Southern Wetland  No public access  1 HA seasonal  Invasive species  Wetland expansion Area wetland  Unsanctioned dog off  Research partnership  Meadow, leash use projects hedgerows  Flooding adjacent  Habitat enhancement  Oregon spotted frog farmland habitat Central Forest  Multi use trail  Second growth  Unsanctioned off trail  Widen trail, improve Area forest hiking impacting habitat sightlines  Bird and small  Maintaining trail safety  Strategic fencing to mammal habitat considering heavy use prevent off trail use

3.0 Park Sub‐Areas

____ park sub‐areas have been identified within the park based on a combination of distinctive use patterns, visual character and biophysical resources. A brief description of the existing facilities and use for each park sub‐ area follows.

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 110 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 9 of 24

Park sub‐areas are used to divide a regional park into logical management units based on historic or anticipated land use, biophysical resources, visual character, facilities or programs. These sub‐areas can be used to identify appropriate land use, inform concept and program development, and act as a key reference to evaluate future park proposals.

‐INSERT PARK SUB‐AREA MAP‐

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4.0 Park Vision, Goals and Objectives This section describes a clear direction for the park based on an analysis of the background research (appendices), public input and information presented in sections 1‐3 . 4.1 Park Vision

A big picture statement that clarifies where the park is going over the next 25 years. This is a forward looking pronouncement highlighting park purpose, , key park features, visitor demand and how they fit into a cohesive vision of the park as part of the regional park system.

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 112 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 11 of 24

4.2 Goals and Objectives

Within the context of the high level goals and objectives contained in the Regional Park Plan (2016), establishes the sub‐goals and objectivesfor for realizing the system goals around natural area protection, connecting people to nature and visitor services (additional goals may be added for key park priorities depending on the nature of the park. i.e. ‘Community Engagement’ at Pacific Spirit) within the regional park. Typically there is one goal supported by a number of objectives. Goals are long term, high level direction statements while objectives are more action oriented, shorter term and more measureable.

4.2.1 Public Access

4.2.2 Natural Area Protection

4.2.3 Visitor Services (e.g., interpretive programs, special events, and bookable facilities)

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5.0 Concept and Program The Vision, Goals and Objectives described in previous sections (and all of the information and background which shapes their development – see above) inform the development of the park concept and program. 5.1 Concept

‐INSERT STANDARD CONCEPT PLAN TEMPLATE‐ Provide a schematic concept plan that includes the following:

 Day use and staging areas (including parking)  Primary and secondary access nodes  Ecological protection & special management areas(s)  Event & program areas  Trail system  Operational areas (e.g., caretaker and/or service yard location)  Special use areas

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 114 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 13 of 24

5.2 Park Program

The program is illustrated in a matrix. The planning areas are the major components of the park development concept (e.g., Day use areas/trail system/etc.). The matrix summarizes the planning areas, the area objectives, the facility and elements included in the unit where appropriate and notes any challenges.

Table 2: Park Program Table (Sample)

Park Sub‐ Site Objective Facility & Elements Challenges Area

Major Park  Provide Recreation opportunity  Day use area  for all ages  Node Expanded parking lot (50‐80 spaces)  Increase parking  4 picnic shelters  Improve accessibility  Multi‐age agility course/nature play area Eastern  Create a major wetland feature  1‐3 HA wetland    Wetland Provide habitat for Oregon Interpretive trail spotted frog  Staging area (gravel 10‐20 cars) Area  Educate the public  viewpoint  Partner with institutions

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 115 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 14 of 24

5.3 Cost Estimate

The cost estimate is based on the park facility concept development plan included in the management plan. Provide a Class D order of magnitude cost estimate broken down by the park areas included in the program matrix. The cost estimate will address those capital improvements, which can be realized within a 5‐year period. The cost estimate will include proposed capital improvements and ecological enhancements and will inform capital budget planning.

The following order of magnitude cost estimate reflects the short‐term (i.e., 5‐year time frame) implementation for the park development concept described previously and is based on existing information. The estimate will follow appropriate practices for a Class D cost estimate and will be used to inform annual capital planning processes. Park projects are often advanced in partnership with volunteers, agencies, institutions, through grant programs and fundraising efforts.

Table 3: Capital Cost Estimate Table (Sample)

‐INSERT STANDARD COST ESTIMATE TABLE‐

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 116 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 15 of 24

5.4 Phasing

Prioritize capital improvements and ecological enhancements of park facilities (identified in park program) into phases. Specific time commitments are not provided as funding will vary based on Metro Vancouver priorities, partnership opportunities, etc. Prioritization is informed by research (i.e. recreation demand study), strategic directions, feasibility, partnership opportunities and public input. The following phasing prioritizes park improvements based on research, feasibility, partnership opportunities, identified need, public input, system analysis and Metro Vancouver priorities. Specific time commitments are not provided as funding and opportunities will change over time.

Table 4: Sample Park Development Priorities Table

Park Sub‐ Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 areas

Major  ‐staging, trails and  ‐paved parking Activity picnic shelter Area

Eastern  Invasive species  Partnership  Wetland, interpretive  viewpoint Wetland treatment development trail, staging Area

Perimeter  construct northern  construct southern Trail section section

Southern  Ecological  Partnership  Implementation of  Implementation of Farm Lands improvement development, eastern program western program Area (hedgerows, BMPs) demolition of barn #4

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6.0 Operational Statement

Identify the proposed service model to be applied to the park. The operational statement should indicate that a separate emergency management statement will be developed for the regional park and that a separate operational plan may be developed if required. An operational statement may provide direction on the following subjects:

 Works yards,

 Operational storage requirements,

 Park hosts or caretaker requirements, and

 Staffing level projections

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 118 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 17 of 24

7.0 Plan Implementation

This section identifies next steps to address the most critical issues, advance the park vision and concept, continue feasibility testing/research as required, and improve park management, operation and visitor experience. Priority Actions are outlined in point form – this is essentially a to‐do list Example: The following priority actions have been identified as critical next steps in addressing key issues, realizing the park framework and concept, improving park ecological health and visitor experience:

 Initiate detailed design for major park node.

 Complete MOU with UBC for ecological research, habitat enhancement and teaching in park.

 Replace washrooms in dog off leash area.

 Expand parking at Day Use area.

 Assemble task force advisory group to resolve trail user conflict.

 Complete hydrological research to better understand extent of erosion in park. Share and collaborate with relevant agencies to determine next steps.

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8.0 Appendices

8.1 – Existing Conditions Summary

Landscape Context

Provide an overview statement of how the park fits into the sub‐regional landscape mosaic to accompany the Landscape Context Map. The landscape context map will identify:

- Neighboring landscape units (ecological features, communities, agricultural areas, parks and recreation),

- Park access and connectivity (trails, transit, ecological, blueway, designated bike routes, etc) - Major geographic, ecological or urban features and infrastructure - Opportunities to improve connections/access

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 120 Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Date: Page 19 of 24

‐INSERT STANDARD LANDSCAPE CONTEXT MAP‐

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Biophysical Overview

Provide a summary of the park ecosystem including aquatic and terrestrial habitat, geophysical and soil resources, species at risk, fragile and ecologically sensitive ecosystems. Identify key challenges and opportunities. ‐alternatively a consultant study could be included as a ‘companion document’‐

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Culture & History Overview

Provide a brief overview of culture and history in and around the park. Cultural features (heritage buildings, archeologically sensitive areas, cairns/monuments, etc.) in the park are noted. Park interpretive themes and programming opportunities are identified. ‐alternatively a consultant study could be included as a ‘companion document’‐

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Regulation and Special Considerations Overview

If appropriate, provide a brief summary or relevant classification, zoning, special land designation, considerations and approvals required for park improvements. This is a summary list in point form and may include (ALR designation, FREMP, municipal zoning, road ROWs, mineral rights, etc)

Operational Considerations Overview

If appropriate, provide a brief summary of the operational considerations for the regional park and their implications for park management planning.

Park Visitation & Programs Overview

Provide an overview of park visitation trends over the past 10 years and possible implications to park management and development. Section to include:

 Graph of park visitation over the past 10 year

 Population growth projections of region, specifically neighboring municipalities, based on RGS projections

 Conclusion on possible effects of population and visitation growth on the park and considerations moving forward (i.e. armoring park for projected continued increase in visitation, increased demand for recreational trails over time) Section may include:

 Parking demand analysis results

 Bookable facility demand summary (e.g., group camping, picnic shelters, etc.)

 Public programs overview

8.2 – Public Engagement and Input Overview

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Provide a brief summary of the communications, outreach and engagement process and the steps that were undertaken for the project. Provide a synopsis of the public input received during the planning process and a summary of how this input was reflected in the plan and/or will be in the future development/conservation/management of the park. Survey research may be used in the planning process to obtain a regional point of view on park planning matters. Various techniques are available, including sampling that will break down results sub regionally. This service may be accessed through External Relations. Use of survey research may be beneficial when turn out to public engagement events is small or localized.

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Glossary / Key Terms:

Class D Cost Estimate: A Class D estimate is generally an estimate based on the initial functional program and broad concept approach. Usually by this time, the site and program have been approved. Initially, the owner may guess at the amount of budget available which figure may be low due to a lack of up‐to‐date cost advice. Then after initial design concepts, consultants prepare an order of magnitude estimate comprised of an elemental summary and based on a rough cost per square metre. This enables verification of the order of magnitude budget, as a reflection of a program and building envelope on a particular site. This often results in a modification of the budget or program, or both. The accuracy of this estimate is generally +/‐ 20 to 30% accurate depending on the complexity of the project and whether the project is new construction on a greenfield site or a renovation. The cost consultant should provide advice on design and pricing allowances for items not yet known, as well as risk allowances. Inflation due to the length of time for working document production, as well as the duration of construction should also be included in the unit rates. This estimate should contain the following contingencies: design, pricing, bid, construction, escalation, and scope. This estimate usually forms the basis of an agreement between the owner and the consultant (from a “Guide to Cost Predictability in Construction: An Analysis of Issues Affecting the Accuracy of Construction Cost Estimates November 2012”)

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 126 Section G 1.1

To: Regional Parks Committee

From: David Leavers, Division Manager, Visitor and Operation Services, Regional Parks

Date: January 17, 2017 Meeting Date: February 15, 2017

Subject: Metro Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017

RECOMMENDATION That the MVRD Board: a) give first, second and third reading to Metro Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017; and b) pass and finally adopt Metro Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017.

PURPOSE To authorize amendments to the fees and charges portion of the Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012.

BACKGROUND This report is brought forward to consider proposed changes to the fees and charges portion of the Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012. Fees and charges are reviewed periodically.

The Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012 authorizes Metro Vancouver to manage the use of regional parks. The Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012 sets out prohibitions and a system of permits that, taken together, are designed to regulate park visitor behaviour and activities. As a schedule to the Bylaw, fees and charges are reviewed and amended to ensure regional park fees remain in the mid- range of comparable fee schedules, generating revenues that recover or partially off-set administrative and operating costs.

The proposed fees reflect fair market value and take into account ‘price elasticity’ i.e., how higher fees may reduce registration and facility bookings and result in lower revenues. Fees for services and facilities should also reflect public expectations.

APPROACH TO SETTING FEES Fees and charges are set based on an analysis of operating costs against a detailed review of fees for services and facilities offered by member municipalities and other government and non-profit agencies. Research is completed on comparable rentals and permits in municipal and provincial park systems in Metro Vancouver. A median rate is targeted for Metro Vancouver’s fees to generally stay in line with comparable market rates and not unduly subsidize private rentals through the tax levy.

17181751 Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 127 Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017 Regional Parks Committee Meeting Date: February 15, 2016 Page 2 of 5

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAW It is proposed that the effective date of the amendments will be March 1, 2017 to allow time for consequential administrative changes to be made after adoption of the amending bylaw. The proposed amendments to the Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012 include the following: a) Amendments to Defined Terms Updates to definitions and bylaw language are required in order to maintain the currency and effectiveness of the Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012. For clarity, a proposed new definition of holiday is included to facilitate charging fees to reserve picnic shelters on provincial and national statutory holidays. Currently, the term is not expressly defined. b) Removal of Fee Exemption for Using Public Transportation to Reach Drop-in Interpretive Programs Currently, the Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012 includes an exemption from payment of the fee for a drop-in interpretive program and event if the attendee provides proof of paid public transportation travel fare. No person has sought this exemption to date. Due to the lack of public response, removal of the fee exemption will simplify the fee structure and staff administration. c) Removal of Tent Rental Fees The tents that Metro Vancouver offers to the public for rent are in a deteriorated condition and replacement of this equipment is costly. In addition, there has been low public demand for the tent rentals, relative to staff administration and operational costs. There are several private rental companies in the region that now provide this service. d) New Park Permit Structure for Events The current approach to fees for event permits was reviewed for best practices and market rates that member municipalities and non-profit organizations charge. Currently, the applicable fee rate for different types of events can be difficult to determine. The proposed new approach simplifies the fee structure to “Major Event” and “Minor Event” park permits, similar to fee structures used in other municipal jurisdictions.

An increase of 5% of base fees is proposed for Major Event park permits, along with an additional permit fee $1,200, per day, per permit for events with over 1500 persons.

Minor Event park permits will be required for privately-organized activities. There is no fee associated as events that qualify as Minor Events do not typically impose a burden on Metro Vancouver staff resources. The issuance of Minor Event park permits will allow Metro Vancouver to capture data about regional park use and to monitor impacts on park assets. e) New Commercial Equipment Storage Bin Fees Wreck Beach (Pacific Spirit Regional Park) vending activity is authorized through an application / permit process jointly administered and monitored by Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Coastal Health. The Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012 currently includes the rental of storage lockers for commercial vending equipment, which in turn

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 128 Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017 Regional Parks Committee Meeting Date: February 15, 2016 Page 3 of 5

alleviates Metro Vancouver’s concerns with equipment left on the beach. Vancouver Coastal Health food handling requirements have become more regulated, requiring vendors to have more equipment to facilitate food services. To accommodate growing needs for larger bins, rental storage capacity is being made available in three different sizes, with annual fees of $100 for a small bin $200 for a medium bin and $300 for a large bin. f) Field Rentals It is proposed that rental fees be added for the Boundary Bay Regional Park Centennial Beach South End field and the Campbell Valley Regional Park Order of Canada Grove field due to high demand for wedding ceremonies and event activities. Fees for the two added fields are proposed to be the same as other Metro Vancouver regional park field rentals.

It is proposed that field rental for the Rowlatt Farm Field at Campbell Valley Regional Park be removed due to lack of access to electrical power and washrooms, as well as a lack of demand. Metro Vancouver will continue to rent the Rowlatt Farm Enhanced Field, which is a popular rental for privately-organized events and has access to power and washrooms. g) Camping Fees It is proposed that fees for camping be increased as part of a multi-year strategy to offset increases in operating costs and to better align fees with those charged by BC Parks and other campground operators.

The camping rate for Derby Reach Regional Park (Edgewater Bar) is proposed to be raised to $25 per night (currently $24 per night) and the seniors’ rate is also proposed to grow by $1 to $22 per night.

A fee for a second vehicle for overnight camping at Derby Reach Regional Park is proposed to be added, with rates of $12 per night for an adult and $11 per night for seniors or persons with disabilities. The proposed vehicle fee is intended to discourage additional vehicles entering campground sites, which can have an adverse impact on safety and security, and to address public concerns with overcrowding and speeding. h) Indoor Facilities Rental Fees It is proposed that fees for popular Metro Vancouver indoor facilities be increased by 5%, such as Camp Capilano, Cammidge House, Inverholme Schoolhouse, Minnekhada Lodge and BC Mills House. i) Changes to Picnic Shelter Reservation Fees An increase of 1.4% is proposed for picnic shelter reservation fees. Three new picnic shelters at Surrey Bend Regional Park are proposed to be added. The day-use area was completed in 2016 and Surrey Bend Regional Park had its official grand opening on April 16, 2016. j) Other Fee Increases An increase of 1.4% is proposed for liquor permits, field rentals, and certain fees associated with Miscellaneous Outdoor Facilities, such as the Belcarra Regional Park Wharf for Reserved Mooring, and Campbell Valley Regional Park’s Equestrian Centre, Overflow Parking Lot, and McLean Pond. Fees for Miscellaneous Outdoor Facilities have not been raised since 2008.

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An increase is proposed to liquor permit fees. This is part of a multi-year strategy to better align Metro Vancouver’s liquor permit fees with those charged by other municipal jurisdictions

k) Clarifications Currently, the Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012 includes a fee for security deposits on commercial use permits, which was inadvertently added during amendments made to the Bylaw in 2013. Metro Vancouver does not charge for security deposits on commercial use permits.

The fee structure for staff assistance is being simplified, and fees re-introduced into the fee schedule as they were inadvertently omitted during amendments made to the Bylaw in 2013.

LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY AND FUTURE PRACTICE Section 397 of the Local Government Act, RSBC 2015, c1, enables the GVRD Board to impose fees and charges for services and the use of regional park property.

The intention going-forward is to propose annual amendments to the Bylaw in October/November to address revised fees and charges to come into effect the following year. The amendments currently proposed do not include any recommended regulatory changes for 2017, but some are expected to be brought forward in October/November 2017.

ALTERNATIVES 1. That the MVRD Board: a) give first, second and third reading to Metro Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017; and b) pass and finally adopt Metro Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017.

2. That the Regional Parks Committee receive for information the report dated January 17, 2017, titled Metro Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017 and provide staff alternative direction.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Proposed regional park fees and charges are listed in Schedule A. Regional Parks’ approach is to review fees annually and adjust as required to remain in the mid-range of comparable fee schedules and to avoid large increases on an infrequent basis.

Based on 2016 facility rentals and bookings revenue, the proposed fees and charges increases will generate an additional $5,000.00. The forecasted revenue for facility rentals and bookings for budget year 2017 is projected at $270,000.

SUMMARY / CONCLUSION Staff recommend Alternative 1. This Metro Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017 outlines increases to select regional park rental and permit fees and charges, and includes clarifications to the Bylaw. Fees and charges are set based on an analysis of operating costs against a detailed review of fees for services and facilities offered by member municipalities and other government and non-profit agencies. These increases are projected to generate an additional $5,000 in revenue.

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Attachment: Metro Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017

Metro Vancouver Regional District - Parks - 131 ATTACHMENT

METRO VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT BYLAW No. 1244, 2017

A Bylaw to Amend Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012

WHEREAS the Board of Directors of the Greater Vancouver Regional District adopted “Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012”, a bylaw to establish rules and regulations for the management, maintenance, operation, enforcement, control, and use of regional parks and property in regional parks; and

WHEREAS the Board of Directors of the Metro Vancouver Regional District wishes to amend “Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012”;

NOW THEREFORE the Board of Directors of the Metro Vancouver Regional District, in open meeting assembled, enacts as follows:

1. “Greater Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1177, 2012” is hereby amended as follows:

(a) The definitions of “permittee” and “private event” in section 1.3 are deleted.

(b) The definitions of “park permit” and “private group” in section 1.3 are deleted and replaced with the following:

““park permit” means a written authorization issued in accordance with this bylaw, and includes a commercial use permit, regional park facility permit, and event permit issued under Part 13 of this bylaw;”;

““private group” means a group of two or more persons that is pre-registered to participate in an interpretive program not open to the public to attend;”;

(c) The definition of “holiday” is added to section 1.3:

““holiday” has the same meaning as in the B.C. Interpretation Act”;

(d) Section 1.8 is deleted.

(e) “Part 12 – General Fees” is deleted and replaced with the following:

“Part 12 – General Fees

12.1 Schedule “A” to this bylaw establishes the fees and charges payable under this bylaw. The park manager is delegated the authority to establish such other or additional fees and charges payable for the use and occupation of a regional park, regional park facility, or regional park property.

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12.2 All fees and charges imposed under this bylaw, plus applicable taxes unless otherwise specified as tax included, must be fully paid before the commencement of the use, conduct, or activity for which the fee or charge is required. A permit issued under this bylaw is automatically cancelled and invalid if any fee or charge required to be paid is not paid.

12.3 The park manager may offer, and establish the fee payable for, general liability insurance in connection with a park permit for the use and occupation of a regional park, regional park facility, or regional park property.”;

(f) “Part 13 – Park Permits” is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“Part 13 – Park Permits

Park Permit Authority and General Park Permit Conditions

13.1 Without limiting section 1.6 of this bylaw and notwithstanding the prohibited uses, conduct, and activities in this bylaw, the park manager is authorized to establish a system of park permits allowing, regulating, and imposing conditions on any use, conduct, or activity, including doing any one or more of the following:

(a) establishing terms and conditions of, or terms and conditions that must be met for obtaining, continuing to hold, or renewing a park permit;

(b) granting, refusing, suspending, or cancelling a park permit;

(c) providing for the effective period of a park permit;

(d) limiting the number of park permits that may be issued, having regard to the nature of the regional park, preservation of natural park features, the impact of the use, conduct, or activity on the use and enjoyment of the regional park, regional park facility, regional park property, and any other factors the park manager deems reasonable;

(e) authorizing temporary exclusive use or occupation of a regional park, regional park property, or portions thereof, which may include the temporary closure of a regional park, regional park facility, regional park property, or portions thereof; and

(f) regulating and imposing conditions on uses, conduct, or activities that the park manager deems reasonable.

13.2 Every person who is issued a park permit under this bylaw shall at all times comply with the terms and conditions upon which the park manager issued the permit.

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13.3 Every person who is issued a park permit under this bylaw shall at all times comply with all, laws, enactments, bylaws, and regulations applicable to the use, conduct or activity for which the park permit is issued, and shall obtain any applicable permits and approvals from federal, provincial, local government, and regulatory authorities.

13.4 The park manager may require a person who is issued a park permit under this bylaw to pay a security deposit.

13.5 Without limiting any other rights or remedies available at law, the park manager may require a person who is issued a park permit to pay for any costs, damages, restoration, clean-up, or repairs arising out of or in connection with any breach or non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the park permit or this bylaw.

13.6 It is a term of all park permits that none of MVRD or any of its elected or appointed officers, employees, servants, agents, contractors, licensees or representatives, accepts or assumes any responsibility or liability for any claims, demands, proceedings, actions, suits, costs, expenses, fines, losses or damages in respect to death, injury, loss or damage to persons or property, however and whenever caused, arising out of or in connection with a park permit. The person who is issued a park permit shall indemnify and save harmless GVRD, and its elected and appointed officials, directors, officers, employees, servants, contractors, and agents from and against any and all claims, demands, proceedings, actions, suits, costs, expenses, fines, losses or damages arising, directly or indirectly, in connection with the park permit.

Commercial Use Permits

13.7 No person shall carry on any business, trade, profession, commercial activity or occupation, including activities on a non-profit basis without a valid commercial use permit issued under this bylaw.

13.8 A person shall apply for a commercial use permit in the prescribed form together with the application fee set out in section 2.0 of Schedule “A”.

13.9 For any activities that are not listed in section 2.0 of Schedule “A”, the park manager is authorized to establish the amount of the fee payable, which amount shall not be less than the amount established for general commercial activities.

13.10 The park manager may require a person who is issued a commercial use permit to pay fees for the specialized services and use of regional park property listed in section 2.2 of Schedule “A” if the park manager determines such specialized fees apply.

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Regional Park Facility Permits

13.11 No person shall have temporary exclusive use or occupation of the regional park facilities listed in section 3.0 of Schedule “A” without a valid regional park facility permit issued under this bylaw.

13.12 A person shall apply for a regional park facility permit in the prescribed form together with the permit fee set out in section 3.0 of Schedule “A”.

13.13 The park manager may require a person who is issued a regional park facility permit to pay a cleaning fee if, upon expiry of the term of the regional park facility permit, the regional park facility is not in substantially the same condition as at the start of the term of the regional park facility permit.

Event Permits

13.14 No person shall carry on any activity, event, or other organized activity that involves or is intended to involve any one or more of the following without a valid minor event permit issued under this bylaw:

(a) an educational, research, or not-for-profit purpose;

(b) more than 50 persons, including personnel, participants, spectators, and invited guests;

(c) use or occupation of a regional park facility or regional park property when it is closed;

(d) use or occupation of a portion of a regional park, regional park facility, or regional park property that is not open to the public;

(e) travel along a specified route;

(f) public advertising or promotion of the activity, event or organized activity; and/or

(g) use or operation of powered equipment or machinery.

13.15 A person shall apply for a minor event permit in the prescribed form.

13.16 No person shall carry on any activity, event, or other organized activity that involves or is intended to involve any one or more of the following without a valid major event permit issued under this bylaw:

(a) exclusive use of a regional park facility or regional park property;

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(b) building, placing, erecting or installing a temporary building, structure, improvement, facility, or shelter;

(c) closure of a regional park;

(d) a licence for the possession or consumption of liquor under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 267 (as amended); and/or

(e) charging a fee to or collecting money from participants, spectators, or invited guests.

13.17 A person shall apply for a major event permit in the prescribed form together with the permit fee set out in section 4.0 of Schedule “A”.”;

(g) “Part 14 – Cancellations, Changes, Refunds, and Exemptions” is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“Part 14 – Cancellations, Changes, Refunds, and Exemptions

14.1 Fees paid under this bylaw, unless otherwise stated, are not refundable.

14.2 The following persons are exempt from payment of fees to attend interpretive programs and regional park events open to the public:

(a) persons under 3 years of age; and

(a) one attendant that is required to assist a person with a disability.

14.3 A person who is issued a park permit and cancels the park permit before the start of the term of the park permit shall pay the cancellation fee according to the applicable notification period set out in section 5.0 of Schedule “A”.

14.4 A person who has paid a fee under this bylaw to attend an interpretive program that is open to the public may apply for a credit of all of the fee towards a similar interpretive program within the same calendar year if the person provides at least 4 but no more than 7 days' advance notice cancelling attendance at such interpretive program.

14.5 A person who has paid a fee or charge under this bylaw may apply in writing for a refund of all or a portion of the fee or charge if, in the discretion of the park manager, the person establishes that he or she no longer:

(a) requires the service for which the fee or charge was paid; or

(b) undertakes the use or activity for which a park permit was required.

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14.6 A person who is required to pay the major event permit fee under this bylaw may apply in writing for an exemption from the fee if, in the discretion of the park manager, the person establishes that:

(a) the services of a person to plan, coordinate, or organize the activity, event, or organized activity are not for or in expectation of a fee;

(b) the primary purpose of the activity, event, or organized activity is to fundraise for a charity registered in Canada; and

(c) all of the net proceeds from the activity, event, or organized activity are or are intended to be donated to such registered charity.

14.7 A person who applies for the exemption in section 14.6 shall submit any documents, information and records that the park manager requires to evaluate eligibility for the exemption.

14.8 Any person, public educational institution or member of GVRD required to pay a fee or charge under this bylaw may apply for an exemption from the fee or charge if, in the discretion of the park manager, the person, public educational institution or member of GVRD establishes that the use, activity, or conduct will result in a substantial benefit to the community or any aspect of the community.”;

(h) Effective 01 March 2017, Schedule “A” to the Bylaw is deleted in its entirety and replaced by the attached Schedule “A”.

2. This bylaw shall be cited as “Metro Vancouver Regional District Regional Parks Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1244, 2017”.

READ A FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD TIME this ______day of ______, 2017.

PASSED AND FINALLY ADOPTED this ______day of ______, 2017.

______Greg Moore, Chair

______Chris Plagnol, Corporate Officer

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SCHEDULE A

Section 1.0 GENERAL FEES

1.1 Staff Assistance Fees Staff Time $65/hour Early/Late Gate Access $65/occurrence Pre-event Site Visit $100/visit

1.2 Liquor Permits Number of Persons Fee, per day 1 to 199 persons $108 200 - 299 persons $160 300 - 999 persons $217 1000 or more persons $324

1.3 Parking Permits Regional Park Location Fee, per hour Fee, per day Pacific Spirit Fraser Lot $1.50 $7.50

Section 2.0 COMMERCIAL USE PERMIT FEES

2.1 Commercial Use Permit Application and Annual Fees Fee Commercial use permit application fee $105 Annual commercial use permit fee for general commercial activities $105 Annual commercial use permit fee for bicycle tours $207 Annual commercial use permit fee for guided equestrian rides $207 Commercial use permit fee for dog walking, up to 4 dogs $450 Commercial use permit fee for dog walking, more than 4 dogs $750

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Section 2.0 COMMERCIAL USE PERMIT FEES (Continued)

2.2 Commercial Use Permit Specialized Fees Fees

Locker storage of commercial-use related $100 per small bin per rental period (non- equipment at Wreck Beach, where the refundable) maximum rental period permitted is April $200 per medium bin per rental period (non- 1 to September 30 of each year refundable) $300 per large bin per rental period (non- refundable)

Replacement key for locker storage at $15 per replacement Wreck Beach Vest $35 per vest Park Permit for buses and other motor 11 or fewer seats: $16 per vehicle per day or $612 vehicles that enter a regional park in annually per vehicle connection with a commercial use 12 to 24 seats: $26 per vehicle per day or $867 annually per vehicle 25 seats or more: $44 per vehicle per day or $1,275 annually per vehicle

Section 3.0 REGIONAL PARK FACILITY PERMIT FEES

3.1 Outdoor Facilities Fee on weekends and Fee on weekdays, Regional Park Facility holidays, per day per day

Picnic Shelters Aldergrove Blacktail Picnic Shelter $142 $68 Belcarra Belcarra 1 Picnic Shelter $142 $68 Belcarra Belcarra 2 Picnic Shelter $142 $68 Boundary Bay Cattail Picnic Shelter $142 $68 Boundary Bay Sandpiper Picnic Shelter $142 $68 Campbell Valley Old Orchard Picnic Shelter $142 $68 Crippen Crippen 1 Picnic Shelter $68 $68 Crippen Crippen 2 Picnic Shelter $68 $68 Crippen Crippen 3 Picnic Shelter $68 $68 Deas Island Deas Picnic Shelter $142 $68 Deas Island Muskrat Meadows Picnic $142 $68 Shelter Derby Reach Marpole Picnic Shelter $142 $68 Surrey Bend Hawk Picnic Shelter $142 $68 Surrey Bend Warbler Picnic Shelter $142 $68 Surrey Bend Wren Picnic Shelter $142 $68

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Section 3.0 REGIONAL PARK FACILITY PERMIT FEES

3.1 Outdoor Facilities (Continued)

Fields Aldergrove Aldergrove Bowl $108 $108 Aldergrove Sedge Field $86 $86 Boundary Bay Centennial Beach Play Field $86 $86 Boundary Bay Centennial Beach South End $86 $86 Campbell Valley Little River Bowl $86 $86 Campbell Valley Little River Field $86 $86 Campbell Valley Rowlatt Farm Field (with $269 $269 access to electrical power $500 security deposit $500 security deposit and washrooms) Campbell Valley Order of the Canada Grove $86 $86 Campbell Valley Picnic Terrace $86 $86 Capilano River Cleveland Dam Field $86 $86 Crippen Middle Field $86 $86 Crippen Snug Cove Field $86 $86 Deas Island Fisher's Field $86 $86 Lynn Lynn Headwaters Field $86 $86 Headwaters Pacific Spirit Plains of Abraham $86 $86

Miscellaneous Outdoor Facilities Belcarra Belcarra Wharf Reserved $76, per hour $76, per hour Mooring Campbell Valley Campbell Downs Equestrian $142 $142 Centre Campbell Valley Equestrian Centre Overflow $84 $84 Parking Lot Campbell Valley McLean Pond $26 $26

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Section 3.0 REGIONAL PARK FACILITY PERMIT FEES 3.1 Outdoor Facilities (Continued) Camping Youth group fee, per Fee, per night night Campbell Valley Camp Coyote Group Camp $207 $103 Deas Island Muskrat Meadows Group $207 $103 Camp Tynehead Raven's Nest Group Camp $207 $103 Camping outside of designated campsites $6 per person $6 per person Seniors/Persons with disabilities fee, per night Derby Reach Edgewater Bar Campground $25 $22 Site Second Vehicle $12 $11

Section 3.0 REGIONAL PARK FACILITY PERMIT FEES (Continued)

3.2 Indoor Facilities Fee Youth group fee Capilano River Camp Overnight rental $1,071, per night $449, per night Capilano Day use, from $535, per day $225, per day 9am to 5pm Late checkout $200, per hour $200, per hour Lifeguarding $38, per hour $38, per hour service Security Deposit $200 Boundary Bay Cammidge Facility rental $66, per hour n/a House Tent or Over $268, per day n/a Occupancy Limit Late checkout $200, per hour n/a Security Deposit $500 Deas Island Inverholme Facility rental $55, per hour n/a Schoolhouse Security Deposit $500 Minnekhada Minnekhada Facility rental $86, per hour n/a Lodge Late checkout $200, per hour n/a Security Deposit $500 Lynn BC Mills Facility rental $17, per hour n/a Headwaters House Security Deposit $500

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Section 4.0 MAJOR EVENT PERMIT FEES

Number of Persons Fee, per day Up to 300 persons $270 301 to 500 persons $404 501 - 1500 persons $541 Over 1500 persons $1,200

Section 5.0 CANCELLATION FEES

Park Permit Cancellation Notification Period Fee Outdoor Facilities, More than 2 months prior to the $25 See Schedule A section 3.1 rental date 2 months or less prior to the rental 100% of fee paid date Indoor Facilities, More than 6 months prior to the 50% of security See Schedule A section 3.2 rental date deposit 6 months or less prior to the rental 100% of security date deposit Major Events, More than 2 months prior to the $25 See Schedule A section 4.0 event date 2 months or less prior to the event 100% of fee paid date Private Group, At least 14 days prior to the $25 See Part 14 section 14.3 program date Fewer than 14 days prior to the 100% of fee paid program date

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