Environmental management
Natural areas including our shorelines, rivers, streams, wetlands, and forested mountain slopes make up 70% of the District’s overall land base. These areas provide a spectacular setting and strong identity for our community and also contain ecosystems that provide many functions necessary for our health and the well-being of a wide variety of plants and animals.
They provide clean air and water, healthy soils, and a host of ecological services including rainwater interception, soil stability and temperature regulation, as well as outstanding recreational opportunities.
Our objective is to protect and improve the ecological health of our natural systems. This means preserving our rich natural heritage for future generations while enjoying it responsibly today.
2030 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT GOAL: Integrated stormwater management plans and implementation on all urbanized watersheds
Biodiversity
The diverse forms of life and the habitats and natural processes that support them form the ecosystems that sustain life on this planet. Biodiversity is the foundation of the ecological services we depend on, such as photosynthesis, oxygen, the purification of air and water, and pollination of our crops as well as providing the natural resources that support our economies.
Loss of habitat, habitat fragmentation and invasive species are some of the key threats to our local biodiversity.
Reaching our biodiversity objective
Our objective is to protect the ecological integrity of our diverse ecosystems.
We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:
- Identify and map ecologically important features and develop an Ecological Management Strategy to protect these features
- Manage land uses to protect the ecological values of parkland while providing recreational opportunities (see Map 3, Parks and Trails Concept Map)
- Consider the acquisition of environmentally sensitive areas for addition to the parkland system
- Support the protection and enhancement of biodiversity through implementation of environmental development permit areas and guidelines for the protection of the natural environment, streamside areas and hazardous conditions (Schedule B)
- Encourage and facilitate the protection of rare, endangered and vulnerable species and ecosystems through habitat management, enhancement and restoration
- Use conservation tools including covenants, eco-gifting, land trusts and tax incentives to conserve lands supporting biodiversity on private property where appropriate
- Facilitate the connection and restoration of ecologically important areas, natural features, and urban habitat areas to create a comprehensive network of diverse habitats and wildlife corridors within the District
- Promote environmentally-friendly landscaping practices through the development review process and through stewardship initiatives
- Develop and implement an integrated invasive species management strategy, with partners, to reduce the spread of invasive species
- Support measures to prevent conflict between people and wildlife through community education initiatives and enhancements to wildlife corridors
- Identify, manage, and conserve ecologically important areas, in collaboration with other levels of government, First Nations governments, and community organizations
Urban forest and soil systems
Trees in parks, riparian areas, streets, and trees on private property are all part of the urban forest and help improve community livability and ecological health. Trees improve air quality, sequester carbon, moderate local climate, provide habitat for wildlife, enhance walking and cycling routes, and control rainwater runoff.
An equally important part of the urban forest is the soil system. Soil provides the foundation and nutrients for plant growth, absorbs and stores water, and filters water pollutants.
Meeting our urban forest objective
The District’s objective is to protect our forested character and enhance the health of our trees and soils.
We plan to achieve this by taking these actions:
- Promote the protection of the forested character of the District and remaining old growth trees both in urban and upland areas
- Recognise the value of the ecological services provided by urban trees and encourage tree retention, replacement or compensation as guided by the District’s development permit requirements and tree protection bylaws
- Support the appropriate maintenance of trees and hazard tree removal
- Manage the urban-forest interface to improve the species mix and mitigate risk of disease or hazards such as wildfire and windfall
- Manage upland forested areas with a view to sustaining the forest for future generations
- Seek to retain soils, prevent soil compaction, erosion and instability during development and ensure adequate soil depth for rainwater infiltration and vegetation growth
- Facilitate Provincial Government regulation of contaminated sites through the development approvals process
Aquatic ecosystems
Urban land uses can have a significant impact on water quality, base flows and the overall health of aquatic ecosystems. Increasing impervious surfaces, decreasing tree canopy, and reducing topsoil within urban watersheds alters natural hydrological systems and can result in contamination of rainwater, increased volumes of urban runoff discharging into local waterways, and less groundwater recharge which is critical in maintaining base flows in our streams.
Coastal development can reduce shoreline and intertidal habitat and increase the risks of property damage from storms and sea level rise.
Meeting our aquatic ecosystem objective
Our objective is to encourage proactive management of our watersheds and foreshore areas to best maintain hydrological functions.
We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:
- Prepare and implement integrated watershed/storm water management plans for all District watersheds prioritizing watersheds containing key growth areas
- Facilitate the protection and enhancement of streams, riparian areas and wetlands
- Facilitate the maintenance of fish passage in all streams and restore habitat and connectivity in riparian areas of the District
- Encourage measures to infiltrate rainwater onsite, where appropriate, and manage impervious areas to reduce runoff volumes, improve water quality, and recharge groundwater
- Design new and replacement drainage infrastructure, including biological treatments, to enhance water quality and to reduce the volume of runoff entering watercourses
- Facilitate the protection and maintenance of groundwater levels where appropriate, and manage the amount of groundwater pumped into drainage infrastructure
- Minimize pesticide use through implementation of the Pesticide Use Control Bylaw, education initiatives promoting alternatives to pesticide use, and working with local businesses to eliminate the sale of cosmetic pesticides
- Develop integrated spill and pollution event response plans, working with business and senior agencies
- Establish a new Marine Foreshore Development Permit Area to protect and improve the health of the marine foreshore
- Enhance access to publicly owned marine shorelines where appropriate while protecting coastal habitat
Natural hazards
The presence of steep slopes, creeks, ravines, floodplains and forested lands combined with occasional extreme weather activity make some areas of the District susceptible to natural hazards including landslide, debris flow, flood and wildfire.
Development in areas prone to natural hazards requires special consideration due to concerns for personal safety and risk of property damage as well as potential impacts to natural environments.
Reaching our natural hazard objective
Our objective is to reduce and mitigate the risk associated with natural hazards.
We plan to achieve this by taking these actions:
- Develop and implement natural hazards development permit areas in relation to landslide, flood, debris flow and forest interface wildfire risks
- Facilitate mitigation measures to reduce risks of landslide, flood, debris flow and forest interface wildfire
- Advance the natural hazard management program by continuing to develop information and communication systems
Air quality
Good air quality is important to the health and well-being of District residents and ecological systems. While management of air quality is a Regional and Provincial responsibility, land use, transportation, environmental and energy planning can have implications for local air quality.
Reaching our air quality objective
Our objective is to help facilitate good air quality locally and regionally.
We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:
- Support regional directives to monitor and manage air quality
- Consider public health implications, including air quality and noise, in the evaluation of new developments and other planning activities
- Encourage new and innovative clean fuel alternatives for vehicles and supportive infrastructure such as electric charging stations, hydrogen highway and others
- Promote anti-idling education initiatives
Community stewardship
The health of our natural environment affects all of us and we have a shared responsibility in conserving, protecting and restoring ecological systems. Environmental education and partnerships build an awareness of our natural systems, an understanding of how our actions can alter these systems, and enable the celebration of our shared natural heritage.
Reaching our stewardship objective
Our objective is to create a stewardship ethic where citizens and businesses engage in environmental efforts.
We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:
- Continue to coordinate and partner with senior governments, neighbouring municipalities, local First Nations governments, the School District, local businesses, and community organizations in the delivery of environmental stewardship initiatives
- Advance environmental sustainability objectives by facilitating the delivery of programs in District parks
- Conserve and enhance habitat on private lands by working with land owners
- Build environmental awareness by promoting community education initiatives
- Recognize and support the efforts of local volunteer groups in promoting environmental stewardship