Conservation Priorities in the Squamish River Estuary To: Squamish Estuary Conservation Society



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Conservation Priorities in the Squamish River Estuary

To: Squamish Estuary Conservation Society

Box 1274, Squamish, B.C., V0N 3G0


Prepared by


Box 612 (1021 Raven Dr.)

Squamish, B.C.


V0N 3G0

Contact: Linda Dupuis

Phone: (604) 898-4770, Fax: (604) 898-4742



l.dupuis@telus.net

October 25th, 2003



Table of Contents

Introduction 4

PART 1: Background Information 5

1.0 Description of the Estuary 5

1.1 Physical Function 6

1.2 Biological Function 6

1.3 Ecosystem Components 7

1.3.1 Aquatic Environment 7

1.3.2 Estuarine Environment 8

1.3.3 Terrestrial Environment 8

1.4 Biodiversity 9

1.4.1 Fish 9

1.4.2 Wildlife 10

Table 1. Summary of bird abundance and biodiversity in the Squamish Estuary 15

2.0 Human Activities in the Estuary 17

2.1 Brief History of Land Use 17

2.2 Current Threats 19

2.2.1 Heavy Industry 20

2.2.2 Proposed Commercial/Industrial Zone and Transportation Corridor 21

2.2.3 Storm run-off and Sewage Infrastructure 21

2.2.4 Recreation 22

Part 2: Conservation Needs of Squamish Estuary 23

1.0 Key Conservation Tenets 23

1.1 Important Landscape Attributes 23

1.1.1 Ecotones 23

1.1.2 Riparian Corridors 23

1.1.3 Undisturbed tidal channels and mudflats 24

1.1.4 Landscape Connectivity 24

1.1.5 Water 25

1.2 Important Habitat Attributes 25

1.3 Vulnerable and Keystone Species 26

2.0 Protection Priorities 26

3.0 Management Guidelines 29

3.1 Retain Riparian Buffers 30

3.2 Maintain Good Water Quality 32

3.3 Manage Recreation and Tourism 33

3.4 Enhance Natural Habitats 36

3.5 Education 36

4.0 Conclusion 36

5.0 Literature Cited 37


Conservation Priorities in the Squamish Estuary

Introduction

Although the Squamish estuary has been subject to some development since the turn of the century, roughly 50% of it is still relatively undisturbed. It is unique in the Puget Trough, in its deltaic environmental, morphological features and associated plant communities (Hutchinson 1988). Its uniqueness has been recognized and a large portion of the estuary has come under provincial jurisdiction as a wildlife management area (WMA). This new protective status, and the area’s natural beauty will render the estuary an increasingly popular destination for tourists and outdoor recreationists as the population continues to grow. As with all wetlands and wildlife management areas, it is critical that all existing information for the area be amalgamated and reviewed so that a-priori conservation priorities, information gaps, and management needs can be outlined. These factors will then allow for a well thought-out habitat management plan to be developed, one that will guide all future development initiatives in and near the estuary, and ensure its continued biological and functional integrity.


Linda Dupuis (Ascaphus Consulting) was retained by the Squamish Estuary Conservation Society to outline the estuary’s protection priorities and management needs. This was to be achieved by: (1) gathering information on historical and existing land uses in and adjacent to the estuary; (2) compiling and analyzing data on vegetation, fish and wildlife in the estuary; and (3) producing a comprehensive summary of the estuary’s key spatial, compositional, and functional attributes. The overall goal of this project was to provide a tool that could help in achieving a unified vision of the estuary, one that strikes a healthy balance between wildlife and the demands posed by recreation and development.
This report is presented in two sections. Part one is a detailed description of the estuary’s physical and biological functions and characteristics. Part one also describes the historic and current land uses within and next to the estuary. The purpose of this first section is to provide the reader with the background knowledge necessary to make informed decisions regarding the estuary’s conservation needs. Part two of this report outlines protection priorities and management guidelines within the WMA and along its borders.

PART 1: Background Information



1.0 Description of the Estuary

An estuary is a transitional area between river and sea, tidally driven yet sheltered from the full force of ocean wind and waves. Although estuaries make up a minute proportion of the land in B.C., they are among the most biologically productive ecosystems, acting as nurseries and foraging sites for fish and wildlife. More than two thirds of all fish and shellfish spend part of their lives in estuaries. They are also crucial staging areas for thousands of migratory and over-wintering waterbirds, breeding habitat for estuarine dependent species, and prime real estate for shrub and wetland habitat generalists.


Although these saline wetlands are rich in biodiversity, they occur on valley bottoms and river deltas where human settlements tend to congregate. Consequently, most of this uncommon habitat has been altered or lost. For example, roughly 500 km of dykes extend through the Fraser Valley today, in an attempt to transform wetlands into fertile farmlands and prevent flooding in residential areas. Roughly 23% of the nearshore has been urbanized (BC Nearshore Habitat Loss Working Group 2001), and a significant proportion of the shoreline is being directly or indirectly impacted by industries and commercial enterprises. Less than 4% of the coastal wetlands and estuaries in the Georgia Basin are currently protected under federal or provincial legislation (BC Nearshore Habitat Loss Working Group 2001). Even the riparian forests along the periphery of estuaries are at risk from developmental pressure; less than 4% of the land adjacent to the intertidal zone remains in a natural state within the Georgia Basin, and young forest comprises 65% of this altered land (BC Nearshore Habitat Loss Work Group 2001).
The Squamish estuary contains four deltas (Figure 1). West Delta includes the mudflats and saltmarshes on the west side of Squamish River, and is bound by the forested slopes of the Tantalus Range. Central Delta is found between the Squamish River and Central Channel, which grades upstream into Crescent Slough. A training dyke bisects Central Delta: to the west of it is the Squamish River, and to the east is a recently restored marsh. East Delta occurs between the Central and Mamquam Blind Channels. The eastern half of this delta houses the town centre and the industrial lands used by the local forest industry. The western half contains a saltmarsh and tidal drainage complex locally known as East Marsh, North Field, Bridge Pond, and East Channel. There is a fringe of riparian forest around this undeveloped, western half of East Delta, which grades into floodplain forest (areas locally known as Site A and the eastern portion of Crescent Slough). The Mamquam Delta consists of the blind channel’s eastern shore, including the locally known Isolated Marsh, and is bisected by Stawamus River. Sta-a-mish Village is situated at the mouth of Stawamus River and is bordered to the north by a sawmill, and to the south by a log sort that is currently being extended towards the outer edge of the estuary.


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