A Policy Analysis of the Lower Fraser Watershed
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Creating Safer Cities for Salmon: A Policy Analysis of the Lower Fraser Watershed by Andrea McDonald B.Sc., University of British Columbia, 2017 Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Resource Management in the School of Resource and Environmental Management Faculty of the Environment Report No. 767 © Andrea McDonald 2021 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Spring 2021 Copyright in this work is held by the author. Please ensure that any reproduction or re-use is done in accordance with the relevant national copyright legislation. Declaration of Committee Name: Andrea McDonald Degree: Master of Resource Management (Planning) Report No.: 767 Thesis title: Creating Safer Cities for Salmon: A Policy Analysis of the Lower Fraser Watershed Committee: Chair: Maureen Nadeau Candidate for Master of Resource Management Zafar Adeel Professor of Professional Practice School of Sustainable Energy Engineering Sean Markey Committee Member Professor Resource and Environmental Management ii Ethics Statement The author, whose name appears on the title page of this work, has obtained, for the research described in this work, either: a. human research ethics approval from the Simon Fraser University Office of Research Ethics or b. advanced approval of the animal care protocol from the University Animal Care Committee of Simon Fraser University or has conducted the research c. as a co-investigator, collaborator, or research assistant in a research project approved in advance. A copy of the approval letter has been filed with the These Office of the University Library at the time of submission of this thesis or project. The original application for approval and letter of approval are filed with the relevant offices. Inquiries may be directed to those authorities. Simon Fraser University Library Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada Update Spring 2016 iii Abstract Rapid urbanization in the Lower Fraser Watershed (LFW) of British Columbia (BC) directly and indirectly degrades the health of aquatic ecosystems that are home to the ecologically, culturally, socially, and economically significant Pacific Salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.). Using the scientific standards of the Salmon-Safe BC urban program as an evaluative framework, this study undertakes a comparative review of government policies and offers a series of recommendations that could facilitate the use of green infrastructure (GI) to mitigate adverse impacts on wild salmon. During consultations with LFW experts, the disparities in policy objectives and requirements were cited as a major barrier to their effective implementation. Addressing these gaps in policy requires development of well-defined statutory foundations and enforcement, and awareness-raising among developers, the public, and politicians to understand GI solutions. This approach can garner the support needed for the use of GI systems to protect wild salmon and ensure long-term watershed health. Keywords: Green infrastructure; nature-based solutions; salmon habitat protection; rainwater management; sustainable development standards; watershed protection iv Dedication To the wild salmon and waters, we will do better. v Acknowledgements To all my cheerleaders along the way. To my supervisor, Adeel, thank you for sharing all your time and wisdom with me. To the Fraser Basin Council staff, thank you for providing me with such an incredible opportunity to learn, study, and develop my skills doing something I am passionate about. I am extremely grateful for the endless support and direction you both have gifted me in this partnership project. To Sean Markey, many thanks for offering your guidance and valuable feedback. Thank you to all the incredible experts in government, in the field of research, and professional practice. Your insights and encouraging words made this project successful. It is utterly inspiring to see staff and champions who are so dedicated to finding the harmonious balance between humans and nature. To the REM family, you made this program a second home for me, and I cannot thank you all enough. Thank you to Mitacs for helping to financially support this research through the Mitacs Accelerate program. Thank you to my support system of family and friends who reminded me that I could do it. To mum, dad, and Lauren I would not be here without you. The constant support you provided me emotionally and otherwise made this degree possible in the first place. To my best of friends who were patient, kind, and reassuring, you all mean the world to me. To Graham, you have been the glue holding this all together. You deserve an honorary REM degree for the amount of editing, love, and support you gave me during this time. vi Table of Contents DECLARATION OF COMMITTEE ............................................................................ II ETHICS STATEMENT ................................................................................................. III ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... IV DEDICATION ...................................................................................................................V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................... VI TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................. VII LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................X LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ XI LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................ XII EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................... XIII CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 1 1.1 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................................................... 5 1.2 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................... 6 1.3 RESEARCH SCOPE ....................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 2. BACKGROUND REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND RIPARIAN AREA PROTECTION IN THE LOWER FRASER WATERSHED .................................................................................................. 8 2.1 IMPORTANCE OF WILD PACIFIC SALMON ................................................................... 9 2.1.2 Importance as a Keystone Species ..................................................................... 9 2.1.3 Importance for Indigenous communities ......................................................... 11 2.1.4 Importance as an Indicator Species ................................................................. 12 2.2 ROLE OF GOVERNMENT POLICY ............................................................................... 13 2.3 GAPS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA’S URBAN WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ....................... 15 2.4 SUSTAINABLE WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE/NATURE- BASED SOLUTIONS ......................................................................................................... 17 2.4.1 A Brief History of Green Infrastructure in British Columbia: Linking hydrology, water quality, and salmon populations ................................................... 17 2.4.2 Nature-Based Solutions to Canada’s Infrastructure Deficit ........................... 20 2.4.3 Benefits of Green Infrastructure Solutions ...................................................... 22 2.5 SALMON-SAFE BC URBAN PROGRAM STANDARDS .................................................. 25 2.5.1 Purpose and Objectives ................................................................................... 25 2.5.2 Development Standards and the Evaluative Framework ................................. 26 2.5.3 The Role of Green Infrastructure in the Salmon-Safe BC Urban Program .... 26 CHAPTER 3. METHODS .............................................................................................. 28 3.1 BACKGROUND REVIEW ............................................................................................ 29 3.2 DATA COLLECTION .................................................................................................. 29 3.3 INTERVIEWS ............................................................................................................. 30 3.4 DATA ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................... 31 vii 3.5 LIMITATIONS ............................................................................................................ 34 3.5.1 Incomplete Information and Access to Government Staff ................................ 34 3.5.2 Volume and Type of Documents ...................................................................... 36 CHAPTER 4. POLICY ANALYSIS ............................................................................. 37 4.1 FIRST NATIONS GOVERNMENT ................................................................................. 37 4.2 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT .......................................................................................... 38 4.3 PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT .....................................................................................