A Living Working River - the BIEAP and FREMP Website

An Estuary 

Management 

Plan for the 

Fraser River

An Estuary 

Management 

Plan for the 

Fraser River 

Final Version 

August 1994 

Fraser River Estuary Management Program 

#301, 960 Quayside Drive 

New Westminster, BC, Canada V3M 6G2 

Phone (604) 525-1047 Fax (604) 525-3005 

FREMP

Table of Contents 

Part 1: Background 

Part 2: The Plan 

Part 3: Implementation 

Part 4: Appendices 

Foreword.........................................................................................................................................................................iii 

Acknowledgements..............................................................................................................................................iv 

Glossary..........................................................................................................................................................................vii 

Summary........................................................................................................................................................................ix 

Chapter 1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................................3 

The Need to Work Together..................................................................................................................................5 

Maintaining Productivity..............................................................................................................................................6 

The Estuary Management Plan...............................................................................................................................6 

Limits of the Estuary Management Plan ............................................................................................................7 

Relation to Regional and Local Planning Initiatives......................................................................................8 

Regional Challenges....................................................................................................................................................10 

Chapter 2 An Integrated Management Plan for the Fraser River Estuary ....................................13 

Vision...................................................................................................................................................................................14 

Goals ...................................................................................................................................................................................14 

Guiding Principles ........................................................................................................................................................15 

Action Programs ..........................................................................................................................................................17 

Chapter 3 Environmental Protection................................................................................................................21 

Water Quality Management..................................................................................................................................22 

Fish and Wildlife Habitat..........................................................................................................................................30 

Chapter 4 Human Activities................................................................................................................................39 

Navigation and Dredging.........................................................................................................................................40 

Log Management .........................................................................................................................................................43 

Industrial and Urban Development...................................................................................................................45 

Recreation........................................................................................................................................................................52 

Chapter 5 Integrating the Action Programs..................................................................................................57 

Summary of Actions ..................................................................................................................................................58 

Overall Concept Maps .............................................................................................................................................64 

Chapter 6 Activating the Plan.............................................................................................................................81 

A Commitment to Work Together ..................................................................................................................81 

Funding Arrangements .............................................................................................................................................81 

Management Tools......................................................................................................................................................82 

Monitoring and Evaluating the Plan...................................................................................................................86 

Appendix A An Overview of the Fraser River Estuary Management Program ..........................91 

Appendix B Jurisdictions and Mandates.......................................................................................................97 

Appendix C Project Review in the Fraser River Estuary .....................................................................103 

Appendix D Area Designation Process.......................................................................................................109 

An Estuary Management Plan for the Fraser River 

i

List of Tables, Figures and Maps 

Tables 

Figures 

Maps 

1 

2 

3 

4 

1 

2 

3 

4 

A-1 

A-2 

B-1 

C-1 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

C-1 

D-1 

Water and Land Use Committee and Subcommittee Members (1992-93)..............................vi 

Workshop Participants ...............................................................................................................................................vi 

Vision, Goals, and Principles for the Estuary Management Plan.......................................................13 

Legislative Basis for Water Quality Management Activities.................................................................23 

Steps in the Development and Implementation of the Estuary Management Plan .................v 

The Years in which FREMP and Related Programs are Active.............................................................8 

Areas of Competing Use ........................................................................................................................................85 

Monitoring and Evaluation Activities in Relation to the Estuary Management Plan .............86 

The Evolution of FREMP..........................................................................................................................................91 

Organizational Structure of FREMP..................................................................................................................94 

Agency Jurisdiction Matrix......................................................................................................................................97 

FREMP Project Review Process........................................................................................................................107 

FREMP Boundaries.........................................................................................................................................................4 

Shoreline Habitat Coding and Generalized Land Uses .........................................................................19 

Proposed Green Zone.............................................................................................................................................31 

Current Major Transportation Routes and Port Facilities....................................................................38 

Current and Potential Areas for Water-Dependent Industries ........................................................49 

Fraser River Estuary Recreation Plan ...............................................................................................................53 

Potential Extent of Human Activities in the Fraser River Estuary ...................................................59 

Sub-Areas within the FREMP Boundaries......................................................................................................66 

Lower Main Arm Sub-Area: Potential Extent of Human Activity....................................................67 

North Arm Sub-Area: Potential Extent of Human Activity................................................................69 

Upper Main Arm Sub-Area: Potential Extent of Human Activity....................................................71 

Pitt River Sub-Area: Potential Extent of Human Activity......................................................................73 

Boundary Bay Sub-Area: Potential Extent of Human Activity...........................................................75 

Delta Front Sub-Area: Potential Extent of Human Activity ................................................................77 

Areas of Competing Use ........................................................................................................................................87 

Lead Agencies in the FREMP Area.................................................................................................................104 

Area Designations, Burnaby Big Bend...........................................................................................................113 

ii

Foreword 

The Fraser River Estuary Management Program (FREMP) is a cooperative 

effort among federal, provincial, and local governments to coordinate 

planning and decision making on human activities in the estuary. 

This Estuary Management Plan, which is similar in scope and purpose to an 

Official Community Plan for a municipality, was prepared by the Water and 

Land Use Committee of FREMP. 

The Plan reflects a consensus among a broad range of stakeholders 

regarding how and where current and future use of the water, shoreline, 

and adjacent upland areas within the Fraser River estuary will occur. Much 

like the relationship between Official Community Plans and zoning designations, 

the Estuary Management Plan provides the basis for finalizing Area 

Designation Agreements. Through this Plan, habitat management and 

recreation activities are integrated with strategies for log management, 

navigation and dredging, water quality improvement, and urban and waterdependent 

industrial development, including supporting infrastructure 

linkages. 


iii

Acknowledgements 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

In May 1992, the Water and Land Use Committee of FREMP took responsibility 

for producing the Estuary Management Plan. This Committee 

comprises over 40 representatives from federal and provincial government 

agencies, municipalities, First Nations, and the Greater Vancouver Regional 

District. A list of Committee members is provided in Table 1, page vi. 

The Estuary Management Plan was created through an iterative process 

with members of the Water and Land Use Committee and input from 

non-government organizations, business, and the general public, with the 

Committee taking responsibility for managing this process and providing 

direction. The process to create the Plan brought diverse interests together 

to work towards a common direction and undertake the following 

activities: 

identify issues and needs 

develop a clear sense of vision and purpose 

establish guideposts for decision making 

set targets and actions in support of the goals 

identify areas of competing use and develop conflict resolution procedures 

outline steps to carry out the Plan 

provide procedures for monitoring all aspects of the Plan and processes 

for updating and amending the Plan 

The vision, goals, targets, and action programs contained in the Plan draw 

on FREMP’s previous programs and other regional planning initiatives that 

are being developed concurrently. 

Draft versions of the Estuary Management Plan were reviewed at two 

successive workshops with representatives from several interest groups 

and those government agencies not represented on the Water and Land 

Use Committee. The assistance of these people in reviewing the Plan is 

gratefully acknowledged. 

The steps to complete the Estuary Management Plan are summarized in 

Figure 1. 

Marion Adair and Dianna Colnett, FREMP staff, prepared the Estuary 

Management Plan on behalf of the Committee. Environment Canada 

provided the original base map—consisting of transportation routes, the 

shoreline, municipal boundaries, and wetlands—in digital form. Mapping 

services were supplied by Octavo Productions, Jones Maps & Diagrams, 

RCS Cadd Services, and Underhill Engineering Limited. Octavo 

Productions designed and produced the draft and final versions of A Living 

Working River. 

iv

Figure 1 

Steps in the 

Development and 

Implementation of 

the Estuary 

Management Plan 

(EMP) 

Water and Land Use Committee Meetings 

May 1992 - February 1993 

EMP Workshop Draft 

March 1993 

EMP Discussion Draft 

May 1993 

Draft EMP 

Fall 1993 - Spring 1994 

Final Estuary Management Plan 

Adoption Process 

Summer - Fall 1994 

Implementation 

Invited Public Input 

April Workshop 

Invited Public Input 

June Workshop 

Agency and Public 

Review 

Public Review 


v

Acknowledgements 

Table 1 

Water and Land Use 

Committee and 

Subcommittee 

Members (1992-93) 

Table 2 

Workshop 

Participants 

(excluding Committee 

members and FREMP staff) 

Agriculture, Fisheries and 

Food 

Dave Melnychuk 

BC Environment 

Brian Clark 

Lorna Duncan 

Marion Jamieson 

BC Lands 

Larry Sorken 

Burnaby 

Peter Bloxham 

Canadian Coast Guard 

Fred Stepchuk 

Coquitlam 

Rob Innes 

Delta 

Wayne Dickinson 

Dave Gibbon 

Brian Perry 

Environment Canada 

Laszlo Retfalvi 

Fisheries and Oceans 

Steve Macfarlane 

Fraser River Harbour 

Commission 

Allen Domaas 

Pat Weber 

GVRD 

Ken Cameron 

GVRD Parks 

Paul Skydt 

Katzie Nation 

Diane Bailey 

Langley 

Kurt Alberts 

Pete Scales 

Maple Ridge 

John Bastaja 

Ron Boyes 

Sharon Folkes 

Musqueam Nation 

Glen Guerin 

New Westminster 

Mary Pynenburg 

North Fraser Harbour 

Commission 

Al Brown 

George Colquhoun 

Ted Hurschman 

Pitt Meadows 

Jim Lowrie 

Bruce McWilliam 

Port Coquitlam 

Carlos Felip 

Jack Bishop, Seaspan 

Sean Blackman 

Chris Blanton, Simon Fraser University 

John Bowles, Harken Towing 

Bert Brink, Federation of BC Naturalists 

Bob Carey, Save Our Parklands 

Kevin Couttes 

Don Cromarty, RivTow Marine 

Wilf Dreher, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks 

Butch Fonnesbeck, Miller Contracting 

Dennis Franklin 

Michael Healey, Westwater Research Centre, University of British Columbia 

Doug Jagger, Fraser Surrey Docks 

Susan Jones, Boundary Bay Conservation Committee 

Martin Keeley, Friends of Boundary Bay 

Karen Kelm, Burrard Inlet Environmental Action Program 

Ron Kistritz, Kistritz Consulting 

Nancy Knight, Greater Vancouver Regional District 

Gary Lacey, Small Craft Harbours 

Debra LaMash 

Dave Leroy, Fraser River Pile and Dredge 

Dave Marshall, Fraser Basin Management Program 

Gayle Martin, Greater Vancouver Regional District Board 

Nicholas May, Fraser Basin Management Program 

Mike McPhee, Quadra Planning 

Sue Neale, BC Conservation Foundation 

Stephen Partington, Vancouver Natural History Society 

Vivien Pearson, Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board 

Adrian Rowland, Small Craft Harbours 

Al Riches, Scott Paper 

Jonathan Seymour 

Dick Stace-Smith, Fraser River Coalition 

Wendy Turner, Community Forum on Airport Development 

John Van Koll, LaFarge Concrete 

Doug Walton, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks 

Peter Woodward, Council of Marine Carriers 

Nancy Yates, Burrard Inlet Environmental Action Program 

Steve Zablosky, Burns Bog Conservation Committee 

Tanya Zebroff, Fraser Valley Real Estate Board 

Public Works 

Alex Fakidis 

Kent Akhurst 

Richmond 

Alex Jamieson 

Ron Mann 

Surrey 

Nicholas Lai 

How Yin Leung 

Lee Tan 

Tsawwassen Nation 

Marvin Joe 

Vancouver 

Don Brynildsen 

Ted Sebastian 

Vancouver International 

Airport Authority 

Mel Feddersen 

Alan Yazdani 

Vancouver Port 

Corporation 

Dick Wright 

White Rock 

Dan Janczewski 

vi

Glossary 

Action 

ALC 

ALR 

Ambient 

Area Designation 

Agreement 

BIEAP 

Bylaws 

Consensus 

Contaminant 

COFI 

Delta 

DFO 

EMP 

ERC 

Estuary 

FBMP 

FRAP 

FREMP 

FRES 

An accomplishment usually completed over a defined 

time frame, in stages, or with the possibility of repetition, 

to achieve prescribed targets. 

Agricultural Land Commission 

Agricultural Land Reserve 

Normal conditions in the surrounding environment. 

An agreement between individual municipalities and 

member agencies of FREMP on foreshore and water uses 

for specific reaches in the estuary. 

Burrard Inlet Environmental Action Program 

Rules and procedures passed by municipal governments, 

Native Bands, and regional districts to exercise their 

powers as authorized by federal and provincial legislation. 

The result of a process for making group decisions 

without voting. The goal is to reach decisions that accommodate 

rather than compromise the interests of all group 

members who have a stake in carrying out the decision. 

A substance that is not naturally present in the environment 

or is present in amounts that can, in sufficient 

concentration, adversely affect the environment. Not 

necessarily harmful. 

Council of Forest Industries 

The accumulation of sediments which are deposited 

where a river meets the ocean. 

Department of Fisheries and Oceans (federal) 

Estuary Management Plan 

Environmental Review Committee, associated with the 

FREMP Project Review Process 

The water body where a river meets the ocean so that 

freshwater and saltwater mix and the river level is 

affected by tides. 

Fraser Basin Management Program 

Fraser River Action Plan 

Fraser River Estuary Management Program 

Fraser River Estuary Study 


vii

Glossary 

FRHC 

Goal 

GVRD 

GVS&DD 

Guidelines 

Habitat 

NFHC 

NGO 

OCP 

Plan 

Policy 

Pollutant 

Pollution 

Principle 

Program 

Provisional Water 

Quality Objectives 

PRP 

Regulations 

Target 

VPC 

Wet Site 

Fraser River Harbour Commission 

An end or ideal to be continually and progressively 

pursued over an unspecified period of time. 

Greater Vancouver Regional District 

Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District 

Rules of operation to support a particular policy. 

A place in the environment where an organism lives or is 

expected to live in order to fulfill an important function 

such as feeding or rearing young. 

North Fraser Harbour Commission 

Non-government organization 

Official Community Plan 

An organized series of actions that support particular 

goals. 

A position taken by an organization, which indicates how 

it intends to act regarding the resolution of certain issues. 

A contaminant that is destructive or has a negative 

environmental impact. 

Occurs when the properties of water or air are modified 

either naturally or through human action, reducing the 

potential usefulness of that substance. Referred to as a 

cost or damage. 

A broad statement that sets forth rules to guide decisions 

on the use of the estuary and management of human 

activities. 

A coordinated collection of plans and activities that share 

a common purpose and goals. 

Due to uncertainties that existed in Water Quality 

Criteria and water quality databases for local conditions 

when the provincial Objectives for the Lower Fraser were 

drafted in 1985, the Objectives are considered “provisional.” 

The FREMP Management Committee accepted 

these Provisional Objectives as a starting point. 

Project Review Process (see Appendix C for details) 

Enforceable rules and procedures to implement federal 

or provincial legislation. 

A tangible point to aim for, which is reached by an action 

or series of actions carried out over a specified time 

frame. 

Vancouver Port Corporation 

Refers to archaeological sites where vegetal cultural 

materials are preserved in water-saturated soils. 

viii

Summary 

Working Together 

The Fraser River estuary is a magnificent natural area with some of the 

most productive biological systems in the world. Surrounding this globally 

significant estuary is an expansive urban region with one of the highest 

growth rates on the continent. Over the next few decades, the challenge 

will be to integrate protection of the region’s environmental quality with 

efforts to sustain economic development and accommodate a growing 

population. 

The Estuary Management Plan, developed through the Fraser River 

Estuary Management Program (FREMP), is intended to cultivate a common 

understanding of issues and programs and promote working partnerships 

between government, business, and community interests. 

FREMP is a cooperative agreement, not an agency, managed by representatives 

from Environment Canada; Department of Fisheries and Oceans; 

Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks; North Fraser Harbour 

Commission; Fraser River Harbour Commission; and the Greater 

Vancouver Regional District. Since 1985, the Program has successfully 

fostered coordinated decision making on conservation and development in 

the estuary among more than 30 agencies representing federal, provincial, 

and local governments, port authorities, and First Nations. 

The Estuary Management Plan provides a common basis for reviewing 

development proposals in the estuary as well as for undertaking local 

planning and resource management activities. These activities will include, 

for example, an integrated water quality monitoring plan, a strategy to 

address the needs of water-dependent industries, and an estuary-wide 

recreation plan. 

The Estuary Management Plan is intended to be dynamic, incorporating 

processes to monitor, evaluate, and improve successful aspects of the Plan 

and identify areas that require change. 

The Plan was created under the direction of FREMP’s Water and Land Use 

Committee, with input from non-government organizations, business, and 

the general public. The Plan’s vision, goals, targets, and action programs 

incorporate ongoing FREMP programs and policies, such as the habitat 

coding system that classifies habitat value along the foreshore and indicates 

the area’s sensitivity to development. The Plan also builds on other regional 

initiatives that are being developed at the same time, for example, the 

federal government’s Fraser River Action Plan and Greater Vancouver’s 

Livable Region Strategy. 


ix

Summary 

An Integrated Framework 

■ 

■ 

■ 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

The vision, goals, and principles provide a framework to integrate decision 

making and coordinate activities in the estuary. The improvement of the 

estuary’s environmental quality is to occur in conjunction with economic, 

social, and cultural development in the region. 

Vision 

Improve environmental quality in the Fraser River estuary while providing 

economic development opportunities and sustaining the quality of life in 

and around the estuary. 

Goals 

Conserve and enhance the environmental quality of the river and estuary 

to sustain healthy fish, wildlife, plants, and people. 

Respect and further the estuary’s role as the social, cultural, recreational, 

and economic heart of region. 

Encourage human activities and economic development that protect and 

enhance the environmental quality of the estuary. 

Principles 

Conserve and Enhance the Estuary 

Keep the estuary healthy 

Conserve and sustain natural habitat 

Integrated Management 

Encourage multiple uses within the estuary 

Promote integrated decision making 

Establish and maintain informed management processes 

Fairness, Equity, and Accountability 

Promote and employ consensus-based decision making 

Provide equitable access to the estuary 

Establish and maintain accountable management processes 

Develop active partnerships with the public in management activities 

What the Plan Contains 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

The Plan consists of targets and actions for six action programs under two 

major themes: 

Environmental Protection 

Water quality management 

Fish and wildlife habitat 

Human Activities 

Navigation and dredging 

Log management 

Industrial and urban development 

Recreation 

In addition, each action program provides a description of related issues, 

linkages with existing activities, lists of related programs and reports, and 

actions concerning partnerships and communications. 

x

The theme of partnerships runs throughout the Plan: nearly all actions rely 

on the combined efforts of various government agencies or upon joint 

initiatives between government and non-government organizations. 

Communications includes those actions concerning education, interpretation 

of the estuary’s ecology and human use, and reporting on the results 

of projects, studies, and progress on the Estuary Management Plan itself. 

The responsibility for carrying out actions will be shared among the government 

agencies identified as participating agencies in the action programs. 

FREMP, through its Committees and Secretariat, will perform a 

coordinating role, identifying opportunities for partnerships and focusing 

activities towards specific targets. FREMP will also ensure the Plan is monitored 

and evaluated. 

Effective and Efficient Management 

■ 

■ 

■ 

Through greater coordination of planning and management activities within 

the estuary, the following benefits can be expected: 

reduced time and resources required by individual jurisdictions to plan and 

manage the foreshore and adjacent upland areas; 

more certainty for private sector and public interests looking to develop, 

conserve, alter, or change uses in particular areas of the estuary; and 

more efficient and responsive reaction by various agencies and private 

interests to proposed actions. 

In summary, the Estuary Management Plan will be a guide and offer a 

process to all using the Fraser River estuary for living, working, and 

enjoyment. 

Summary of Actions 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

The targets and actions in the Estuary Management Plan are summarized 

below under the following seven common headings: 

Implement existing FREMP initiatives 

Develop new initiatives through FREMP 

Carry out activities through member agencies 

Undertake capital projects 

Develop information systems 

Develop communication and education materials and programs 

Develop opportunities for consultation and involvement 


xi

Summary 

1 

2 

Implement Existing FREMP Initiatives 

EXISTING INITIATIVES SPECIFIC ACTIONS 

Water Quality Plan Complete the third year of the Environmental 

Monitoring Program (1994-95), define a single 

integrated monitoring program by 1995, and 

obtain agency commitment to this program. 

Fish and Wildlife Update and refine the FREMP habitat coding 

Habitat system, and support existing habitat management 

policies and guidelines through the FREMP 

Project Review Process and Area Designation 

Agreements. 

Log Management Monitor and enforce FREMP Log Storage 

Guidelines. 

Port and Industrial Identify and define current and potential nodes 

Development Strategy for water-dependent industries, establish a 

demonstration pilot project for nodal development, 

and work with all levels of government to 

maintain areas for potential industrial nodes. 

Recreation Plan Secure key elements within outstanding 

Recreation Units. 

Area Designation Complete agreements with all municipalities and 

Agreements the Dewdney-Alouette Regional District by 

1996. 

Develop New Initiatives through FREMP 

ACTION PROGRAMS SPECIFIC ACTIONS 

Water Quality By 1995 articulate an integrated approach to 

Management water quality management for the estuary and 

prepare a Coordinated Environmental 

Emergency Response Plan, make recommendations 

for priorities and actions regarding source 

control and pollution abatement measures, and 

review existing and proposed program activities, 

policies, and legislation with potential to affect 

water quality management. 

Fish and Wildlife Coordinate administrative and financial arrange- 

Habitat ments between academic institutions, government 

agencies, and the private sector to 

facilitate management-related research, monitor 

habitat losses and gains, and set priorities for 

types of habitats to protect. 

Navigation and Prepare a Dredge Material Management Plan by 

Dredging spring 1995. 

xii 

With FREMP being in 

place since 1985, several 

initiatives are already 

underway. Continuing with 

these activities is a 

primary focus within the 

Estuary Management 

Plan. 

The Estuary Management 

Plan is intended to be 

flexible by responding to 

changing conditions in the 

estuary. The actions 

identified under this 

heading are largely in 

response to emerging 

issues.

3 

4 

Log Management Prepare a code of best log handling practices to 

reduce waterborne debris, develop and enforce 

new and existing harbour bylaws to reduce 

debris generation, and develop a long-term log 

storage strategy. 

Industrial and Urban Prepare guidelines for environmentally responsi- 

Development ble industrial operations, promoting development 

that is compatible with the river and other 

uses, as well as protecting views to and from the 

river, and compile best management practices 

for industrial operations in the estuary. 

Recreation Develop Linear Units, an interpretive plan, and a 

network of interpretive sites for the estuary. 

Carry Out Activities through Member Agencies 

ACTION PROGRAM SPECIFIC ACTIONS 

Water Quality Member agencies will continue to develop 

Management guidelines and enforce regulations regarding 

abatement of pollutants from specific sources. 

Fish and Wildlife Designate Wildlife Management Areas for 

Habitat Crown Lands in critical habitat areas. 

Navigation and Protect existing utility corridors in areas to be 

Dredging dredged and request navigation charts of the 

river above Douglas Island. 

Industrial and Urban 

Development 

Implement viewscape management strategies. 

Undertake Capital Projects 


Fish and Wildlife Undertake habitat improvement projects and 

Habitat research and demonstration projects for habitat 

restoration and creation, secure long-term 

tenure for private lands with high ecological 

values, and incorporate regional open space and 

conservation planning with estuarine habitat 

management activities. 

Navigation and Commit funding to the maintenance of a 

Dredging functional navigation system in the estuary. 

Industrial and Urban Secure critical water-oriented industrial develop- 

Development ment sites through purchasing and holding land 

for future development. 

Recreation Construct facilities and install signage in each 

Recreation Unit. 


xiii 

Whereas actions under 

the previous two headings 

are coordinated through 

FREMP, some actions are 

the responsibility of 

specific agencies and 

organizations, requiring 

changes in internal policies 

or the need to carry out 

specific procedures. 

A few actions require 

capital expenditures that 

must be financed by 

agencies participating in 

FREMP. The proposed 

actions fall within existing 

budgets.

Summary 

5 

6 

Develop Information Systems 

TYPE OF SYSTEM SPECIFIC ACTIONS 

Classification System Establish the following: an information system to 

and Inventories track ongoing water quality monitoring and 

research, a new classification system for archaeological 

wet sites, an inventory of types and 

locations of water-dependent industries, and 

maps of critical viewscapes to and from the 

river. 

Monitoring Habitat loss and gain, sediment budget and 

morphology of delta, marine traffic trends, and 

changes in use of waterfront lands. 

Develop Communication and Education Materials and Programs 


Water Quality Prepare and distribute a status report on water 

Management quality every three years. 

Navigation and Publish annually the sediment budget in the 

Dredging estuary and monitoring of marine traffic trends. 

Log Management Develop a technology transfer program aimed 

at wood processors to improve log handling 

practices. 

Industrial and Urban Explain the needs of water-dependent industries 

Development and future development plans to decision 

makers, developers, the real estate industry, 

residents, and the general public. 

Recreation (and Fish Install interpretive signs and prepare brochures 

and Wildlife Habitat about habitat improvement and protection, the 

and Industrial and recreation plan, and liability and public safety; 

Urban Development) and participate in community festivals, special 

events, and programs delivered by agencies. 

Overall Prepare and distribute a State of the Estuary 

Report every five years. 

xiv 

The proposed inventories 

and monitoring programs 

support the principles for 

integrated management 

by providing sound 

knowledge of the estuary’s 

resources. 

The materials and programs 

identified under this 

heading are intended to 

increase people’s understanding 

of various human 

activities and natural 

processes in the estuary.

7 

Develop Opportunities for Consultation and Involvement 


Water Quality Encourage the public and other agencies to 

Management propose modification to the Provisional Water 

Quality Objectives and train citizens for clean-up 

tasks and reporting spills. 

Fish and Wildlife Encourage involvement in habitat restoration 

Habitat and enhancement projects and in developing 

partnerships with government and non-government 

organizations to implement habitat 

management plans and jointly fund improvement 

projects. 

Industrial and Urban Distribute information about water-dependent 

Development industries through municipal economic development 

offices and ensure planned Recreation 

Units are compatible with proposed industrial 

nodes. 

Recreation Devise a management structure for estuarywide 

recreation that facilitates public communication, 

debate, and modification. 

Overall Involve the public in developing new plans and 

procedures (e.g., Dredge Material Management 

Plan and Area Designation Agreements) and in 

monitoring and evaluating the Estuary 

Management Plan and State of the Estuary 

Reports. 


xv 

These activities enable 

interested members of the 

public to directly contribute 

to improving the 

health of the estuary and 

help shape policies and 

plans.

Summary 

Activating the Plan 

Within the framework of the Estuary Management Plan, organizations and 

agencies can pursue their individual interests, because existing jurisdictions 

are respected, and meet the needs of the broader region at the same 

time. The emphasis is on developing coordinated and cooperative programs 

and directions for action. Federal and provincial government agencies, 

port authorities, regional districts, local municipalities, First Nations, 

interest groups, and the public all have a part in making this Plan work. 

Management Tools 

A variety of management tools are available to implement the actions in 

the Estuary Management Plan. Two processes coordinated through FREMP 

have the capability of incorporating many of the guidelines and directions 

outlined in the Plan. The ongoing Project Review Process provides proponents 

(e.g., developers of private property or government agencies) with a 

single “window” through which to submit their applications for use or 

development within the estuary. The Area Designation Process identifies 

primary uses within the estuary, such as log storage, conservation, or 

industry. These designations, worked out in concert with municipalities, 

integrate water-based activities with upland uses. 

The guidelines and directions already incorporated into these processes 

include the FREMP habitat coding and classification, the federal Policy for 

the Management of Fish Habitat, Fraser River Dredging Guidelines for 

fisheries protection, navigable channel design recommendations, Log 

Storage Guidelines, Official Community Plans, and zoning. 

When decisions cannot be reached through FREMP’s two management 

processes, or a policy issue emerges, the conflict will be forwarded to 

FREMP’s Management Committee, who will initiate a new procedure, the 

Conflict Resolution Process. This Process, which is based on consensus, 

may be handled by the FREMP Secretariat or a designated mediator, 

depending on the nature of the issue and the players involved. The alternative 

to this Process is to give the authority for decision making to the 

agency with the appropriate jurisdiction. 

Monitoring and Evaluating the Plan 

Monitoring and evaluating management decisions and actions will help 

ensure the Estuary Management Planning process achieves what it is 

designed to do and stays open to new ideas and changing conditions in 

the estuary. 

On an annual basis, the targets and actions will be reviewed to see if they 

are realistic and appropriate, and if additional information is required. Also 

to be reviewed are the institutional and joint funding arrangements, public 

consultation processes, and conflict resolution strategy to assess their 

effectiveness in making the Estuary Management Planning process work. 

Based on this evaluation, adjustments can be made. 

Every five years, the vision, goals, and guiding principles will be revisited 

and refinements made based on the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of 

Estuary Management Plan actions and other relevant information. 

xvi

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