Delta farmers are raising concern about a habitat restoration project proposed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
The Delta Farmers’ Institute has met with the port authority to discuss concerns regarding the Westham Island Canoe Pass Tidal Marsh Project, part of the port authority’s Habitat Enhancement Program.
The project would be located in Canoe Pass, near the south side of Westham Island in Ladner.
The port says it would expand an existing marsh area by converting an adjacent unvegetated, low-value intertidal sandflat and mudflat into approximately four hectares of high-quality marsh habitat.
As an added community benefit, the port authority says it is considering using locally dredged material from a nearby navigation channel to construct the proposed tidal marsh habitat.
The site was selected based on its potential to benefit a broad range of fish and wildlife species, and to increase the overall ecological function of the area, according to the port, which has had an application to the province in the works for a few years.
“The port authority engaged professional consultants to determine if this project, if built, would impact current farming-related infrastructure in the area. As the project site is more than 400 metres away from the nearest drainage feature, or flood box, it was determined river flows will not be altered to any significant extent, so impacts are not anticipated,” the port states. “The port authority has consulted with the public and stakeholders regarding options for features related to the proposed project. This consultation has included meetings and site visits with the City of Delta, the Delta Farmers Institute and local residents.”
The DFI gave a verbal update at a recent meeting of the city’s Agricultural Advisory Committee, noting they expressed concerns about the viability of both the irrigation and the salt-water marsh projects occurring in the same area.
They said construction of the salt-water marsh would interfere with the flow of the river and negatively impact new and existing irrigation systems.
The DFI also sent letter to the port authority reiterating those concerns, also sending copies to Delta MP Carla Qualtrough as well as Delta council.
