Nature Vancouver

As part of the Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade (a ten year project), the four sewerage treatment lagoons will be ‘dewatered’ over the next three years, but mitigation wetlands may not be created for another ten years, towards the end of the construction project. Bird Studies Canada and Nature Vancouver have sent a letter to Metro Vancouver Regional District expressing concerns with this multiyear gap for bird habitat. A PDF of the letter is available HERE.

Workshop on Lower Fraser River, organized by the Rivershed Society of BC June 20, 1:00 to 3:45 pm at Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre. Come with your ideas to help create a conservation and restoration plan for the Lower Fraser River. Please register to attend by EMAIL MORE INFORMATION

Vancouver Park Board seeks public input Here’s an opportunity to comment on the proposed plan for the Vanier Park forest area, located near the Museum of Vancouver, just northwest of the Burrard Street bridge, between the Coast Guard station and the Vancouver Music Academy. This area has the Cottonwood Forest, youth bike BMX jumps and a pair of nesting eagles. The plan proposes: a bike circuit dirt track for children, a new eagle nest pole to provide a potential nesting site to…

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Submitted by Bev Ramey Bev@naturevancouver.ca Many of you are aware that logging occurred last year in what is known as the Manning-Skagit ‘Donut Hole’. The Donut Hole refers to the area not yet included within the parks but surrounded by Manning and Skagit Provincial Parks. This area has not yet received park designation due to an old mining claim, and the Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission is negotiating to buy out this claim. Government allowed logging to occur last year, but after…

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Future of Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant, wetlands and public facilities at Iona Island Regional Park Several Nature Vancouver members attended a public meeting in January and recently a stakeholder meeting regarding the future of the Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant. Metro Vancouver is required by law to upgrade the sewerage treatment and is seeking public input on the overall design, including wetlands and fit with Iona Island Regional Park. This is a major design and construction project, scheduled for over the next decade. …

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The City of Vancouver, the Musqueam-Squamish-Tsleil-Waututh Nations and the Canada Lands Company are co-hosting two events to launch the planning program for the future of the Jericho Lands.  Learn about the process and share your ideas. Saturday March 2, from noon to 4 pm and Thursday, March 7, from 4:30 to 7:30 pm, both at Jericho Hill Gymnasium. See more at www.vancouver.ca/Jericho-lands

The Fraser River has the largest estuary on North America’s Pacific Coast. This is Canada’s major stopover of the Pacific Flyway with millions of migrating birds travelling over 3 continents, including 20 countries. The estuary and surrounding watershed supports Canada’s largest populations of wintering waterfowl, shorebirds and birds of prey with global and local recognition: the most significant Important Bird Area (IBA) in Canada highest designation site under the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network designation as 4 provincial Wildlife Management Areas…

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Metro Vancouver held a community workshop January 9, 2019 to gather views about the upgrade project.  Several Nature Vancouver members attended and provided input.  If you missed the workshop, you still have the opportunity to provide input by completing an online feedback form.  Find background information and the online feedback form HERE. Deadline to submit comments is January 25. Metro Vancouver will hold three more community workshops over the next year. Nature Vancouver members are encouraged to get involved.  This…

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The Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, adjacent to Iona Beach Regional Park, is in the planning stages for a major new treatment plant.  This project will be a special interest to Nature Vancouver birders, given the numerous and sometimes unusual birds that currently use the sewerage treatment ponds.  Metro Vancouver is holding its first Community Workshop on Wednesday January 9, 2019, 6 to 8:30 pm, at 3688 Cessna Drive.  See details on Metro Vancouver website.

Parks Canada invites Canadians to discuss the proposed national park reserve in the South Okanagan-Similkameen.   Parks Canada is seeking input on the current proposed boundary and key aspects regarding management.  Deadline to submit comments is February 28, 2019.  Read more and find the survey at:  https://LetsTalkSouthOkanaganSimilkameen.ca/