DRAFT Barnston Island Agricultural Viability Study December 2018 Upland Agricultural Consulting Table of Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................................... iii Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................................................... iv Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................................... v 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Scope and Intent of the Barnston Island Agricultural Viability Study ..................................................................... 7 1.2 Study Site Location..................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.0 Agricultural Context ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 2.1 Farmland on Barnston Island .................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Farming: Local Historical Context ........................................................................................................................... 10 2.3 Land Tenure and Agricultural Viability .................................................................................................................... 10 2.4 Current Agricultural Land Use ................................................................................................................................. 12 2.5 Barnston Island Access ............................................................................................................................................ 12 3.0 Environmental Context ................................................................................................................................................. 15 3.1 Water ........................................................................................................................................................................ 15 3.1.1 Drainage and Diking ......................................................................................................................................... 15 3.1.2 Irrigation and Drinking Water ......................................................................................................................... 16 3.2 Soils and Geology ..................................................................................................................................................... 16 3.3 Agricultural Capability .............................................................................................................................................. 17 3.4 Weather and Climate ............................................................................................................................................... 18 3.5 Climate Change ........................................................................................................................................................ 19 4.0 Opportunities for Barnston Island Agriculture ............................................................................................................ 21 4.1 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats for Agriculture on Barnston Island ................................... 21 4.2 Agricultural Feasibility Assessment ......................................................................................................................... 22 4.3 Sample Farm Business Scenarios ............................................................................................................................ 31 4.3.1 Scenario 1 – Lavender Production .................................................................................................................. 31 4.3.2 Scenario 2 – Specialty Mushroom Production ............................................................................................... 33 4.3.3 Scenario 3 – Strawberry Production in Polyhouses ....................................................................................... 34 4.4 Comparison of the Three Production Scenarios ................................................................................................... 36 4.5 Direct Farm Marketing............................................................................................................................................. 36 5.0 Potential Partnerships .................................................................................................................................................. 37 5.1 Katzie First Nation .................................................................................................................................................... 37 5.2 BC Ministry of Agriculture ....................................................................................................................................... 37 5.3 Academic Institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations .............................................................................. 38 6.0 Policy Context ................................................................................................................................................................ 38 6.1 Metro Vancouver 2040: Shaping our Future, Regional Growth Strategy ............................................................. 39 6.2 Metro Vancouver’s Regional Food System Strategy .............................................................................................. 39 6.3 Metro Vancouver’s Regional Food System Action Plan ......................................................................................... 40 6.4 Metro Vancouver Electoral Area A OCP (Bylaw 1250) and Zoning ....................................................................... 40 6.5 Electoral Area A Emergency Management Plan and Considerations ................................................................... 41 7.0 Recommended Actions ................................................................................................................................................. 42 8.0 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 45 9.0 Appendices .................................................................................................................................................................... 47 Federal Policies and Programs ........................................................................................................................................... 47 Provincial Policies and Programs ........................................................................................................................................ 47 ii Acknowledgements The Barnston Island Agricultural Viability Study was developed for Metro Vancouver by Upland Agricultural Consulting Ltd. We would like to acknowledge the input and expertise of Barnston Island landowners and farmers, Katzie First Nation, and members of the Metro Vancouver Agricultural Advisory Committee. iii Acronyms AAFC Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada AGRI BC Ministry of Agriculture ALC Agricultural Land Commission ALR Agricultural Land Reserve BCA BC Assessment BCMoE BC Ministry of Environment BIDD Barnston Island Diking District BMPs Best Management Practices CFIA Canadian Food Inspection Agency CLI Canadian Land Inventory CSA Community Supported Agriculture LGA Local Government Act MV Metro Vancouver OCP Official Community Plan RGS Regional Growth Strategy ZBL Zoning Bylaw iv Executive Summary Metro Vancouver (MV), through the development of the Official Community Plan (OCP) for Electoral Area ‘A’, has identified the need for an Agricultural Viability Study for Barnston Island. Katzie First Nation has traditional territory that includes the island, and some Katzie members currently live within a reserve on the island. Over the last 100 years or so, Barnston Island was utilized for a variety of agricultural uses, including dairy, forage, cranberries, and vegetables. About the Study The objectives of the Barnston Island Agricultural Viability Study are to: 1. Compile baseline information relevant to agriculture on Barnston Island including: land use, land cover, soil type, soil class, current farm activities, drainage and irrigation, access and transportation constraints; 2. Engage with stakeholders (agricultural industry, academic, government representatives and farmers and property owners on Barnston Island) to understand challenges facing farming, and what can be done to encourage farming on the island; 3. Determine what types of farm uses are best suited for Barnston Island based on a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis that considers how Barnston Island fits within a regional agricultural context; 4. Identify and prioritize specific actions that should be taken to increase the long-term viability of agriculture