HomeMy WebLinkAboutEMS Final ReportCaring For
Our Nature
Maple Ridge
Environmental
Management
Strategy
April 2014
This page is intentionally blank to
support double-sided printing.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY i
Contents
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................... iii
1.0 Context and Justification .................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Purpose of the EMS ............................................................................................................................. 6
1.3 Existing Environmental Framework ..................................................................................................... 7
1.4 Engagement Process ......................................................................................................................... 16
2.0 Findings ............................................................................................................................................ 18
2.1 What we Heard from the Community ................................................................................................. 18
2.2 Consulting Team Findings ................................................................................................................. 24
3.0 Environmental Management Strategies ........................................................................................ 33
3.1 Introduction to the Goals .................................................................................................................... 33
3.2 Objectives, Strategies and Actions .................................................................................................... 35
4.0 Implementation Plan ........................................................................................................................ 53
4.1 Priorities and Phasing ........................................................................................................................ 53
4.2 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 56
List of Acronyms ....................................................................................................................................... 57
References and Case Studies .................................................................................................................. 58
Figures
Figure 1: Framework for the EMS .............................................................................................................. 4
Figure 2: Existing District Tools for Environmental Management ....................................................... 11
Figure 3: Environmental Management Framework ............................................................................... 12
Figure 4: EMS Engagement Process ...................................................................................................... 17
Figure 5: Community Questionnaire Responses on Successes of Environmental Management .... 19
Figure 6: Community Survey Responses on Challenges of Environmental Management ............... 21
Figure 7: Implementation Plan Table ...................................................................................................... 55
Appendices
Appendix A: Benefits of Environmental Protection and Management .............................................. A-1
Appendix B: Official Community Plan DPAs ........................................................................................ B-1
Appendix C: Background Analysis to Support Strategies and Actions ........................................... C-1
Appendix D: Cross-reference of EMS Objectives to Other Documents ............................................ D-1
Maps
Map 1: Watercourses
Map 2: Natural Features
Map 3: Natural Hazards
ii DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Acknowledgements
Consultants
Urban Systems
Catherine Berris, Lead Planner
Bill Gushue, GIS
Melissa Miller, Graphic Layout
Quadra Planning Consultants Ltd
Michael McPhee, Planner
B.A. Blackwell and Associates Ltd.
Bruce Blackwell, Forester
District of Maple Ridge
Frank Quinn, General Manager of Public Works and Development
Christine Carter, Director of Planning
Chuck Goddard, Manager of Development and Environmental Services
Rodney Stott, Environmental Planner, Project Manager
In Appreciation
We sincerely thank the many stakeholders, community members and
Council who attended countless meetings and provided valuable input to
the process and responses to the questionnaire.
USL File: 1279.0018.01
505 – 1090 Homer St.
Vancouver BC V1Y 1Z9
Contact: Catherine Berris, RLA, RPP, FCSLA
T: 604 235-1701
cberris@urbansystems.ca
urbansystems.ca
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY iii
Executive Summary
The residents of Maple Ridge and the District’s Council place a high value on
protecting and managing the District’s watersheds and natural areas to retain
their ecological health. The natural environment provides a range of free
services and benefits that are social, economic and environmental.
Stemming from the Official Community Plan (OCP) and its emphasis on the
natural environment, the high rate of population growth, new challenges such
as climate change, and community interest, the District decided to undertake
an Environmental Management Strategy (EMS).
The purpose of the Environmental Management Strategy is to understand
the ongoing challenges, to identify opportunities and viable options, and to
determine priorities and next steps with respect to environmental protection
and management. A key intent is to implement the principles of sustainability,
affordability, and accountability in relation to costs and benefits, and to
respect the values of the community, in planning for new development.
A community engagement process was used to obtain the input of
stakeholders and the public through workshops and an open house. In
general, there is strong support for many of the District’s existing
environmental management tools and programs. Residents’ top priorities for
environmental management are to protect ecosystems, trees and forests,
and aquifers, and to improve enforcement and limit sprawl.
iv DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
The EMS has three goals:
Goal A: Conserve and manage our natural assets
Goal B: Design and build sustainable neighbourhoods
Goal C: Improve communications and environmental awareness
Within each of these goals, the EMS provides objectives, strategies and
actions for the District’s existing tools that need fine tuning, as well as some
new policies and processes to complement existing tools.
The implementation plan identifies the resources, proposed phasing, relative
priority and responsibilities for each proposed action. The following are some
of the high priority actions recommended for implementation in the short
term:
Update Soil Deposit Bylaw
Prepare Tree Preservation and Management Bylaw
Prepare a system for encouraging and documenting all of a project’s
sustainable development practices in an integrated manner
Consider incentives such as density bonus, density transfer, DCC
reductions or priority processing
Integrate monitoring and enforcement into policies and processes
Consider an Environmental Advisory Committee
Consider providing more resources to the environment section to to
better manage, administer and enforce bylaws, conduct outreach,
collaborate with stakeholders, and to generally implement the
Environmental Management Strategy
Once the EMS has been received by Council, there will be opportunities for
Council to work with staff, potentially with the input of an Environmental
Advisory Committee, to refine the priorities and phasing. There will also be
opportunities for Council to focus on implementation details including
clarification of objectives, expectations, definitions and implications.
The incentives are to support
potential preservation of
environmentally sensitive areas
or features that are not
regulated by senior agencies or
by the District.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 1
1.0 Context and Justification
1.1 Introduction
The residents of Maple Ridge and the District’s Council place a high value
on protecting and managing the District’s watersheds and natural areas to
retain their ecological health. This is reflected in the Official Community Plan
(OCP) and has been confirmed in multiple public surveys and community
visioning exercises. The historical civic support of the community for the
natural environment is central to what makes Maple Ridge an attractive and
sustainable place in which to live, work, and play.
Unlike so many other cities that are working to reclaim and reinstate
ecosystems and natural features, the District of Maple Ridge has the unique
and enviable opportunity of continuing to grow and benefit by working with
the natural environment. Local governments are recognizing that
maintaining and managing our natural systems is often less costly and less
risky than expanding and maintaining hard infrastructure.
The natural environment provides a range of free services and benefits that
can assist Maple Ridge in its pursuit of affordable, safe, and sustainable
development objectives. Some of these services and benefits are as follows
(see also Appendix A):
The estimated average annual
values of ecosystem services for
all benefits (including but not
limited to carbon storage, air
pollution abatement, water
quantity, water quality, pollination,
habitat, and recreation) are
$3,826 per hectare in the Lower
Fraser Watershed, which
encompasses Maple Ridge. –
David Suzuki Foundation
This calculation is one of several
quantitative evaluations of the
value of natural capital.
2 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Economic – attraction of commerce, support for agriculture,
recreation and tourism; erosion control and slope stability,
stormwater and rainwater management, risk reduction, temperature
moderation
Social –protection of aesthetic, cultural, and recreational values;
physical and mental health, community pride
Environmental – habitat for fisheries and wildlife, biodiversity, clean
air, clean water, sequestering of carbon
Maple Ridge is experiencing an annual population increase of three percent
per year, as well as economic growth. This is accompanied by increasing
responsibilities and duties associated with development reviews, increasing
needs for environmental management in capital programs, higher
expectations for environmental services from the public, the development
community, and special interest groups, and needs for more environmental
coordination among municipal departments on District projects and best
management practices.
The District requested that an Environmental Management Strategy (EMS)
be carried out to broaden an understanding of ongoing strengths and
challenges with respect to environmental management in Maple Ridge, and
to help the District continue to responsibly manage resources now and into
the future.
There is evidence that natural
plantings increase property
values. A Millenium Ecosystem
Assessment showed a property
value increase of over $21,000
per year resulting from green
space nearby.
Map from Natural Capital in BC’s Lower
Mainland: Valuing the Benefits from
Nature, David Suzuki Foundation and
Pacific Parklands Foundation, 2010
Various methods are used to
assign different monetary
values to benefits provided by
trees, but all of them recognize
there is a significant fiscal value
associated with services that
trees provide.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 3
The District has set a strong foundation for environmental protection through
three policy documents that are based on the values of the community: the
Official Community Plan (OCP) 2006, the Corporate Strategic Plan (CSP)
2007, and the Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) 2007. These documents
include high-level objectives and policies for protecting and responsibly
managing our natural resources.
Through implementing the objectives and policies that are already in place,
the District has a track record of innovative environmental programs. Some
of these programs and tools require upgrades to help make them more
effective in dealing with ongoing challenges. In some cases, new strategies
and tools are required to help the District achieve its current OCP objectives
and policies, along with corporate sustainability goals.
There are also new challenges such as climate change, ongoing
development pressure, and significant population growth that leads to
increasing demands on natural resources. These challenges require broad
thinking and actions by the District to protect the interests of existing and
future residents.
Responsibilities of the environmental staff in the Maple Ridge Planning Department:
Processing of development applications - average of 119 per year
Pre-development or pre-building permit application environmental duties: GIS analysis; meetings with
applicants and consultants; site visits re watercourses, tree cutting and soil deposition; field verification and
review of environmental assessments – average of 100 reviews and site visits per month
Front counter inquiries and calls from realtors, home owners, and developers – average of 100 inquiries per
month
Phone inquiries and complaints for follow-up – average of 200 calls per month often resulting in additional
site visits, enforcement actions, permit process applications, etc.
Processing of applications for building permits, soils permits, erosion control permits, with some
supplementary DP permits – average of 100 per year
Review and processing of storwater/rainwater management applications – average of 150 per year
Enforcement visits and monitoring site visits for erosion and sediment control, enhancement work, security
deposit returns, etc. – average of 65 site visits per month
Meetings with other departments, development stakeholders, senior agencies, public – average of 75
meetings per month per person
Capital Projects and Environmental Review with Engineering, Parks, and Operations Departments – average
of 10 to 15 projects per year
Special Projects, Policy Review and Area Plan Review – average of 5 to 10 additional major projects per
year
4 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
The following are the key reasons for undertaking the EMS:
To guide the District towards sustainable management of the natural
resources that provide the community with social, economic, and
ecological benefits
To continue to attract investments in sustainable growth
To continue building a resilient community in the face of climate
change
To maximize efficiencies and cost savings associated with the
services provided by the natural environment
To reduce impacts to neighbouring properties from development-
related activity
The District is at a juncture where there is an opportunity to pro-actively plan
for future generations and offset costs associated with ongoing impacts,
mitigation, and potential liability concerns. The EMS builds on the existing
policy framework and guides the District towards long-term sustainability
(Figure 1).
Figure 1: Framework for the EMS
During the course of this
project some home owners
indicated that they paid a
premium for their
properties, partly because
of their appreciation for the
natural beauty and services
that the environment
provides them.
Development impacts on
these lands can detract
from those values,
monetary and otherwise.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 5
Benefits of Environmental Management
The benefits of a comprehensive and well-managed environmental
framework are wide-ranging and well documented (see also Appendix A).
There are many economic, social, and environmental reasons why it
makes sense for local governments to protect and manage environmentally
sensitive areas, significant natural features, and ecological processes.
There is a growing movement across North America and the world to
acknowledge these benefits and to quantify them through a variety of
studies and measures (see References).
Economic benefits occur at multiple levels. The District’s continuing
investment in environmental programs has contributed significant cost
savings with respect to less infrastructure maintenance and reduced risk
and hazard abatement measures, as well as a stronger economy. The
more sustainable developments appear to be attracting more awards, more
attention from home buyers, and more innovative investors into our
community.
The primary social benefits of environmental management are related to
the way we feel about our community. When there is more natural beauty,
more opportunities for outdoor recreation, and cleaner air and water, we
have improved mental and physical health. We have pride in our
community and a closer relationship with nature, which in itself has proven
health benefits.
The environmental benefits may be the most apparent, conserving
ecological processes, protecting important vegetation and providing habitat
for fish and wildlife. Natural environments and ecological processes also
help to manage stormwater and rainwater, protect water and air quality,
prevent floods and wildfires, and conserve soils in rural and agricultural
lands. The natural environment, when it is in a healthy state, is responsible
for recharging aquifers and groundwater sources, controlling erosion and
soil stability, and filtering pollutants out of groundwater and surface water.
Many of the environmental programs and initiatives that have been
implemented to date have resulted in significant economic, social, and
environmental benefits to the larger community, to corporate decision
makers, as well as to land owners. The EMS is an important stepping
stone to ensuring that we continue to recognize these benefits and
incorporate these ecological services into planning and development
processes.
6 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
1.2 Purpose of the EMS
The purpose of the Environmental Management Strategy is as follows:
To understand the ongoing challenges that face the community with
respect to meeting the OCP objectives concerning the environment
To identify opportunities and viable options to implement the
principles of sustainability, affordability, and the values of the
community expressed in the OCP
To determine priorities and next steps with respect to environmental
protection and management
To be accountable for the implications and costs associated with
development and environmental management – the costs and
benefits associated with the adoption of various environmental
strategies or action items along with the potential costs associated
with not changing the current course of action
Image from Metro Vancouver report (Kerr Wood Leidal)
Rain Garden in Boulevard
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 7
The intent of the Environmental Management Strategy (EMS) is neither to
halt nor impede development, which is appreciated for the economic, social
and ecological well-being that it brings. The primary purpose is to ensure
that development continues to incorporate the OCP principles and values
that draw people to Maple Ridge. This requires planning ahead for the
preservation, integration, and responsible management of natural assets.
Environmental management occurs across a wide spectrum of time frames
and scales. For this reason, the EMS includes strategies and tools for a
variety of planning time frames and multiple geographic scales including
watershed / regional, municipal and site-specific levels. In the
Implementation Plan, the priorities, phasing plan and next steps chart a
course for the implementation of EMS recommendations.
1.3 Existing Environmental Framework
Federal and Provincial Scale
Maple Ridge is subject to federal and provincial legislation related to
environmental management. Some of the more relevant regulations include
the Fisheries Act and its provisions (Department of Fisheries and Oceans –
DFO), non-anadromous fish and wildlife protection (Ministry of Environment –
MOE), and protections and regulations related to agricultural land
(Agricultural Land Commission – ALC).
Senior Environmental Agencies and Regulations
Federal
Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Fisheries Act
Environment Canada - Canada Wildlife Act, Species at Risk Act (SARA), Canadian Environmental Protection Act,
Provincial
Ministry of the Environment - Environmental Management Act (EMA)
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations - Water Act, Wildlife Act
Ministry of Agriculture - Agricultural Land Commission – Agricultural Land Commission Act, Agricultural Land
Reserve Use, Subdivision and Procedure Regulation
8 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Regional Scale
Natural areas in Maple Ridge are influenced by the ecological networks in
surrounding areas. Consideration of the regional scale is therefore an
integral part of managing the environment.
Metro Vancouver has conducted a significant amount of work that provides
the regional context. Metro Vancouver’s Sustainability Framework commits
to “protect and restore an interconnected network of habitat and green
space, account for ecosystem services, and enhance the connection
between people and nature.” A suite of interconnected management plans,
described below, supports the Sustainability Framework.
The Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) focuses on land use policies to guide
the future development of the region and support the efficient provision of
transportation, regional infrastructure and community services. A Regional
Biodiversity Strategy informed the RGS. Maple Ridge is committed to
meeting the RGS goals and objectives and the EMS is a major component
of that effort.
Image from Ecological Health Action Plan, Metro Vancouver
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 9
The Ecological Health Action Plan (EHAP) provides a summary of how
maintaining and enhancing the region’s ecological health is incorporated into
Metro Vancouver’s plans and operations. The EHAP proposes 12 projects,
within Metro Vancouver’s mandate, that can be implemented in the next two
to five years. These projects will expand efforts to maintain and enhance the
ecosystem services in the region and will help to realize the commitments
articulated in the Sustainability Framework. The EHAP provides Maple Ridge
with the opportunity to partner with Metro and other municipalities on the
green infrastructure network.
Regional Environmental Regulations
Metro Vancouver - Air Quality Management Bylaw, Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw
Excerpts from Metro’s Regional Growth Strategy
Goal 3: Protect the Environment and Respond to Climate Change Impacts
Metro Vancouver's vital ecosystems continue to provide the essentials of life -clean air, water and food. A
connected network of habitats is maintained for a wide variety of wildlife and plant species. Protected natural
areas provide residents and visitors with diverse recreational opportunities. Strategies also help Metro Vancouver
and member municipalities meet their greenhouse gas emission targets, and prepare for and mitigate risks from
climate change and natural hazards.
Objectives
2.2.4 Include policies which help reduce environmental impacts and promote energy efficiency.
3.1.4 Identify the Conservation and Recreation areas and their boundaries on a map and include land use
policies to support these Conservation and Recreation areas.
3.2.6 Identify where appropriate measures to protect, enhance and restore ecologically important systems,
features, corridors and establish buffers along watercourses, agricultural lands, and other ecologically
important features.
3.2.7 Consider watershed and ecosystem planning and Integrated Stormwater Management Plans in the
development of municipal plans.
3.3.4 Implement land use policies and development control strategies which support integrated stormwater
management and water conservation objectives.
The most relevant EHAP
project to Maple Ridge is
“Advancing the Green
Infrastructure Network”. Tools
for this include land
identification and inclusion,
expanding and supporting
ecosystem services within the
network, and advocating for
enhancement and expansion
of the network.
10 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Most recently, a Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory (SEI) was conducted over
Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford, from January 2010 to May 2012. The
project was initiated in response to the need for up‐to‐date, standardized
ecological information for the entire region to support future decision-
making. Provincial SEI standards were followed to identify and map
ecologically significant and relatively unmodified Sensitive Ecosystems,
including wetlands, older forests and woodlands. In addition Other
Important Ecosystems such as seasonally flooded agricultural fields and
young forests, which are human-modified but still have ecological value
and importance to biodiversity, were included in the mapping process.
SEI Quality Rankings in Maple Ridge, Data Source: Metro Vancouver
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 11
District of Maple Ridge
The District has many existing tools for environmental management, as
illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, and described below.
Official Community Plan
The District’s OCP (2006) was developed through an intensive public
engagement and community visioning process. The OCP is based on a
corporate mission statement, overall vision statement, and 45 plan
principles, some of which emphasize protection of the natural environment.
Chapter 5 Natural Features has environmental management as its main
focus. Section 5.1 references the OCP’s environmental principles, and
provides objectives for natural features. Section 5.2 describes a
comprehensive ecosystem management model, with goals, issues,
objectives and policies for the protection of land, water, and air resources.
These policies are developed further in sections 5.3, 5.4, and 5.5.
Figure 2: Existing District Tools for Environmental Management
12 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Summary of OCP Environmental Management Model – Goals
1. Protect significant ecosystems
2. Anticipate and respond to impacts of climate change
3. Determine appropriate DP guidelines and bylaws
4. Identify requirements for environmental studies or impact
assessments
5. Maintain and improve ecosystem health and human safety
Summary of OCP Natural Features Objectives
1. A comprehensive approach based on ecosystem principles
incorporating land, water and air
2. A perspective that anticipates climate change and strives to reduce
its causes while mitigating impacts
3. A balanced evaluation process incorporating economic, social, and
environmental sustainability
4. The cultivation and strengthening of community partnerships to help
enhance the success of policies and programs.
The OCP also contains
objectives and policies
related to:
Land resources
Hillside development
Visual character
Water resources
Air quality
Climate change
Figure 3: Environmental Management Framework
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 13
Summary of OCP Environmental Development Permits
Chapter 8 of the OCP provides objectives and guidelines for Development
Permit Areas (DPAs), two of which pertain to the protection of natural
features. The Watercourse Protection DPA focuses on the preservation,
management, and enhancement of watercourses and riparian areas. The
intent of the Natural Features DPA is the protection and management of the
natural environment including hillsides, forest lands, and natural hazard
areas (Appendix B). The key purpose of these DPAs is to identify
topographic and hydrological features on a potential development site to
assist with the following:
guide development to work with the natural landscape where
possible and protect environmentally sensitive areas such as
watercourses, wetlands, and steep slopes
mitigate impacts from proposed developments and ensure safe
practices around natural hazards
promote enhancement and restoration of disturbed protected areas
on site
Other Municipal Bylaws
A number of other District bylaws support environmental management,
including the following:
Watercourse Protection Bylaw (6410-2006) – emphasis on
proactive mitigation to deal with erosion and sediment control
measures along with innovative stormwater and rainwater
management standards that focus on site source controls for all new
development
Tree Protection Bylaw (5896-2000) – regulatory requirements for
tree cutting in designated urban areas only as well as watercourse
protection areas
Soil Deposit Bylaw (5763 – 1999) – locations, conditions, and fees
associated with permits for soil deposit, provisions for geotechnical
and floodplain assessments for soil deposit and commitment for field
review
Soil Removal Bylaw (6398 – 2006) – locations, conditions, and fees
associated with permits for soil removal
Zoning Bylaw (3510-1985) – limits building activity on slopes over
25 percent
Streamside Protection Regulations (SPR) – use of the SPR was
part of a Council resolution in 2004 to ensure safe and adequate
protection measures for fish and sensitive fish habitat
14 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Corporate Strategic Plan (CSP)
The CSP (2007) defines the mission, vision, values and strategies that
guide the Corporation. The District’s mission is: “A safe, livable and
sustainable community for our present and future citizens.”
The District’s vision for 2025 reads as follows:
“The District of Maple Ridge is among the most sustainable
communities in the world. As a community committed to working
toward achieving carbon neutrality, residents experience the value of
a strong and vibrant local economy and the benefits of an ongoing
commitment to environmental stewardship and creation of stable and
special neighborhoods. Maple Ridge is a world leading example of
thoughtful development and a socially cohesive community,
especially as it relates to the use of leading edge “environmental
technologies,” social networks and economic development. Other
municipalities consistently reference the District of Maple Ridge for
its innovative approaches to dealing with seemingly intractable
challenges.”
With defined values as a foundation, the CSP outlines visions and strategies
within nine focus areas: 1. Environment, 2. Transportation, 3. Smart
Managed Growth, 4. Safe and Livable Community, 5. Financial
Management, 6. Governance, 7. Community Relations, 8. Inter-government
Relations / Networks, and 9. Economic Development.
Sustainability Action Plan (SAP)
This document (2007) builds on the Corporate Strategic Plan (CSP). For the
same nine focus areas, the Sustainability Action Plan outlines the
accomplishments of the preceding years and a list of actions (“What’s
next?”). The actions build on the pre-existing initiatives undertaken and the
new strategies identified in the CSP. The document also identifies future
steps for each focus area.
Environmental Mapping and Information Management System
Over the past two decades, the District has been developing its
environmental mapping and information management system. The
information includes the following:
protected features – watercourses, wetlands, ponds, steep slopes
over 25%, raptor nests, and heron rookeries
potential hazard areas – geotechnical setback areas, floodplains,
seismic vulnerable areas, designated high risk forest interface zones,
and major erosion areas
Graphs from the
Sustainability Action Plan
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 15
significant ecological management zones – vulnerable aquifer
zones, unique ecosystems, migratory bird nesting sites, aquatic
habitats, and high probability species at risk habitat
greenway trail corridors – existing and potential multi-use trail
corridors and significant wildlife movement corridors
stormwater and rainwater management features – infrastructure,
drainage ditches, wetland areas, ponds, forests, trees, soils, and
gradients
enhancement and restoration opportunities – conservation areas
and parks that require replanting, invasive vegetative species
removal, exposed slopes and setback areas that require landscaping
and re-vegetation
Environmental Stakeholders
The District integrates its programs with those of other agencies and
stakeholders that share responsibilities and interests in environmental
protection, management, and stewardship. In some cases, these
relationships are partnerships aimed at achieving common goals. In others,
jurisdictional matters, obligations and responsibilities have been clearly
defined within a legal framework. A brief description of these stakeholders
is as follows:
Senior Environmental Agencies – the District has working
relationships with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans
(DFO), provincial Ministry of Environment (MOE), regional Metro
Vancouver, Agricultural Land Commission (ALC), and First Nations
for initiatives related to review, monitoring, and enforcement
activities.
Non-government Organizations – these partnerships are with
organizations such as provincial land conservancies, corporations
and academic institutions interested in environmental causes such
as data collection, conservation and stewardship activities, carbon
sequestration, and education. Partnerships with BCIT, SFU and UBC
focus on municipal inventories, education programs, and watershed
analysis.
Local Stewardship Groups – these groups are recognized and
given assistance by the District to help with environmental education
and outreach, enhancement and restoration projects, and
monitoring.
Residents and Business Owners – the District maintains open
relationships and communication with the public including business
owners, developers, consultants, and land owners as evidenced by
the engagement process associated with the EMS.
Japanese Knotweed
16 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
1.4 Engagement Process
The EMS was prepared through a collaborative process involving a variety
of stakeholders and the broad community. Stakeholders included
developers, realtors, businesses, development and environmental
consultants, stewardship groups, community associations, and
representatives from other environmental agencies (regional, provincial and
federal).
The following is a summary of the key events (Figure 4). A separate
background document containing a summary of the input received at the
events is available on the District website (www.mapleridge.ca).
Visioning Workshops with stakeholders – after being presented
with an introduction to the project, stakeholders were asked to
indicate their familiarity with environmental management tools in the
District, to rate the District’s performance in various OCP-related
areas (both using an audience response system), and to identify
strengths and challenges in environmental management. Participants
then worked in groups to discuss: 1. ecological network strategy
(mapping), 2. regulations and Development Permit Area guidelines
and incentives, 3. partnerships, stewardship and environmental
outreach, and 4. values and benefits of natural assets. Two separate
workshops, afternoon and evening, were held on the same day.
Policy Workshop with stakeholders – at the second stakeholder
workshop, a presentation outlined the high-level strengths,
challenges and opportunities. Participants worked in groups to
indicate their level of support and comments on draft goals and
strategies.
Public Open House – the open house was held in a large space
with many presentation panels providing information on existing
mapping, policies and best practices related to environmental
management. Communications about the open house were sent to a
long list of stakeholders, and information was also provided to
stakeholder groups and residents through newspaper ads, website
posting, phone calls and letters. Two presentations at different times
provided an overview of the project, including the EMS purpose,
process, findings to date, goals, and potential strategies. A comment
form available at the open house and on-line was filled in by 161
respondents, 78% of whom completed the entire questionnaire.
Visioning Workshop
Public Open House
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 17
Council Workshops – at each step in the process, workshops with
Council were conducted to report on the progress of the EMS and to
solicit Council feedback.
Figure 4: EMS Engagement Process
18 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
2.0 Findings
2.1 What we Heard from the Community
The successes, challenges and opportunities described in this section were
formulated through stakeholder workshops and confirmed in the community
survey. The bulleted lists provide a high-level summary of the primary
comments received in response to each question.
Successes
There appears to be broad consensus among the community and other
stakeholders regarding the successes of environmental management in
Maple Ridge (Figure 5).
This section lists the input
received from residents
and other stakeholders
first, followed by the
technical findings of the
consulting team.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 19
5 Point Scale
1 = completely disagree
3 = general agreement
5 = completely agree
Figure 5: Community Questionnaire Responses on Successes of
Environmental Management
The following have been identified as successes related to environmental
management in Maple Ridge. To what extent do you agree or disagree that
these are successes?
The following is a summary of key stakeholder themes and comments
related to strengths:
The OCP objectives and policies reflect the values of the community
with respect to the importance of protecting environmentally sensitive
areas, responsible and sustainable management of natural
resources, a stewardship ethic, and ecological resiliency.
Participants recognize that infrastructure, housing, employment, and
quality of life are all interconnected with the environment.
General Agreement
or Higher
79%
79%
85%
62%
89%
20 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
New rainwater management and erosion control measures have
helped to lower infrastructure costs, reduce risks of flooding and
erosion, and educate the community regarding water management
and natural resources.
The District, through adoption of the Streamside Protection
Regulations, has achieved progressive setbacks for protection of
fish-bearing watercourses.
The District’s environmental mapping system is readily available and
it provides staff, decision-makers, developers, stakeholders and the
public with useful background information on natural resources.
Stakeholders are passionate about the unique natural characteristics
of Maple Ridge, including the vast tracts of nature at upper
elevations, the many creeks, riverfront, lakes, and wetlands
throughout the community, the fish and wildlife living in these
ecosystems, and the open space associated with farmland.
The public acknowledge that District staff are committed to protection
and management of the environment. Staff engage in collaborative
dialogue, attempt to keep pace with ongoing needs and issues, and
support environmental stewardship groups.
Stakeholders strongly support collaboration and communication
among those working on environmental planning and management.
Challenges
There is also extremely strong agreement among stakeholders and the
community regarding the challenges related to environmental management
(Figure 6).
Flooding near Fraser River
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 21
Figure 6: Community Survey Responses on Challenges of
Environmental Management
The following have been identified as challenges related to environmental
management in Maple Ridge. To what extent do you agree or disagree that
these are challenges?
The following is a summary of key stakeholder themes and comments
related to challenges:
There are concerns that the District is starting to fall behind in terms
of identifying and protecting important natural areas at the broader-
scale.
There is a desire for more information and analysis regarding the
highest and best use of municipal public lands. Stakeholders
expressed interest in leaving natural areas that are owned by the
municipality intact in many cases because of the multiple values of
5 Point Scale
1 = completely disagree
3 = general agreement
5 = completely agree
General Agreement
or Higher
95%
96%
94%
96%
94%
22 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
the natural environment such as recreation, eco-tourism and habitat
protection.
Stakeholders are concerned because the District is vulnerable to
habitat fragmentation due to its complex topography; development
can cut off connectivity or reduce the integrity of essential wildlife
habitat. Corridors for fish and wildlife generally flow north-south from
the higher elevations to the developed areas along watercourses.
East-west corridors are also important, as is provision of habitat
refuges near and within urban areas. Cumulative impacts associated
with development can lead to fragmentation of significant habitat
hubs and major wildlife movement corridors if these lands are not
preserved or managed properly.
Maple Ridge stakeholders appreciate many of the free and valuable
services that surrounding natural landscapes provide, and
development or disturbance to these areas can result in significant
impacts to the community as a whole, including local businesses,
property owners, and residents.
Many of the District’s stakeholders would like environmental
information to be more easily accessible via handouts, website
materials, maps and signage on environmental resources, values
and benefits.
Stakeholders are also interested in having more clarification related
to development applications and homeowner requirements for
environmental protection and management.
Interest groups would like more opportunities to provide input into
planning and management processes, and to strengthen
communication among themselves and with the District.
Tree removal in urban, suburban, and rural areas is one of the
primary concerns of residents and other stakeholders. Stakeholders
are aware of the multiple environmental, social and economic values
of trees, and that fact that these values increase over time for each
healthy tree. There is interest in stronger regulations to ensure
appropriate mitigation and compensation for tree removal, to ensure
neighbours are not being negatively affected, and for permits and
fees to help offset costs associated with removal of trees.
There are concerns that the District does not have enough
environment staff or resources to implement, monitor, and update all
of the ongoing environmental programs, update and administer
bylaws, review development applications and other permits, respond
to environmental inquiries, conduct monitoring, enforce regulations,
coordinate community stewardship and outreach programs, and
liaise with senior agencies.
The City of Campbell River has
developed a series of fact
sheets, cartoons and videos that
explain the development
process in user-friendly, graphic
format.
Land Cleared for Development
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 23
Opportunities
Residents and other stakeholders expressed significant support for the
potential strategies related to environmental management that were
presented for consideration at the public open house and on the comment
form.
The following is a summary of key stakeholder themes and comments
related to opportunities:
A strong conservation ethic among the community is evident, and
this is the basis for very high interest in identifying, protecting and
managing ecosystems and habitat.
Ecosystems will be healthier and more intact if there is more
implementation and enforcement of existing policies and regulations.
Better protection of trees and forests will provide multiple benefits to
the community.
Opportunities to protect watersheds, groundwater and aquifers at a
broad planning scale will result in healthier human and non-human
communities.
Stakeholders would like to see permanent protection of many of the
natural areas outside of the urban area boundary. To accomplish
this, it is important to plan development in clusters within the urban
area boundary thereby containing sprawl.
Stakeholders’ top priorities
for environmental
management:
Protect ecosystems
Protect trees and forests
Protect aquifers
Improve enforcement
Use existing strategies and
tools to limit sprawl
Source: community open
house and survey input
Potential tools and incentives for assembling an ecological network
24 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Support for evaluating the values and benefits of natural assets is
significant; however, many respondents also said, ‘we know the
benefits, let’s get on with protecting the assets’.
There is significant support for incentives for protection of
environmentally sensitive areas and features that are not currently
regulated. Others stated that protection of natural assets should
occur without incentives, due to their concern about the densities that
could result from density bonus/transfer tools.
There is strong support for managing soil deposition and the
resulting spread of invasive species on agricultural land, including
tools for education, implementation and enforcement/accountability.
Stakeholders would like to see more collaboration and greater public
awareness, to be achieved through more extensive communication
and education, being inclusive of all, and involving youth.
There are requests for more municipal resources (mainly staff), as
well as tools to leverage the resources to maximize benefits.
2.2 Consulting Team Findings
Analysis by the consulting team confirms the strengths and challenges
discussed in the previous sections. The following are some technical
findings that identify how the District can build upon what is already in place
to continue to develop in a sustainable, safe, and affordable manner. Refer
to Appendix C for a more thorough analysis of existing policies and gaps.
Successes
The District’s environmental mapping and information management
system has been cost effective and useful as background information
in the formation of innovative development plans that fit with the
natural landscape rather than the conventional practice of making
the landscape fit the development. This system provides property
owners and developers with preliminary information that helps avoid
initial costs for field studies and assessments of topography,
hydrology, natural hazards, protected areas and features, land use
concerns, and other important information. The map information also
helps staff, municipal decision makers and developers understand
what studies and mitigation or protection may be required for future
development.
The environmental Development Permit Areas in the OCP include
low impact development guidelines that encourage the use of
ecological design principles and best management practices that
work with the natural environment. This lowers municipal
infrastructure maintenance costs, and reduces additional costs
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 25
required by staff having to carry out extensive municipal monitoring
and enforcement for development projects. This is different from
previous development practices whereby taxpayers sometimes had
to cover costs for retroactive solutions resulting from inappropriate
development.
Environmental DPA guidelines support appropriate studies with
recommendations for abatement of natural hazards which also
reduces municipal liability and related costs associated with risks
such as flooding or other natural hazards. This has increased overall
awareness in the community regarding responsible water
management practices and landscape treatments.
The SPR has generally resulted in sound scientifically-based
protection measures for long-term health for fish and surrounding
aquatic habitat. In addition to ecological benefits, there have been
many other socio-economic benefits to the District and tax payers in
terms of cost savings related to stormwater infrastructure, energy
conservation, erosion and slope stability, hazard abatement, and
groundwater management. It has also given the District the ability to
incorporate community greenway trails, habitat enhancement
measures, and eco-tourism opportunities into setback areas without
having to purchase additional lands for trail connections or go
through time consuming senior environmental agency review
processes.
There are some new Integrated Stormwater (and Rainwater)
Management Plans and Watershed Management Plans underway in
the District. These will expand the application of environmental
Environmental Programs that have been Successful in Maple Ridge
Maple Ridge and its developers have been recognized as regional and provincial leaders and award winners for
environmental management initiatives, and have received national acknowledgements. Recognitions have been
received in the following areas:
Environmental Mapping and Information Systems (national award)
Watercourse Protection Regulations
Rainwater Management Site Source Control Standards
Erosion and Sediment Site Source Control Regulations
Habitat Enhancement and Restoration Programs
Environmental Development Permit Guidelines
Recycling and Waste Reduction
Municipal Energy Conservation Program and Green Buildings Program
Town Centre ‘Smart Growth on the Ground’ Program
Carbon Sequestration and Reforestation
Corporate Hybrid Vehicle Fleet Management
Many awards to developers and builders, mostly from Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association and
‘Georgie’ awards from the Canadian Home Builders' Association of BC for projects that include sustainable
development and environmental design measures
Creek and Riparian Area
26 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
management tools and make the importance of water resource
management more prominent within the District. These plans will
also provide baseline information for future analysis of conditions and
trends.
Environmental coordination and integration of environmental
regulations and processes among multiple departments helps the
District become a more sustainable corporate entity, with a focus on
leading by example with respect to sustainable practices in the
community.
The District actually has extensive language in the OCP about
reducing sprawl. The OCP includes urban area boundaries, and the
District has been developing area plans to promote infill rather than
sprawl for the past decade. Retaining new development within the
urban area boundary is one of the most important measures the
District can take to protect environmentally significant lands outside
this boundary.
Challenges
Habitat fragmentation is occurring and the cumulative, incremental,
and indirect impacts that can occur with successive developments
are difficult to monitor and remediate. If habitats become too
fragmented, biodiversity and ecosystem health can be threatened.
This can result in cumulative long-term impacts that require
expensive remediation or reclamation. Other municipalities have
spent significant funds to restore lost natural areas, such as
daylighting of creeks.
Land clearing for development and resource extraction can disrupt
watersheds, threaten soil stability, cut off significant movement
corridors for wildlife, and it can lead to negative impacts for
Habitat Fragmentation from Land
Clearing
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 27
homeowners reliant on wells for drinking water around vulnerable
aquifer areas.
The tree protection regulations are not adequately protecting or
managing trees and forests in developed or developing areas,
thereby not taking enough advantage of the ecological, economic,
and social services that are provided by trees. The District is not
being fiscally compensated for negative impacts associated with tree
clearing or replacement costs compared to other municipalities.
The District has experienced poor quality soil deposits coming into
rural areas, with associated impacts such as reduction of soil
productivity, spread of invasive species, and drainage issues
associated with fill.
Groundwater management strategies considered in the OCP policies
have yet to be undertaken, and some of the areas with known
aquifers are identified as future development areas. Aquifers are of
critical importance in some development areas because local
residents rely on aquifers to supply them with adequate amounts of
clean water for drinking and for irrigation of agricultural lands; these
aquifers also support natural vegetation. Disturbance to some
aquifers can have detrimental effects on human health, the viability
of commercial operations, and the overall health of the surrounding
landscape.
The environmental mapping system is an excellent resource;
however, it has not been fully incorporated into the District’s policies
and programs. It is being used as background information, rather
than being endorsed by Council and being used within strategies and
programs e.g., as Development Permit maps. Most municipalities,
based on the consultants’ experiences, value having detailed DP
maps. This may be something for Maple Ridge to consider in the
future.
Rainwater management on-site source controls are important
environmental management tools being implemented by District staff,
even though the actual regulation is buried in the Watercourse
Protection Bylaw. The consultants feel that this should have more
prominence in bylaws or policies to ensure that all District
departments and developers are aware of it.
The three environmental staff appear to be stretched very thin in light
of significant and increasing demands. Some of these include
increasing demands for outreach liaison work with external
stakeholders; increasing demands for coordination on internal
projects, task forces, plans and operations; increasing development
reviews, monitoring and enforcement of complex projects; assuming
Riparian Area Fencing Removed and
Area Converted to Mowed Grass
There are three maps at
the back of this report that
might be considered by
Council and a potential
Environmental Advisory
Committee in the future as
an approach to
environmental DP
mapping.
28 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
some responsibilities previously covered by senior environmental
agencies; and expanding expectations from stakeholders and the
public. More of everything is being requested or demanded of
environmental section staff, but it cannot be accomplished without
more staff resources.
Opportunities Related to Existing Tools
The existing bylaws and policies have served the District well in the past, but
with the additional pressures and demands of a growing population and
associated complexities of environmental management, the existing tools
require some clarification, strengthening and fine tuning.
The key opportunity is to strengthen and enforce environmental
management in the context of population increases and other threats
such as climate change in order to reduce infrastructure costs and
liability concerns. Stormwater management, erosion control, and
risks related to extreme weather events can all require expensive
engineering solutions to mitigate impacts. Natural forested areas
additional costs of maintaining these natural areas are small related
to the benefits achieved by protecting them.
There is an opportunity to clarify the language in some of the
District’s bylaws and regulations to better convey the importance and
content of some of the District’s environmental management policies,
and to clarify requirements, processes, and definitions related to the
development review process. The consulting team observed that the
language is not always entirely clear. The dedicated and
knowledgeable environmental staff help to clarify requirements for
applicants and the public; however, clearer language would increase
efficiency in development application and approval processes.
There is an opportunity to integrate, field check and add to the
District’s environmentally sensitive area mapping, and to use this
mapping within strategies and programs, e.g., as Development
Permit maps (see Challenges). This work may involve field
verification by local consultants and District staff over time,
integration of relevant information from Metro’s Sensitive Ecosystem
Inventory, and the addition of terrestrial habitat information, updates
to watercourses, slope assessments, hazard assessments, and
invasive species mapping, plus identification of existing and potential
enhancement areas. This mapping would increase efficiency in the
development application and approval process. Rather than needing
to visit District staff to become aware of the full range of
environmentally sensitive areas, these would be in the public domain
as part of the OCP and other policy maps. Other potential
applications related to the map information include visual landscape
analysis, natural capital evaluation, and establishing performance
targets and monitoring for ecosystem health.
The most widely used
definition for climate change
adaptation is “adjustment in
natural or human systems in
response to actual or
expected climatic stimuli or
their effects, which
moderates harm or exploits
beneficial opportunities.”
Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 29
There is an opportunity to build upon the ongoing work related to
rainwater management and on site source controls. One step is to
incorporate these tools within Subdivision Servicing Bylaws and
ISMP design standards for consistency with the environmental
bylaws. Other opportunities are to build upon the ISMPs by
establishing higher landscape design standards in certain new
development areas, evaluating terrestrial ecosystem health in
relation to baseline conditions (e.g., vegetation cover, pervious
surface area), establishing effective performance targets with respect
to impervious and pervious surfaces within a watershed, or
establishing tree canopy cover targets.
The Natural Features DPA currently addresses hillside development
and management of natural hazards. There are opportunities to
focus this DP more specifically on terrestrial habitat and hillsides,
addressing all hazards in an integrated and comprehensive manner
in a separate Natural Hazards DP (see next section). Guidelines
related to hillside management need improvements to address forest
protection and management, visual impact assessments, and
correlation with hazard and groundwater management guidelines.
There may be an opportunity to enhance the hillside management
guidelines by reviewing hillside development that is based on these
Ecosystems and some
services they provide,
Source: Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment
30 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
guidelines, identifying environmental and visual issues, and refining
the guidelines to address those issues.
The primary options related to soil removal and deposit issues are to
strengthen policies and practices with respect to soil retention,
including monitoring, to protect agricultural and rural lands from
removal of topsoil, contamination, or large scale deposits of fill.
There are always opportunities to expand environmental education to
all age groups and to leverage partnership opportunities so that
environmental protection and management become more widely
adopted and supported by the community and stakeholders. Like
most other municipalities, the District has challenges related to
education, monitoring, enforcement, and long-term protection of
environmental resources. The opportunities are best achieved by
having “eyes on the ground” during, immediately after and long after
development has occurred. This can be accomplished through
District staff resources, consultants for developers, and also through
continuing investment in volunteers groups and citizens, e.g., ‘adopt
a creek’ stewardship.
Incorporation of environmental measures into property titles and
strata agreements is another tool for helping to spread information to
future land owners.
Opportunities for New Tools
The analysis of the District’s tools shows that there are some gaps that would
be best addressed with some new environmental management tools. The
following is a summary of some of the primary opportunities:
A key opportunity is to identify the areas within and extending
beyond the District that are the most important locations needed to
retain healthy ecosystems. An ecological network management
strategy could identify the larger watercourses, significant recreation,
natural heritage, and/or conservation hubs, and important aquifer
recharge areas that provide essential services to businesses and
residents. The network could specify the appropriate width of
greenway buffers needed to achieve connectivity and continuity
around significant wildlife movement corridors and watercourses
such as Whonnock Creek or the Fraser River. This tool could help to
guide many environmental planning and management activities.
Metro Vancouver and the
cities of Vancouver and
Burnaby have been
working to rehabilitate and
enhance some sections of
Still Creek, one of only two
remaining visible streams
in urban Vancouver.
This work involves:
Returning creekside
habitat to native
plantings
Removing concrete
and naturalizing creek
banks
Adding interpretive
plaques and
boardwalks to provide
recreational and
educational
opportunities
The work requires major
resources. In 2013, chum
salmon returned to a
rehabilitated portion of the
creek.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 31
There are significant opportunities to develop new tools for protecting
and managing trees. This could be accomplished through a new
Tree Preservation and Management Bylaw. Another option is a
comprehensive urban forestry program for integrated management of
trees and forests within urban and rural areas. Protection of the tree
canopy is a common best practice, with extensive information
available on the qualitative and quantitative benefits and many bylaw
examples available. More focus on urban forestry could help the
District to increase its tree canopy and to improve the health of trees
on public and private land. A proposed new Urban Forester position
could be helpful to Maple Ridge in forest and tree management
related to the responsibilities in Parks, Fire Department, Planning,
Environment, Engineering and Operations so there could be an
opportunity to share resources.
Groundwater management plans and integrated watershed
management plans (IWMPs) are tools that can be used to provide an
understanding of surface and groundwater resources, and this
information can be used to guide development planning with respect
to stormwater, rainwater and groundwater management, helping to
protect the quality and quantity of water resources for current and
future generations. While this is already in the District’s policies, the
District may need to establish monitoring practices and/or incentives
to make these objectives more achievable.
There is significant interest among stakeholders in the formation of
an Environmental Advisory Committee (EnvAC), which would
function similar to other District committees. The EnvAC can help to
provide a balanced voice on environmental considerations. It is
important to recognize that working with an EnvAC is a demand on
staff time. Staff need to prepare information for meetings, take
minutes, follow up on discussions and communications, and related
tasks.
An integrated Natural Hazards Development Permit would be a
useful tool for consideration of development in hazardous areas. The
District’s regulations related to natural hazards are currently
contained within the Natural Features DP. Integrating them into a
separate DP would clarify and simplify the processing of applications
involving natural hazards, which can be quite distinct from sites
containing natural features but no hazards.
Best Practices for
Environmental Advisory
Committees (EnvACs):
It is not appropriate for
EnvACs to have a role in
the development review
process as this can cause
costly delays. EnvACs
have been successful in
BC when they address
high-level topics or
municipal initiatives such
as environmental policies
in the OCP, tree canopy
goals and cosmetic
pesticide use, e.g.,
Vernon.
It is important to have
members with technical
capacity because the
EnvAC needs to provide
input on the pros and cons
related to acceptable risk.
The Terms of Reference
for the EnvAC, especially
the determination of when
they will become involved
in projects, is critically
important.
Some BC communities
with Environmental
Advisory Committees
include Surrey, Richmond,
Delta, Saanich, Vernon,
and Esquimalt.
EnvACs require dedicated
staff resources.
32 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Planning for Climate Change
The District’s OCP talks about anticipating and responding to the impacts of
climate change and building ecological resilience for adaptation to climate
change and hazards. The following are the potential impacts of climate
change in Maple Ridge, according to the Plan2Adapt website, supplemented
with local knowledge:
high climate variation and more intense storms
increase in temperature
longer dry season
high probability of flooding and erosion (Fraser River to small creeks)
debris flows and landslides
wildfires
shift in hydrologic regime classification
These impacts have the potential to affect biodiversity, agriculture, forestry,
hydrology, infrastructure, public safety and land uses. There would be
environmental, social and economic impacts in all of these areas.
Some of the primary climate change adaptation strategies that can address
these potential impacts include:
protecting the quantity and quality (ecological health and biodiversity)
of natural areas
rainwater management to slow run-off and decrease erosion
protecting and enhancing the tree canopy
conserving water and energy
Many of these climate change adaptation strategies are already being
addressed in the District through existing environmental policies and
programs. These strategies are also fully integrated into the EMS. In fact,
having an extensive and healthy natural environment is the primary climate
change adaptation strategy as well as being a primary goal of the EMS.
The document, Preparing for
Climate Change: An
Implementation Guide for
Local Governments (West
Coast Environmental Law,
Governments of Canada
and BC, and Fraser Basin
Council, October 2012), and
the Plan2Adapt interactive
planning tool website
(pacificclimate.org) provide
information and tools for
incorporating climate
change considerations into
municipal planning.
Climate change adaptation
and climate change
mitigation (reducing
greenhouse gas emissions)
are related, and both are
important for local
government. However, they
serve different ends: climate
change adaptation is about
dealing with the problems
created by climate change,
and climate change
mitigation is about not
making the problem worse.
The goal of adaptation,
much of which can be
addressed through
environmental policy, is to
reduce vulnerability and risk
associated with climate
change. Many approaches
to adaptation increase
overall community resiliency
and have multiple benefits.
`
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 33
3.0 Environmental Management
Strategies
3.1 Introduction to the Goals
This section outlines the EMS goals. These are based on a synthesis of the
stakeholder and public input, as well as the technical findings. The goals
are designed to be clear and consistent with existing municipal objectives
and OCP policies.
There are three goals:
Goal A: Conserve and manage our natural assets
The natural assets covered by this goal are the mostly undeveloped fish
and wildlife corridors and hubs within the District’s planning area as well as
the extensive natural areas within and surrounding the District that are
administered by others. These natural assets support ecological health and
biodiversity; they also provide natural capital values, green infrastructure
services, and other economic, social, and environmental benefits to the
community.
Stakeholders have expressed extremely strong support for protecting and
managing the health, ecological integrity and diversity of terrestrial and
EMS Goals at a Glance
Goal A: Conserve and
manage our natural
assets
Goal B: Design and
build sustainable
neighbourhoods
Goal C: Improve
communications and
environmental
awareness
34 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Tree Planting by Youth
aquatic ecosystems that support fish, wildlife and all other species. This
support applies to the hubs and corridors governed by the District and the
partnerships that will be required to achieve connectivity and management
coordination at a broader scale. Ecosystem protection and biodiversity are
important investments for the future that require appropriate planning,
communication, and collaboration using a variety of geographic scales,
participants, and time frames with respect to implementation.
This goal is about investing in healthy urban and rural forest areas,
protecting water quality and quantity, and supporting and managing healthy
habitats and high priority environmentally sensitive areas, features, and
processes. It includes an emphasis on ecological resiliency to ensure
minimal impacts from climate change. Ecological resiliency is achieved
through avoiding impacts on environmentally sensitive areas and features,
and enhancement and restoration where possible.
Goal B: Design and build sustainable neighbourhoods
This goal focuses on areas to be developed, and guiding these new
communities to achieve environmental, social and economic benefits. The
work required to fulfil this goal involves refining bylaws and practices for
better protection and management of watercourses, habitats, existing trees,
and soils, especially on steep slopes. The incorporation of environmental
tools and strategies into the development process promotes accountability
by all stakeholders with respect to costs, risks, and impacts associated with
development activity. Appropriate mitigation and low impact design help to
offset impacts from development, and ongoing investment in innovative
design solutions promote sustainable development.
Stakeholders are extremely strong supporters of sustainable
neighbourhoods, especially design and management that results in ‘smart’,
attractive, and affordable development. This type of neighbourhood can
benefit land owners and municipal taxpayers through development cost
savings, protection of environmental resources, and provision of social
opportunities.
Goal C: Improve communications and environmental awareness
This goal focuses on how all participants – Mayor and Council, staff, other
organizations, stakeholder groups, business interests, and the public – will
work together to understand and implement the EMS.
Stakeholders have a strong interest in better and more communication, and
education programs that focus on environmental awareness and education.
This will build upon what the District already has in place, considering new
communication and engagement tools.
Upper Watersheds in
Maple Ridge
Key Natural Assets in
Maple Ridge
Rainwater Management in
Silver Valley
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 35
3.2 Objectives, Strategies and Actions
This section identifies the objectives, strategies and actions for achieving
the goals. The strategies and actions are specific, measurable, achievable,
and realistic. They are based on a synthesis of input from the workshops
and review of the District’s OCP and strategic plans. Appendix D shows
the connections between the objectives and the OCP and other strategic
documents. Appendix E provides an overview of the analysis that was
used to prepare the strategies and actions. The implementation plan is
outlined in Section 4.0.
Goal A: Conserve and manage our natural assets
Objectives
1. Protect the District’s key ecological resources, such as
watercourses, aquifers hubs, corridors, patches, and watersheds.
2. Maintain the health of natural areas.
3. Extend natural connections beyond the municipality.
4. Build ecological resilience for adaptation to climate change and
hazards.
5. Consider the potential values and financial benefits of undeveloped
land in planning.
6. Provide incentives to encourage developers to protect some natural
areas.
7. Protect agricultural land in recognition of the values it provides, such
as productive soil, wildlife habitat, stormwater infiltration, and food.
Strategies and Actions
A1. Identify, protect and manage Crown lands and watershed areas within
and extending beyond the District’s boundaries in collaboration with
other jurisdictions.
a. Encourage the preparation of Sustainable Management Plans to
protect and manage larger watersheds or land areas in
collaboration with the Province, Metro Vancouver and surrounding
municipalities.
Encourage the preparation of an integrated and sustainable
management plan for the Blue Mountain area that includes
economic, social, and ecological interests, due to its
extremely high environmental, recreation/tourism and
cultural values to multiple jurisdictions including the District
of Maple Ridge and First Nations.
Local governments can
increase the resilience and
adaptive capacity of
ecosystems by improving
the “connectivity” of natural
landscapes within their
jurisdictions, and allowing
species the opportunity to
shift to more suitable
habitats as the climate
changes. Biodiversity
corridors can be
established along rivers,
roads, and trails.
www.countdown2010.net/2
010/wp-
content/uploads/FS6Climat
e_small.PDF
36 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Work with Metro Vancouver and others on a Fraser River
Foreshore Plan.
b. Continue to encourage the preparation of interdepartmental
(Engineering, Planning , Parks and Operations) Integrated -
Watershed Management Plans (IWMPs) that include information on
surface and groundwater resources, recommendations and
performance targets for ecological health, and evaluations of
environmental performance in relation to those targets, where this
can be accomplished cost effectively.
c. Revise the OCP aquifer map to include areas where residents are
reliant on well water for drinking, household use and irrigation, in
addition to provincially designated vulnerable aquifer areas, and
encourage the preparation of Groundwater Management Plans for
all of these aquifer areas.
d. Collaborate with others on the management of resources within and
extending beyond the District.
Encourage the Province to coordinate and consult with the
District with respect to the use and management of Crown
land within or near District boundaries.
Support eco-tourism and recreation sector users in the
management of natural areas and the separation of
conservation zones from recreational activities.
Consider partnerships with groups such as land
conservancies, land trusts, foundations, and Metro
Vancouver on land conservation initiatives.
A2. Identify, protect and manage the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that
support important habitats within the District’s administrative
boundaries.
a. Prepare an ecological network management strategy that
identifies lands to be acquired, potential acquisition tools and
priorities for acquiring this land as opportunities arise. The
ecological network will be ecological network will be based on
the District’s ESA mapping and Metro Vancouver’s SEI mapping
that identifies the general location and condition of unique or
significant aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and major wildlife
The 5,668-hectare Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve (LSCR) is an example of the type of protected area that could
be achieved on Blue Mountain. The LSCR contains spectacular and diverse landscapes, including alpine meadows,
forested slopes and river flood plains, all within minutes of downtown Vancouver. The LSCR planning process was
designed to balance the multiple objectives for this unique area and ensure the sustainability of the LSCR. The main
attraction is a 10-kilometre-long paved path that is used extensively by cyclists and walkers. The LSCR also hosts a
variety of education and research programs.
From the City of Surrey Ecosystem
Management Study
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 37
habitat hubs and movement corridors that are priority targets for
protection as wildlife habitat conservation areas or ecosystem
management areas due to their significance and/or sensitivity.
A3. Evaluate the socio-economic values and benefits of natural assets.
a. Use scientific studies conducted by others (e.g., UBC and Real
Estate Foundation, Metro Vancouver, West Coast Law Society,
Suzuki Foundation) and use readily available, inexpensive software
applications to quantify ecosystem services and natural capital.
These tools can also be used to better understand the use of
nature benefits within Maple Ridge as part of watershed evaluation,
ISMP evaluation, and annual municipal performance reviews. Use
this information in public education and awareness materials and to
secure support for environmental management strategies.
A4. Prepare policies related to soil deposition and environmental practices
on agricultural and rural lands.
a. Review and update the Soil Deposit Bylaw.
Refine the bylaw to address safety and risk management
considerations for land owners and neighbours related to
truck traffic activity, contamination concerns, drainage, and
visual impacts.
Encourage and support improved practices in relation to
soil deposit.
Encourage developers and land owners to reuse
excavated native topsoils from their site where possible
rather than hauling material away.
Discourage soil deposit that is inconsistent with the
long-term management of the property, considering
issues such as soil productivity and invasive species.
Establish a process to promote accountability with
respect to supervision and reporting of soil deposit
work, and a process for monitoring.
Identify locations for placing future soil deposit, e.g.,
gravel pits, power lines.
Require a Professional Agro-Ecologist to determine
appropriate soil deposit types and locations, and
compliance with ALC objectives and District OCP
policies on rural agricultural and ALR lands.
The U.N. Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment
provides a useful framework
for measuring the value of
ecosystem services,
including cultural services
such as recreation, well-
being, etc.
There are numerous
reputable organizations that
currently have inexpensive
and simple software
applications and tools that
calculate the monetary
benefits of the urban forest,
and these tools have been
used in several Lower
Mainland municipalities, e.g.,
District of North Vancouver,
Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond,
Langley, providing the
opportunity for municipal
level evaluation, monitoring,
and comparisons over time.
38 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
b. Work with the ALC, DFO and the agriculture community on best
practices for the integration of environment and agriculture, e.g.,
integrate portions of environmental farm lands into wildlife corridors.
Encourage farmers to undertake Environmental Farm Plans
and collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture on these
initiatives.
Erosion and Filling on Farmland
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 39
Goal B: Design and build sustainable neighbourhoods
Objectives
1. Protect and enhance the urban forest, including existing forests and
significant trees, with methods to support future tree cover.
2. Protect important natural and heritage resources within
neighbourhoods as part of the planning process where possible,
including greenway corridors, watercourses, native soils, and steep
slopes.
3. Manage and minimize the impacts of development on protected and
natural areas, including erosion of slopes, sedimentation of
watercourses, reduced air quality.
4. Use appropriate best management practices to ensure attractive,
safe, and affordable communities.
5. Use sustainable landscape design and management to reduce
energy use, support wildlife, and make neighbourhoods more
attractive and livable.
6. Use alternative transportation as a sustainable design measure to
save energy and increase health and recreation opportunities.
7. Enforce environmental regulations.
Strategies and Actions
B1. Explore, in collaboration with developers and other jurisdictions and
organizations, the use of incentives and tools for conserving significant
natural areas or features that are not protected under municipal
regulations.
a. Consider incentives and tools during the development process to
protect natural areas and features.
Consider the use of incentives, such as property tax
reductions, fast tracking of applications, environmental
compensation development levies, DCC reductions, and the
use of restrictive covenants rather than dedication of
parkland, in return for protection of lands or features that
are not regulated by senior agencies or the District.
Consider the use of density bonus or density transfer
incentives, provided that the additional density will not have
significant environmental impacts.
The City of Penticton
reduced DCCs for low
impact developments by
50%.
The City of Surrey
assembled a number of
properties now called
Fergus Watershed Park for
the purpose of ecological
preservation and
enhancement. Development
levies were used to
purchase the park site. As
future development occurs
in the area surrounding the
site, developers will fund
improvements within the
park as part of their habitat
compensation requirements.
Fergus Watershed Park in Surrey
40 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
‘Caliper’ is a way of
measuring trees; it
refers to the diameter
of the trunk at breast
height, about 1.5
metres above the
ground.
B2. Protect, enhance and manage the urban forest in developed and rural
areas in recognition of the multiple environmental, social and economic
benefits provided by trees.
a. Prepare a Tree Preservation and Management Bylaw.
Prepare a tree bylaw that applies to all large trees (size to
be determined for urban and rural urban areas) in the
District, with the possible exception of ALR lands with active
farm status or community forestry operations.
Include the following provisions in the bylaw: two for one
tree replacement; minimum size replacement trees (e.g., 5
cm caliper deciduous, 2 m coniferous); where development
properties cannot accommodate the required number of
replacement trees, plant tree elsewhere in the watershed
and if that is not possible provide cash in lieu towards a fund
used for municipal tree planting; security deposit for tree
protection, planting and maintenance; penalties for
violations.
Provide special protection for mature, unique or heritage
trees as defined by the District.
Increase monitoring and enforcement related to tree
management and planting in private developments,
especially related to protection of existing trees, tree
removal, newly planted replacement trees, the quality and
quantity of growing medium for new trees, and maintenance
procedures.
Follow the same provisions outlined for the proposed Tree
Preservation and Management Bylaw as a minimum in the
planting and management of trees on public land.
Tree canopy studies have become a common method for managing the urban forest. An urban tree canopy “is the layer
of leaves, branches and stems of trees that cover the ground when viewed from above.”). A healthy urban forests offers
many benefits, assisting with climate adaptation, energy use, air quality, stormwater management, water quality, wildlife,
biodiversity, real estate, business, individual and community well-being, and human health. American Forests
recommends a municipal tree canopy of 40% for this region to realize the multiple benefits offered by trees, including the
following tree canopy targets: suburban residential – 50%, urban residential – 25%, downtown – 15%. Chilliwack’s Tree
Management Bylaw requires 50 existing or planted trees per hectare of development, which is consistent with the City’s
target of a 25% tree canopy. The Bylaw also requires a security deposit for existing/retained and newly planted trees. In
the Shade Tree Strategic Management Plan for the City of Surrey’s Public Property Trees, it was determined that a tree
canopy of 4% of the City could be achieved through street trees alone, which is consistent with calculations by American
Forests.
Showing the Value of a Tree
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 41
b. Encourage proponents of new developments to protect existing
trees and forests and to design spaces for trees.
Identify and where possible protect mature forest stands and
mature trees, especially in high visibility viewscape corridors
and significant aquifer recharge areas, e.g., identify these as
protection areas in development planning. Mature trees
provide many times greater values than newly planted years
that take a very long time to mature.
Require some green space within all large new intensive
residential developments (multi-family or compact lots) with
tree planting in these areas, e.g., open space or recreation
areas, increased setbacks from roads to allow space for
more trees, eco-cluster approach.
c. Use new tools to increase the focus on tree protection,
management and planning.
Establish urban forest tree canopy targets that apply District
wide, by location (e.g., downtown, urban neighbourhood,
rural neighbourhood), and by land use category (e.g.,
agricultural, commercial, industrial, institutional, low density
residential, medium and high density residential, parks,
natural areas and open space).
B3. Review and update the Watercourse DP and Watercourse Protection
Bylaws and work with stakeholders on the implementation, monitoring
and enforcement components of these bylaws (see Map 1).
a. Update the text in the Watercourse DP and Watercourse Protection
Bylaws to make them consistent with existing procedures and the
other bylaw updates in the EMS.
b. Clean up language in the Watercourse DP and the Watercourse
Protection Bylaw to clarify the purpose and scope of these
documents, including language about protection of setback areas.
Update the OCP Schedule C Natural Features map annually based
on new information, e.g., changing creeks and the addition of
wetlands.
c. Consider preparing a map that specifically supports the
Watercourse DP in the future, potentially in collaboration with the
EnvAC.
d. Continue to work with consultants, developers and property owners
on an ongoing basis with respect to the implementation, monitoring
and enforcement components of watercourse protection
regulations.
Existing Tools in Maple Ridge
Silver Valley, Maple Ridge
42 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Provide more information about and discuss materials and
landscaping that are appropriate within and near
watercourse protection areas.
Work with developers and property owners to improve the
time frame for carrying out enhancement and restoration
works.
Establish better monitoring and enforcement tools for
dealing with disturbances and habitat impacts that occur
within protected watercourse setback areas, with
implementation conducted by or in collaboration with
developers, subsequent property managers / land owners
and stewardship groups.
Require signs and fences on site that identify watercourse
protection areas and work with stakeholders to ensure that
these signs remain in place for the long term.
Encourage water quality monitoring over time by the District,
by developers and/or land owners where negative
disturbances have occurred on site.
Generate new tools for understanding and managing trees,
e.g., expand tree database to include mapping and add
major park trees, climate change impacts on tree species.
d. Update existing bylaws to increase the focus on tree protection,
management and planning.
Revise existing bylaws, e.g., zoning (increase setbacks for
trees in certain situations, require spaces for trees in new
developments where possible), environmental DPAs
(support tree planting for measures such as energy
conservation in the NFDP), intensive residential and
commercial DPAs (improvements to form and character
guidelines such as a target tree canopy cover in all parking
lots).
e. Expand programs that focus on tree protection, management and
planning.
Expand the use of promotional programs and incentives to
increase awareness of the benefits of tree planting and
ongoing tree care on private property, and to increase the
number of trees planted and/or retained on private property,
e.g., incentives for tree planting or tree retention and care,
free trees, tree coupons, reduced fees for services, tree
planting as part of local improvement grants.
Adopt and follow best management practices for tree
maintenance with the input of an arborist, and encourage
Watercourses in Maple Ridge
Hampsted Development – Eco-
cluster style development
Nanaimo is reviewing its
form and character
guidelines, and turning them
into “sustainable design
guidelines” with options for
greening development.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 43
private land owners to follow these practices as well, e.g.,
through website resources.
Consider tree planting and tree care within all municipal
infrastructure projects as appropriate, e.g., tree canopy in
public parking lots, along roads.
f. In the longer term, prepare an Urban Forest Management Plan for
the District that includes a comprehensive review of the urban
forest and a synthesis of policies and practices, potentially including
those mentioned above.
B4. Increase the profile of rainwater and stormwater management, and
groundwater management, in bylaws and continue to improve
implementation based on best practices.
a. Incorporate stormwater and rainwater management on-site
source control measures, as well as groundwater management
requirements, into the Subdivision Servicing Bylaw.
b. Establish appropriate stormwater and rainwater design
standards to complement Metro Vancouver guidelines. Include
more information on best management practices and design
ideas applicable to the District in the bylaw.
c. Coordinate and integrate Integrated Stormwater Management
Plans (ISMPs) with new area plans and land use plans.
Consider sub-catchment area stormwater management plans
for larger developments in areas without ISMPs to help guide
sustainable development.
B5. Review and update the Natural Features Development Permit.
a. Revise the NFDP to focus on management of hillside areas,
protection of environmentally sensitive terrestrial ecosystems, and
groundwater management concerns (see Map 2).
Include guidelines for low impact development in relation to
protection of environmentally sensitive terrestrial
ecosystems, significant environmental features, and
important processes such as groundwater management
concerns.
The City of Abbotsford requires Water Resource Management Plans where development is proposed near key aquifers.
In Mission, Environmental Management Plans are prepared for Neighbourhood Plan areas; these are based on a
comprehensive watershed approach with numerous environmental studies and sustainable development policies and
guidelines.
Rainwater management has
benefits that extend beyond
watercourse protection and
erosion and sediment
control such as supporting a
healthy urban forest.
Comox is planning an Urban
Forest Management
Strategy that will
demonstrate how the Town
will achieve Zero Net
Deforestation, assess and
track tree cover and
enhance connectivity
between forested areas.
44 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Improve guidelines for hillside management in the NFDP
around standards, design practices, and examples of best
management practices, recognizing the needs to balance
hazards, risks, ecosystem integrity and visual impacts.
Promote “greener” methods of slope stabilization where this
will not reduce safety, e.g., instead of concrete or rock stack
walls, use bioengineering or a combination of rock stack and
planting.
Require detailed grading plans showing all proposed cut and
fill and the inter-relationship with tree retention areas to
ensure that proposed tree retention is achievable and safe.
Include guidelines that address the potential visual impacts
of hillside development, including retention of trees on steep
slopes.
For larger developments that will be visible from major roads
or communities, require accurate computer-generated 3D
visualizations that illustrate the proposed development,
including existing and proposed trees in a sequence over
time.
For vulnerable aquifer areas, including aquifers where
residents are dependent on wells for irrigation or drinking
water, require a water resources management plan by a
professional and include guidelines related to the protection
of water resources.
b. Consider preparing a map that specifically supports the Natural
Features DP in the future, potentially in collaboration with the
EnvAC.
B6. Prepare a new Natural Hazards Development Permit that focuses on
slope hazards, floodplains, creek hazards and, in the future, wildfire
hazards (see Map 3).
a. Consolidate mapping and guidelines related to slopes and
floodplain mapping into an integrated Natural Hazards DP.
Base natural hazard designations and guidelines on existing
information from published reports and maps, supplemented
with terrain stability overview mapping if necessary, to
provide an overview of the types of hazards that may be
present.
Outline the process that should be followed in assessing
hazard, risk and potential use of the property, including the
types of assessment that may be required from a Qualified
Professional prior to development, and the best practices to
be used to reduce hazard risks.
Silver Valley, Maple Ridge
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 45
Explore the option of establishing a conservative factor of
safety for geotechnical setbacks along rear yards that is
equivalent to the factor of safety for building structures in
order to reduce the District’s risks.
Address all types of hazards in an integrated manner with
references to risks, safety standards and best management
practices.
Consider preparing a map that specifically supports the
Natural Hazards DP in the future, potentially in collaboration
with the EnvAC.
b. Integrate the Wildfire DPA into the Natural Hazards DPA once the
Wildfire DPA has been adopted by Council.
B7. Encourage sustainable development practices that go beyond minimal
requirements and capture the spirit of comprehensive “smart growth”
principles.
a. Prepare a system for encouraging and documenting all of a
project’s sustainable development practices in an integrated
manner.
Consider using a sustainability/low impact development
(LID) checklist that is submitted with development
applications as a requirement for greenfield developments.
Encourage the development and management of communal
recreation amenities, attractive detention ponds/wetlands,
greenway trails, open space areas, rain gardens and other
sustainable features within large developments.
The District of North Vancouver contains large areas of steeply sloped forested land with many creeks and ravines, and is
prone to severe weather events. These conditions may create hazards in the form of landslide/soil instability, flooding,
debris flow, debris flood, and forest fire interface hazards. As part of the District’s Natural Hazard Management Program,
three new Natural Hazards Development Permit Areas (DPAs) have been adopted into the District’s Official Community
Plan to guide development that may be affected by natural hazards. The Natural Hazards Development Permit that was
developed for North Vancouver is focused on all landscape level hazards including terrain stability, landslides, flooding, and
wildfire. Blowdown and hazard trees are not considered in this DPA http://www.dnv.org/article.asp?a=5018.
Terrain stability overview mapping is an important task that a community can undertake to protect its citizens, by
documenting hazards and limiting development in these areas to reduce liability. For example, the District of North
Vancouver reviewed standards around the world and came up with solid risk guidelines. The approach takes into account
aspects such as rear yards, encroachment of retaining walls and pools. An overview assessment can be completed for a
reasonable cost.
The Sustainable Sites Initiative™
(SITES™) is an interdisciplinary effort
by the American Society of
Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird
Johnson Wildflower Center at The
University of Texas at Austin and the
United States Botanic Garden to
create voluntary national guidelines
and performance benchmarks for
sustainable land design, construction
and maintenance practices. The
website has information on pilot
projects and samples of sustainability
checklists.
www.sustainablesites.org
46 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Consider energy efficiency and conservation in building and
landscape design, e.g., encourage on-demand hot water
heating, geothermal heating, solar hot water, Smart meters;
use passive solar siting principles to provide shade in
summer, moderate wind, and encourage the penetration of
sunlight and natural light into buildings to reduce the energy
needed for lighting and heating.
Encourage measures that reduce impacts on air quality,
e.g., active transportation routes to reduce vehicular travel,
less mowed grass to reduce the need for mowing.
Apply some of the smart growth principles from Silver Valley
to other new development, including eco-clusters, open
space/neighbourhood parks, tree retention areas, protection
of view corridors, and inter-neighbourhood trails, and road
standards with increased landscape for rainwater
management.
Consider the use of a carbon calculator with offsets used for
environmental improvements or programs within the
community, e.g., new trails, environmental compensation
work, environmental education programs.
Introduce the Precautionary Principle into communication
materials to emphasize the links between short-term
decisions and long-term gains or losses.
Examples of Tools, Internet Search 2013
Community amenities with
higher landscape treatments
can create more attractive
neighbourhoods.
Saanich uses a carbon
calculator to evaluate the
carbon-related impacts of
new developments; offsets
are required from the
developer and they are used
for programs within the
community, e.g., new trails,
environmental
compensation or
enhancement.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 47
b. Where a developer has “scored well” and gone beyond the
minimum requirements in terms of sustainability, consider
incentives such as tax reductions, density bonus or density transfer,
DCC reductions or priority processing.
B8. Update other processes and practices to be consistent with the EMS.
a. Continue to integrate sustainable design standards into the
Subdivision Servicing Bylaw, e.g., for road design, road crossings
for wildlife, increased tree planting, landscape type and amount,
tree planting requirements (e.g., growing medium quality and
volume), sidewalks/ trails / cycle paths, passive solar benefits
through siting and landscaping, etc.
b. Coordinate processes and practices among departments for
consistency with the EMS.
Work together to direct all new development to locations
within the urban area boundary, consistent with the District’s
policies.
Continue to encourage integration, collaboration and training
among departments on current environmental best
management practices for major projects and daily
operations so the District can lead by example.
Continue to encourage ongoing collaboration between
implementation of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master
Plan and the EMS strategies and action plans, planning for
acquisition of key natural and hazard areas as well as active
parks, considering alternate forms of recreation such as trail
corridors and natural play areas, and considering the
neighbourhood demographics.
Many municipalities are
moving towards limiting
urban growth to
densification of
established areas in order
to reduce costs and to
provide more sustainable
communities.
The Precautionary Principle is
a recognized international
policy and a guiding
framework for decision-
making that anticipates how
our actions will affect the
environment and health of
future generations. The
precautionary principle
denotes a duty to prevent
harm, when it is within our
power to do so, even when all
of the scientific evidence is
not in.
Example of Tools, Internet Search 2013
48 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
B9. Strengthen monitoring and enforcement to encourage widespread and
long-term stewardship based on the principles of adaptive management
to continually improve processes and efficiency.
a. Integrate monitoring and enforcement into bylaws, processes, and
practices as outlined in B3 b.
Focus on education first, providing information to
stakeholders on the importance of environmental
management and stewardship. Where education is
unsuccessful, use enforcement.
b. Establish indicators and targets that can be used to track impacts
and successes over time, e.g., width of riparian areas, vegetation
health, tree canopy.
c. Consider the use of full-cost accounting for decision-making,
comparing new development on municipal lands to retention of the
natural environment and the services these areas may provide to
the community.
Goal C: Improve communications and environmental awareness
Objectives
1. Improve communication and collaboration among District staff and
stakeholders to increase efficiency, improve understanding, and
achieve more benefits.
2. Increase communication about environmental management and its
benefits to the public, including financial benefits.
3. Increase education and engagement opportunities related to
experiencing nature and environmental management.
4. Clarify the steps and requirements involved in the land development
process.
5. Partner with other government agencies, including First Nations, on
initiatives of shared interest and benefits.
Full-cost accounting may be achievable through a grant.
The District Municipality of North Cowichan, with the funding support of BC Hydro, has developed a Climate Action and
Energy Plan (CAEP). The CAEP inventories the community’s existing energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,
and identifies future trends in energy and GHG emissions based on population, land-use, technology and other factors. It
also identifies opportunities to reduce energy consumption and emissions through policy and other municipal
mechanisms. The plan includes analysis of the social, environmental and economic impacts of the strategies. Achieving
the emissions targets will require a collective investment of $25 million by 2050. North Cowichan will save about $130
million in energy costs when it achieves the target, while also creating 613 new jobs.
Spatial modelling and evaluation
programs that are compatible
with the District's GIS are
relatively inexpensive and they
can support a quantitative and
qualitative analysis of natural
capital or green infrastructure.
Metro Vancouver, Township of
Langley, District of North
Vancouver, Burnaby, and Surrey
are among the BC municipalities
using indicators and targets.
The District of Lantzville
Subdivision and Development
Bylaw incorporates green
infrastructure measures for
rainwater management and
requires the developer to post
security equivalent to the cost
of three years of maintenance,
to ensure that the measures are
operational.
Adaptive management is a
structured, iterative process of
robust decision making in the
face of uncertainty, with an aim
to reducing uncertainty over
time via system monitoring.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 49
6. Partner with non-government organizations on initiatives of shared
interest and benefits, and support local stewardship groups in
achieving common objectives.
Strategies and Actions
C1. Improve communication structures and tools for use among District
staff, Council and stakeholders.
a. Consider an Environmental Advisory Committee (EnvAC) to bring
stakeholders together and to provide them stronger links with
Council and staff, and more opportunities to provide input to District
initiatives and projects.
Define the EnvAC role as advisory only with public
education as one of its key functions.
Clearly define the Terms of Reference in terms of who
participates, how they are selected, how and with whom
they communicate, and what they address.
When considering the establishment of an EnvAC,
recognize that more resources are required. Given that
environmental staff are already overloaded with
responsibilities as noted elsewhere in this EMS, this is a
decision that requires serious consideration.
b. Refine communication processes to improve the flow of information
related to environmental management and to leverage the work of
stewardship groups.
Establish a structure for exploring how environmental staff
might communicate and collaborate with Council members
on a more regular basis to explore questions, issues, and
opportunities.
Support stewardship groups in coordinating their efforts by
connecting them with each other and hosting an annual
meeting.
Support stewardship groups in preparing a District-wide
Stewardship Plan to guide volunteer stewardship activities.
C2. Consolidate, centralize and distribute information related to
environmental management with captivating, graphically rich and
educational materials.
a. Reformat the EMS into a digital information hub, including the
importance and benefits of environmental management.
Prepare a set of interconnected web pages on the District
website that clearly describes and illustrates background
Visioning Workshop
50 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
information, strategies, bylaws and practical tools related to
the EMS, e.g., the development approval process with
respect to environmental management requirements and
practices, including clarification on the process and
methodology associated with the streamside protection
regulations and environmental DP process requirements.
Include digital media links, links to related documents, and
post all communication materials related to the EMS on
these web pages.
b. Include marketing related to environmental management in the
District’s communications strategy, branding the District for its
environmental accomplishments and opportunities.
Contribute environmental information regularly to the media,
digital media, Local Green Guide, and other sources,
focusing on the role of the public, such as tree planting, tree
care, respect for environmental protection areas, rainwater
infiltration, and environmental stewardship.
Publicize information regularly on the successes of
environmental management, especially from a cost benefit
perspective and circulate this widely, including to
developers.
Linkages between Ecosystems services and Human Well-being
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 51
C3. Expand environmental education opportunities in partnerships with
others.
a. Expand partnerships that extend environmental education to a
broad spectrum of the community.
Explore opportunities to expand outreach, with roles
including partnerships with stewardship groups, First
Nations, and schools, and tools including workshops, web
forums, and other public education and awareness
programs.
Partner with others on education and interpretive materials,
e.g., interpretive signs that identify and describe
environmental features, nature/ecology centres.
Support celebrations of community assets, potentially in
combination with stewardship events.
C4. Encourage the expansion of opportunities that support nature
experiences and ecotourism.
a. Work with ecotourism, outdoor recreation and associated business
interests to encourage appropriate nature experiences.
Encourage ecotourism and outdoor recreation businesses
offering culturally, socially and environmentally appropriate
nature experiences, education and information, e.g.,
boating, mountain biking, guided walking or biking tours,
equipment rentals.
Consider assisting ecotourism and outdoor recreation
businesses with the promotion of these opportunities.
Encourage and support the development of smart phone
applications with information on nature experiences.
C5. Provide more resources in environmental management.
a. Provide more staff to better manage, administer and enforce
bylaws, conduct outreach, collaborate with stakeholders, and to
generally implement the EMS.
Potential topics for environmental education include: nature interpretation, bear awareness, invasive species awareness,
nature-scaping home gardens, food gardens, awareness / incentives for planting and maintaining more trees, rainwater
management, and aquifer management. Options for outreach may include use of the community development model
implemented by Parks, Recreation and Culture, and/or partnerships with other communities.
In the Okanagan, public
education and citizen
engagement complement
regulatory measures. See
Okanagan Basin Water Board
Homeowner’s Guide to Using
Rain as a Resource
www.okwaterwise.ca/pdf/Home
DrainageGuide_Okanagan.pdf
Outdoor recreation and tourism
businesses need to respect
existing park users, the natural
environment, and First Nations
culture.
52 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 53
4.0 Implementation Plan
4.1 Priorities and Phasing
The District of Maple Ridge will need to implement the EMS over time based
on priorities and the availability of resources (Figure 7). The relative priority
and phasing in this plan were generated by the consultants. Once the EMS
is endorsed, it will be the role of staff, and potentially the EnvAC, to confirm
the implementation plan and to refine it on a regular basis to reflect
accomplishments and projected initiatives.
The items selected for short-term implementation include some of the tasks
that require low relative effort, i.e., the “low hanging fruit”. Some of the other
considerations in determining the phasing include accountability to medium
and longer term costs, and implications associated with long-term
cumulative impacts from development, retrofitting costs, or liability costs for
the District. Another consideration is to keep options open for the future.
The actions are listed along with the following information:
Relative effort required for implementation
Low – possible with existing resources
Medium – some new resources required
54 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
High – significant new resources required
Phasing
Short – within 1 – 3 years
Medium – within 4 – 6 years
Long – within 7 years or more
Ongoing
Relative priority – priority based on benefits and costs of taking the
action and not taking the action
Low
Medium
High
Role – key organizations responsible, with the lead organization
listed first
D - District
DFO – Department of Fisheries and Oceans
EnvAC – Environmental Advisory Committee*
MAg – Ministry of Agriculture
Met – Metro Vancouver
MFL – Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource
Operations
P – Private sector (development industry)
* The EnvAC are not currently listed on the implementation plan
because it is not confirmed that they will exist. If Council does
choose to appoint an EnvAC, one of their early tasks will be to
review the implementation plan to identify their roles.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 55
Figure 7: Implementation Plan Table
56 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
4.2 Conclusion
Once the EMS has been received by Council, there will be opportunities for
Council to work with staff, potentially with the input of an Environmental
Advisory Committee, to refine the priorities and phasing. There will also be
opportunities for Council to focus on implementation details including
clarification of objectives, expectations, definitions and implications. In some
cases, supporting information may be required to support such decisions.
After some of the data collection and monitoring components of the EMS are
underway, it will become easier over time to clarify priorities and needs.
The District is at a crossroads. If the natural landscape and resources are
planned and managed in a smart manner, then the District can potentially
become more sustainable as a community in terms of growth and
development. Conversely, if there is not a focus on smart managed growth,
the District may lose out on the numerous services, benefits, and cost
savings that the natural environment provides.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 57
List of Acronyms
ALC Agricultural Land Commission
CSP Corporate Strategic Plan
DFO Department of Fisheries and Oceans
DPA Development Permit Area
EAC Environmental Advisory Committee
EMS Environmental Management Strategy
ISMP Integrated Stormwater Management Plan
IWMP Integrated Watershed Management Plan
MOE Ministry of Environment
OCP Official Community Plan
SAP Sustainability Action Plan
SEI Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory
58 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
References and Case Studies
Federal
“Canada Wildlife Act” (online) Canada: Justice Laws Website. R.S.C. 1985 Amended on 10 December 2010, Available: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/w-9/page-1.html [March 2014]
“Species at Risk Act” (online) Canada: Justice Laws Website. S.C. 2002 Amended 08 March 2013
Available: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/s-15.3/ [March 2014]
“Fisheries Act” (online) Canada: Justice Laws Website. R.S.C. 1985 Amended 25 November 2013 Available: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-14/ [March 2014]
“Canadian Environmental Protection Act,” (online) Canada: Environment Canada. S.C. 1999. Available: http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/default.asp?lang=En&n=CC0DE5E2-1&toc=hide
Provincial
Agricultural Land Commission, “Agriculture Land Reserve Use, Subdivision and Procedure Regulation” (online) British Columbia, Canada: Queens Printer. Revised: August 2004. Available:
http://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/legislation/Reg/ALR_Use-Subd-Proc_Reg.htm [March 2014]
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 59
Ministry of Agriculture. “Agricultural Land Commission Act, (SBC 2002) Chapter 36” (online) British Columbia, Canada: Queens Printer. Available:
http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_02036_01 [March 2014]
Ministry of the Environment, “Environmental Management Act, (SBC 2003) Chapter 53” (online) British Columbia, Canada: Queens Printer. Available:
http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/03053_00 [March 2014]
Ministry of Environment - Fish and Wildlife Branch. “Wildlife Act, (RSBC 1996) Chapter 488” (online).
British Columbia, Canada Queens Printer, Revised: 13 February 2013. Available: http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/ID/freeside/00_96488_01 [March 2014]
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, “Water Act, RSBC 1996) Chapter 483” (online) British Columbia, Canada: Queens Printer. Available:
http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96483_01 [March 2014]
Municipal
Greater Vancouver Regional District (Metro Vancouver). “Air Quality Management Bylaw No. 1082,” (online) Burnaby, British Columbia Canada, 2008 Available:
http://www.metrovancouver.org/boards/bylaws/Bylaws/RD_Bylaw_1082.pdf [March 2014]
Greater Vancouver Regional District (Metro Vancouver). “Regional Growth Strategy, Bylaw No.1136”,
(online) Burnaby, British Columbia Canada, July 29, 2011, Updated to July 26, 2011 2008 Available: http://www.metrovancouver.org/planning/development/strategy/RGSDocs/RGSAdopte
dbyGVRDBoardJuly292011.pdf [March 2014]
Lantzville, District of. “The District of Lantzville Subdivision and Development Bylaw No. 55.1” 2005,
Amendment Bylaw No. 55.1, 2006. Available: http://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID3188.pdf [March 2014]
Surrey, City of. “City of Surrey Tree Protection Bylaw, No. 16100” (online) Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. 2006. Available: http://www.surrey.ca/files/TREE_BYLAW_INTRODUCTION_AND_OVERVIEW.pdf
[March 2014]
Reports / Publications
American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden, “The Sustainable Sites Initiative™
(SITES™)” Available: www.sustainablesites.org [March 2014]
Berris, Catherine, “Surrey Tree Canopy Study” (online) Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. Catherine
Berris Associates Inc. 2008 Available: http://www.cbainc.bc.ca/section/projects/sub/environmental-planning/item/tree-canopy-coverage-analysis [March 2014]
Comox, Town of. “Urban Forest Management Plan” (online) Comox, British Columbia, Canada. Available: http://comox.ca/discover/outdoor/urban-forest-management-plan/ [March 2014]
60 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
D’Ambrosio Architecture + urbanism and Citizen Plan. “Downtown Urban Design Plan and Guidelines” (online) March 2008, Nanaimo, British Columbia Canada Available:
http://www.nanaimo.ca/assets/departments/community~planning/publications~and~forms/ddgwe b.pdf [March 2014]
Environmental Law Clinic, University of Victoria Faculty of Law, And Deborah Curran & Company. “Green
Bylaws Toolkit for Conserving Sensitive Ecosystems and Green Infrastructure” (online) November
2007. Available: http://www.greenbylaws.ca/images/greenbylaws_web1207.pdf
Garcia, Kellie “An Okanagan Homeowner’s Guide to Using Rain as a Resource” (online) Okanagan Basin
Water Board and Insight Environmental Consulting Ltd., Kelowna BC October 2011. Available: www.okwaterwise.ca/pdf/HomeDrainageGuide_Okanagan.pdf [March 2014]
Golder Associates. ”Groundwater Management Strategy” (online) Abbotsford, British Columbia. November 2011, Available: http://www.abbotsford.ca/Assets/Abbotsford/Dev+Services+-
+Planning+and+Environment/environmental/Draft+Groundwater+Management+Strategy+-+November+2011.pdf [March 2014]
ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability. “Biodiversity and Climate Change,” (online) 2008, Available: www.countdown2010.net/2010/wp-content/uploads/FS6Climate_small.PDF [March 2014]
Langley, Township of, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands “Township of Langley, Water Management Plan” (online) Langley, British Columbia, Canada. Final Report. November
2009. http://www.compassrm.com/database/rte/files/Township%20of%20Langley%20WMP%20-%20Final%20Report.pdf [March 2014]
Mission, District of. “Environmental Management Plan” (online) Mission, British Columbia Canada. June 2005. Available: http://www.mission.ca/wp-content/uploads/cedar-valley-environmental-management-
plan.pdf [March 2014]
Page, Nick. “Framework for Invasive Plant Management in GVRD Parks” (online) Burnaby, British Columbia
Canada. GVRD Regional Parks Department. March 2006. Available: http://www.raincoastappliedecology.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/GVRD-Invasive-Plant-
Framework-2005.pdf [March 2014]
Sustainable Solutions Group. “The District Municipality of North Cowichan, Climate Action & Energy
Plan (CAEP)” (online) North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada 2013 Available: http://www.northcowichan.ca/assets/Departments/Engineering/PDFs/NC%20CAEP%20final%20
report%20v5_reduced.pdf [March 2014]
Vancouver, City of “Greenest City 2020 Action Plan” (online) Vancouver, British Columbia Canada.
https://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/greenest-city-2020-action-plan.aspx [March 2014]
West Coast Environmental Law, Governments of Canada and BC, and Fraser Basin Council “Preparing for
Climate Change: An Implementation Guide for Local Governments” (online) October 2012, Available: http://www.retooling.ca/_Library/docs/WCEL_climate_change_FINAL.pdf [March 2014]
Wilson, Sara J. “Natural Capital in BC’s Lower Mainland, Valuing the Benefits from Nature” (online) David Suzuki Foundation, November 2010, 28. Available:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/2010/DSF_lower_mainland_natural_capital. pdf [March 2014]
Urban Forests Effects (UFORE) Model. Available: http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/tools/ufore/ [March 2014]
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 61
Websites
“American Forests” Homepage, Available: http://www.americanforests.org [March 2014]
“City of Burnaby” Homepage, Available: http://www.burnaby.ca/home.html [March 2014]
“City of Chilliwack” Homepage, Available: http://www.chilliwack.ca/ [March 2014]
“City of North Vancouver” Homepage, Available: http://www.cnv.org/ [March 2014]
“City of Port Moody” Homepage, Available: http://www.portmoody.ca/ [March 2014]
“City of Surrey” Homepage, Available: http://www.surrey.ca/ [March 2014]
“David Suzuki Foundation” Homepage, Available: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/ [March 2014]
“District of Saanich” Homepage, Available: http://www.saanich.ca/ [March 2014]
“District of Maple Ridge“ Homepage, Available: http://www.saanich.ca/ [March 2014]
“District of West Vancouver,” Homepage, Available: http://www.mapleridge.ca// [March 2014] – check for all
Maple Ridge references cited
“Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve” Available:
http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks_lscr/lscr/Pages/default.aspx [March 2014]
“Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change” Homepage, Available: http://www.ipcc.ch/ [March 2014]
“Millennium Ecosystem Assessment” Homepage Available: http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/index.html [ March 2014]
“Nature Conservancy of Canada” (online) Homepage. Available: http://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/?gclid=CKvujJXntb0CFS1eOgodWFUAeQ [March 2014]
North Vancouver, District of “Natural Hazards Development Permit Areas - (DPAs)” Available: http://www.dnv.org/article.asp?a=5018. [March 2014]
North Vancouver, District of “Natural Hazards Management Program” Available: http://www.dnv.org/article.asp?c=1024 [March 2014]
Pacific Climate Impact Consortium, “Plan2Adapt” http://www.pacificclimate.org/analysis-tools/plan2adapt [March 2014]
“Pacific Parklands Foundation” Homepage, Available: http://www.pacificparklands.com/ [March 2014]
The Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC. “Waterbucket” http://waterbucket.ca/gi/2012/07/16/green-
infrastructure-in-metro-vancouver-langley-township-delta-and-vancouver-are-leading-by-example/ [March 2014]
A-1 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Appendix A: Benefits of
Environmental Protection and
Management
The following are some examples of the benefits derived from protecting
natural areas and features.
Economic Benefits
Attracting environmentally sustainable development and innovative
developers
Reducing expenses of stormwater infrastructure and water quality
mitigation costs
Supporting agriculture activity
Flood protection, slope stability mitigation, drought protection, and
forest fire protection.
Erosion control, soil conservation, and sediment runoff mitigation
Providing free services such as soil conservation, drainage and
natural irrigation
Increasing tourism and new businesses oriented to outdoor
recreation
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY A- 2
Making commercial areas more viable by increasing visitation to the
District for the natural amenities
Encouraging corporate relocation through opportunities to live, work
and play in a great community
Increasing residential values and property taxes
Reduction of energy use by providing shade, transpiring moisture,
and reducing wind speeds
Potential for deriving carbon offset credits for protection of forest
lands
Providing pollination services for crops
Social Benefits
Conserving rural character of Maple Ridge
Providing a more beautiful setting for residents and visitors
Expanding opportunities for nature-oriented recreation and access to
nature
Improving mental and physical health due to a cleaner environment
and outdoor recreation opportunities
Easing mental fatigue and providing spiritual inspiration through the
presence of natural areas
Supporting pride in the community and a greater sense of community
Enhancing our understanding about nature and our relationship to
the environment
Making urban areas more comfortable by shading and cooling
Reducing exposure to damaging solar radiation
Conserving natural heritage and cultural resources
Providing alternate transportation corridors (to motor vehicles)
Protecting breeding and rearing areas for our food web , e.g.,
salmon, bees, insects
Protecting and enhancing water supplies for communities
Processing waste
Environmental Benefits
Supporting healthy and diverse ecosystems, including flora and
fauna
A-3 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Providing habitat and movement corridors for fish and wildlife
Cooling streams and soils by shading
Protecting and enhancing water quality in lakes, wetlands, rivers and
streams
Filtering pollutants from air and soil
Protecting streams by reducing extremes of water flow through
rainwater and stormwater management, keeping water temperatures
cool and preventing ongoing erosion
Recharging groundwater aquifers
Mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gases through
the storage and sequestering of carbon within vegetation
Preventing erosion on steep slopes
Valuation of the Benefits1
The following are examples of the quantitative benefits associated with
retention or rehabilitation of natural resources in BC’s Lower Mainland:
Carbon Storage: BC’s coastal forests store up to 1,300 tonnes of carbon per
hectare, and the average carbon content for biomass and soils for the Lower
Mainland is estimated to be 564.5 tonnes of carbon per hectare.
The amount of carbon stored can be valued based on the value of the
avoided costs of carbon emitted to the atmosphere, which is an average
annual value of $1,709 per hectare in the urban portion of Maple Ridge and
$1,858 per hectare in the undeveloped forested portion.
Air Pollution Abatement: Trees can remove 8 to 12 grams of air pollutants
per square metre of canopy. The trees in the Maple Ridge area annually
remove 100 kilograms of pollutants per hectare, which is valued at $495 per
hectare.
Water Quantity: The economic value of water regulation by forests is
calculated in terms of the replacement construction costs for water runoff
control if the forest cover was removed. The annual savings are $612 per
hectare in the urban portion of Maple Ridge and $615 per hectare in the
undeveloped forested portion.
Water Quality: Wetlands can absorb nutrients such as nitrogen and
phosphorus that runs off farmlands in excessive amounts. The value of the
excess nutrients, based on the value of wetland waste treatment services,
1 Value examples in this section are from David Suzuki Foundation and Pacific
Parklands Foundation, Natural Capital in BC’s Lower Mainland.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY A- 4
ranges from an average of $113.47 per hectare for nitrogen and an average
of $1,1347 per hectare for phosphorous.
The economic value for the benefit of water filtration is based on the potential
increase in water treatment costs if the forest/wetland declined from its
current cover; it equates to $1,889 per hectare per year.
Pollination: The annual value of pollination services attributed to natural
cover is estimated at $1,668 per hectare.
Habitat: The value of protecting watersheds for salmon habitat is estimated
in terms of the value that drainage areas contribute to maintaining habitat.
The values range from $1,322 to $7,010 per kilometre of salmon stream.
Recreation: Based on an average of three economic studies of nature-based
recreation, the annual economic value of nature for recreation is estimated at
$127 per hectare.
Total: The estimated average annual values of forests for all benefits (not
all are described above) are $5,913 per hectare in the urban portion of Maple
Ridge and $7,432 per hectare in the undeveloped forested portion. The
average values for the Lower Fraser Watershed, which encompasses Maple
Ridge, are $3,826 per hectare.
The total annual value of the benefits for the Lower Mainland is $5,386
million.
B-1 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Appendix B: Official Community Plan DPAs
OCP Provisions
Both the current and the previous Official Community Plans established Development Permit Areas to protect
environmentally sensitive areas. The current Official Community Plan, adopted in 2006, has streamlined this
approach as follows:
Watercourse Protection Development Permit (WPDP): DP guidelines that require new developments and
building applications to:
a. protect watercourses and wetlands using the Streamside Protection Regulations (SPR), with limited
jurisdiction in ALR lands
b. ensure they provide sufficient studies and mitigation recommendations to encourage innovative site
design with respect to dealing with potential hazards, ecological significant features, and rainwater
management
c. encourage enhancement and restoration for disturbed areas or sparsely vegetated areas within setback
zones
Natural Features Development Permit (NFDP): DP guidelines that focus on management of slopes and
hillside areas over 15%, floodplains, and lands within 50 metres of park or conservation areas to carry out
following:
a. Retain natural vegetation, trees, and soils where possible;
b. Minimize cutting and filling of slopes to mimic natural topography;
c. Ensure sufficient studies to encourage safe and innovative site design including protection of ecologically
significant features, confirmed hazardous areas, and natural drainage.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY C-1
Appendix C: Background Analysis to Support Strategies
and Actions
This appendix includes the analysis of strengths and challenges that was used to generate strategies and actions.
Goal A
Existing Tools
The following section provides a list and a brief evaluation of the tools that the District currently uses to meet the Goal
A objectives. Opportunities for potential ways to improve these tools are provided.
Existing Tools Strengths Challenges Opportunities
Environmental Mapping Existing mapping is an
excellent resource for
staff, developers, and
consultants of record
Maps are used by staff
to determine boundaries
of DP areas and the
need for DP
applications
Maps identify potential
hazards on site or off
site, in addition to
Protection of
corridors/natural areas
outside of watercourses
(i.e. federal/provincial
regulation) is limited,
e.g., upland habitats,
wildlife corridors, wildlife
interface areas
Maps are technical, on
multiple layers and not
well distributed
Prepare user-friendly
summary maps of the
important environmental
areas – (major
ecosystems, greenway trail
and watercourse corridors,
park conservation areas,
steep slopes,
environmental DP areas,
floodplain boundaries,
natural heritage features,
aquifer boundaries) and
C-2 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Existing Tools Strengths Challenges Opportunities
providing context for
applicants on what is
required
Implications and
applications of ESA
mapping are not well
understood
distribute these widely
Use the District’s mapping,
combined with SEI
mapping, to prepare an
ecological network
management strategy and
to update NFDP and WDP
maps
Soil Deposit Bylaw Bylaw exists Illegal fill is commonly
placed on agricultural
land due to a lack of
legal fill locations
Concerns include truck
traffic, contamination,
drainage, and visual
impacts
Refine bylaw to address
safety and risk
management
considerations
Improve processes and
provide information to
address impacts
Require Agro-ecologist
input
Gaps not Addressed by Existing Tools
The following is a list of gaps in environmental management which are not addressed by the existing tools.
Opportunities for potential ways to address these gaps are provided.
Gaps Recommendations
No recognition of priority ESA lands in
Maple Ridge to be protected or managed
and no District program to identify and
acquire ESA lands
Lack of incentives for property owners to
contribute additional lands for conservation
Identify priority ESA lands for conservation and for management
strategies
Identify potential tools which to help District acquire lands that
may not otherwise be protected (e.g., terrestrial ecosystems,
diverse and distributed habitat areas, greenway corridors) through
various incentive mechanisms and partnerships, e.g., land
conservancies, partnership with MV Ecological Health Strategy
Plan for ESAs at watershed scale to neighbourhood to site-
specific scales
Lack of a sustainable management strategy
for larger watersheds and lands outside
municipal boundaries
Work with the Province, Metro and surrounding municipalities on
the planning and protection of Crown land and larger watersheds
that cross municipal boundaries
Encourage an integrated and sustainable management plan for
areas including the Blue Mountain area and input on Provincial
decisions
Lack of a Fraser River Foreshore Plan Work with Metro and others on a Fraser River Foreshore Plan
Lack of Groundwater Management Plans
(GMP)
Encourage GMPs for vulnerable aquifer areas as well as other
aquifer areas in Maple Ridge where residents are dependent on
groundwater for irrigation or drinking water
Limited authority over environmental
protection and best practices within the
ALR
Work with the ALC, DFO and agriculture community on Best
Practices for integration of environment and agriculture, e.g.,
combine environmental farm lands into wildlife corridors
New developments can have interface
challenges with surrounding natural areas
Encourage Integrated Sustainable Management Plans for outlying
Crown lands
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY C-3
Gaps Recommendations
Have not yet worked on a plan to recognize
the value of undeveloped municipal lands
or to pursue the use of carbon offset credits
Evaluate the socio-economic values and benefits of natural assets
(e.g., use Suzuki data to evaluate the financial benefits of healthy
airsheds, biodiversity values, eco-tourism opportunities, education
opportunities, attractive municipal park assets that attract clean
industry and high wage businesses)
Goal B
Existing Tools
The following section provides a list and a brief evaluation of the tools that the District currently uses to meet the
Goal B objectives. Opportunities for potential ways to improve these tools are provided.
Existing
Tools Strengths Challenges Opportunities
Tree
Protection
Bylaw
Bylaw exists Many trees are being
lost to development
especially in rural areas
Bylaw is restricted to
urban area, no
mitigation or
replacement tree costs
are required, no
consideration of impact
on neigbhouring
properties
Replace the Tree Protection Bylaw with a
Tree Preservation and Management Bylaw
that incorporates appropriate mitigation
requirements, including tree cutting and
replacement costs
Identify specific trees that require protection,
e.g., specimen trees, heritage trees
Include monitoring in the bylaw
Tree Planting
and Urban
Forestry
Community
Ecosystem
Restoration
Initiative Program
will plant 300,000
native trees in
parks and on
municipal land over
multiple years
Street tree
program, some
planting required in
new developments
Despite these
programs, trees are
being lost on private
property (see Tree
Cutting Bylaw above)
Introduce programs and incentives to
promote planting and care for trees on
development projects and private property
Use tools such as tree canopy target, an
expanded tree inventory
Update other bylaws to increase the focus
on trees
Provide information and incentives to the
public on the importance and benefits of
trees
Conduct an Urban Forest Management Plan
Watercourse
Protection
Development
Permit
(WPDP)
Use of SPR vs.
RAR offers more
social, economic,
and environmental
benefits given the
unique landscape
that Maple Ridge
has around it
Setbacks do not
necessarily allow for
recreation corridors or
hazard setbacks,
protection of species at
risk or larger
community greenway
buffers especially along
the larger significant
Make corridors wide enough to
accommodate both wildlife and recreation on
the larger watercourses and features, e.g.,
Whonnock Lake, Alouette River, Fraser
River in East Maple Ridge, Whonnock River
Update mapping based on the SPR
Add implementation, monitoring and
enforcement related to protection of water
quality
C-4 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Existing
Tools Strengths Challenges Opportunities
rivers or creeks such as
Whonnock Creek
Water quality may not
be addressed
adequately
Watercourse
Protection
Bylaw
Bylaw includes
erosion control and
rainwater
management on-
site source controls
Rainwater
management
guidelines are buried in
this bylaw and warrant
a higher profile
Include rainwater management guidelines in
the Subdivision Servicing Bylaw
Integrated
Stormwater
Management
Plans (ISMP)
Engineering Dept
has initiated ISMPs
ISMPs are not
integrated with area
plans
Encourage integration of ISMPs and land
use planning
Natural
Features
Development
Permit
(NFDP)
NFDP focuses on
hazard areas which
are identified and
addressed
Lack of clear guidelines
around hazard
management standards
for floodplains and
steep slopes, or for tree
clearing on steep
slopes, and protection
of groundwater in
vulnerable aquifer
areas
Aquifers are still being
compromised in
vulnerable areas of
east Maple Ridge and
Thornhill
Still allowing too much
development outside of
urban containment
boundary
Hillsides are not being
adequately protected,
e.g., vegetation
retention, visual quality
Add low impact development guidelines re:
terrestrial ecosystems
Prepare more specific hillside guidelines that
address hazards, risks, design options,
visual aesthetics and visual assessment
tools
Include provisions related to water resources
investigations and guidelines in vulnerable
aquifer areas
Zoning Bylaw Zoning bylaw is
currently under
review
Zoning bylaw has
limited steep slope
restrictions
Integrate increased regulations and
performance measures for development on
steep slopes into the zoning bylaw.
Subdivision
Servicing
Bylaw
Subdivision servicing
bylaw provides minimal
direction on sustainable
design standards, e.g.,
performance targets for
permeablility
Integrate sustainable design standards into
the subdivision servicing bylaw, e.g., for
rainwater management, road design, road
crossings for wildlife, tree planting,
landscape type and amount, sidewalks/
trails / cycle paths, passive solar benefits
through siting and landscaping, etc.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY C-5
Existing
Tools Strengths Challenges Opportunities
Conservation
land acquired
through
development
District receives
land for
conservation
and/or hazard
management
purposes
Neighbourbouring
properties intrude into
the conservation area,
e.g., dumping garden
waste, encroachments
Improve monitoring, enforcement and
stewardship
Incorporate community greenway corridors
Gaps not Addressed by Existing Tools
The following is a list of gaps in environmental management which are not addressed by the existing tools.
Opportunities for potential ways to address these gaps are provided.
Gaps Opportunities
There has not been much attention paid to a
higher level of sustainability that would
address climate change resiliency
Improve integration of regulations and DP guidelines to deal
with climate change resiliency such as storms, floods, slopes,
groundwater , terrain stability, tree retention
Encourage sustainable development practices that go beyond
minimum requirements, considering checklists and carbon
offsets for community projects as tools
Approach to hazards is not integrated Prepare a new Natural Hazards DP to consolidate mapping
and guidelines related to slope, creek and wildfire hazards
Monitoring and enforcement are key
challenges, confirmed by strong public opinion
on this topic, with few policies or resources for
this
Include monitoring and enforcement provisions in policies
where possible
Environmental values and costs are not
evaluated in the planning process
Include full cost accounting, including short term and long term
costs and benefits, in development evaluation and decision-
making processes
Goal C
Existing Tools
The following section provides a list and a brief evaluation of the tools that the District currently uses to meet the
Goal C above. Opportunities for potential ways to improve these tools are provided.
Existing
Tools Strengths Challenges Opportunities
Communica-
tion processes
Environment staff
communicate
informally with a
broad network of
stakeholders
Staff would like more
communication with
Council and
stewardship groups
would like more support
in terms of
communication
Formalize environmental staff
communications with Council
Support stewardship groups in their own
communications and organization among
various groups
Environmental A significant Environmental Prepare an EMS information hub on the
C-6 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
Existing
Tools Strengths Challenges Opportunities
Information amount of
environmental
information exists
information is not
consolidated,
centralized or regularly
distributed
District’s website
Increase the use of digital media
Include marketing related to environmental
management in the District’s communications
strategy
Environmental
Education
District has an
environmental
experiential
education
program K-7
No District
environmental
education programs at
the secondary school
level
Expand environmental education
opportunities in partnerships with others
Nature and
Ecotourism
Experiences
District has many
nature trails
within and
surrounding the
urban area
Haney Horsemen
manage some
trails with
financial support
from the District
Economic
Development
group is working
on this
Nature experiences in
the District are not well
developed or widely
marketed
Encourage the expansion of opportunities for
nature experiences and ecotourism
Encourage ecotourism businesses, e.g.,
equipment rentals, tour operators
Assist businesses with marketing
Encourage smart phone applications
Gaps not Addressed by Existing Tools
The following is a list of gaps in environmental management which are not addressed by the existing tools.
Opportunities for potential ways to address these gaps are provided.
Gaps Opportunities
The District does not have an Environmental
Advisory Committee (EnvAC)
Consider an EnvAC with careful attention to the role,
membership and functions on this group
Limited staff resources to manage ongoing
development and building permits, assist with
District projects, oversee enquiries, work with
environmental stakeholders, and administer /
enforce bylaws, etc.
Provide more staff resources to environment to better manage,
administer and enforce bylaws, collaborate with stakeholders
and conduct outreach activities
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY D-1
Appendix D: Cross-reference of EMS Objectives to
Other Documents
The following lists show the relationship between the EMS objectives and the District’s Official Community Plan
(OCP), Community Sustainability Strategy (CSP) and Sustainability Action Plan (SAP).
Goal A
EMS Objectives Links to other District Documents
1. Protect the key
ecological
resources.
CSP strategy (p 3)
Identify and devise effective protective mechanisms for environmental features (such as
watercourses) and areas that require special recognition and management.
OCP goals (Ch 5, p 3)
Protect significant ecosystems in the Municipality
OCP objectives (Ch 5, p 7)
To identify, protect and enhance ecosystems, sensitive areas and other natural features
that have significant ecological value.
To ensure that soils, vegetation and mature trees are maintained and protected where
D-2 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
EMS Objectives Links to other District Documents
possible and encourage the use of native species when replanting is necessary.
To encourage the retention of forest and woodland areas in Maple Ridge.
Create a parks acquisition and development funding strategy (SAP page 11).
Preserve natural assets that could positively contribute to economic development (CSP
Strategy page 7).
2. Maintain the health
of natural areas.
OCP goals (Ch 5, p 3)
Anticipate and respond to the impacts of climate change on land, water and air
resources
Maintain and improve ecosystem health and human safety.
3. Extend natural
connections
beyond the
municipality.
CSP strategy (p 7)
Enhance the trail systems so that they can be used to enhance economic development.
4. Build ecological
resilience for
adaptation to
climate change and
hazards.
OCP objective (Ch 5, p 2)
A perspective that anticipates climate change and strives to reduce its causes while
mitigating its effects.
OCP goals (Ch 5, p 3)
Anticipate and respond to the impacts of climate change on land, water and air
resources.
OCP objective (Ch 5, p 7)
To protect persons, property, and landscape from risk or hazards due to flooding,
standing water, hazardous terrain, and forest fire while protecting environmental
features to as great an extent as possible.
5. Consider the
potential values
and financial
benefits of
undeveloped land
in planning.
OCP goals (Ch 5, p 3)
Determine guidelines and standards ... in and around environmentally sensitive areas.
Identify situations where additional environmental studies or impact assessments are
required as part of the development process.
6. Provide incentives
to encourage
developers to
protect some
natural areas.
SAP (p 9)
Create a Financing Reserve for Sustainability related Projects. The District will establish
a funding reserve to finance environmental projects with strong business cases.
Repayments to the reserve will be made through savings in operating budgets.
7. Protect agricultural
land in recognition
of the values it
provides, e.g.,
wildlife habitat,
infiltration, food.
OCP objective (Ch 5, p 4)
Acknowledge and foster the role that agricultural lands have on the environment.
OCP objective (Ch 5, p 8)
To preserve agricultural land in support of community values.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY D-3
Goal B
EMS Objectives Links to other District Documents
1. Protect and enhance
the urban forest,
including existing
forests and
significant trees,
with methods to
support future tree
cover.
OCP objective (Ch 5, p 7)
To ensure that soils, vegetation and mature trees are maintained and protected where
possible…
To encourage the retention of forest and woodland areas in Maple Ridge.
2. Protect important
natural and heritage
resources within
neighbourhoods as
part of the planning
process where
possible, including
greenway corridors,
watercourses, native
soils, and steep
slopes.
SAP (p 7)
Create new Development Permit Area (DPA) Guidelines to protect Environmentally
Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
CSP strategies (p 6)
Provide a variety of parks, trails, open spaces and gathering places.
Preserve and enhance heritage resources to provide citizens with the historic context
of the
Community.
OCP objective (Ch 5, p 10)
To protect rare and critical environments.
OCP objectives (Ch 5, p 13/14)
To preserve the natural integrity of watercourses, wetlands, and riparian areas through
adequate protection, enhancement, and restoration measures.
3. Manage and
minimize the
impacts of
development on
protected and
natural areas,
including erosion of
slopes,
sedimentation of
watercourses,
reduced air quality.
OCP objectives (Ch 5, p 10)
To promote safety of hillside design and construction, and minimize flooding, ponding,
and potential land movement.
To minimize soil instability, erosion and downstream siltation.
4. Use appropriate
best management
practices to ensure
attractive, safe, and
affordable
communities.
OCP objectives (Ch 5, p 13/14)
To adopt a comprehensive and innovative approach to the management of rainwater
and stormwater issues and to manage storm and rainwater in a manner that protects
and maintains the ecological features of the District’s watercourses.
To ensure water quality is protected and is made available for residents’ consumption.
To promote wise water consumption throughout the District and to protect groundwater
resources as an important source of water supply, especially in non-urban areas.
D-4 DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
5. Use sustainable
landscape design
and management to
reduce energy use,
support wildlife, and
make
neighbourhoods
more attractive and
livable.
CSP strategy (p 6)
Ensure development standards incorporate sustainability, crime prevention, safety and
security concepts.
OCP objectives (Ch 5, p 11)
To maintain the visual quality of hillsides with new development.
To minimize adverse neighbourhood impacts with new development.
To maintain and foster the unique natural features of Maple Ridge through sensitive
hillside development and the protection of viewscapes.
6. Use alternative
transportation as a
sustainable design
measure to save
energy and increase
health and
recreation
opportunities.
CSP strategies (p 4)
Maintain and enhance a multi-modal transportation system within Maple Ridge to
provide citizens with safe, efficient alternatives for the movement of individuals and
goods.
Promote alternative modes (pedestrian, bike, public transit) of travel to reduce reliance
on the Automobile.
SAP (p 7)
Create an Active Transportation Plan.
7. Enforce
environmental
regulations.
OCP objective (Ch 5, p 10)
To encourage development densities that are sensitive to and appropriate for the
natural grade of land.
Goal C
EMS Objectives Links to other District Documents
1. Improve communication
and collaboration among
District departments and
stakeholders to increase
efficiency, improve
understanding, and
achieve more benefits.
Added by workshop participants and public input based on a perception that inter-
departmental communication and collaboration could be improved.
2. Increase communication
about environmental
management and its
benefits to the public,
including financial
benefits.
CSP strategy (p 3)
Continue to promote individual, business and community responsibility for the
stewardship of natural resources.
CSP strategy (p 9)
Develop methods to communicate on a timely basis with citizens and community
groups.
3. Increase education and
engagement opportunities
related to experiencing
nature and environmental
management.
CSP strategy (page 9)
Provide information about and actively promoting the actions individual citizens
and businesses can take to augment the District’s sustainability efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY D-5
EMS Objectives Links to other District Documents
4. Clarify the steps and
requirements involved in
the land development
process, and use
processes that are
inclusive.
CSP strategy (p 5)
Develop a land use management and development processes that are clear,
timely, open, inclusive and consultative.
CSP strategy (p 9)
Provide a continuum of opportunities that encourage and enable citizen
participation in local government and local government decision-making.
5. Partner with other
government agencies,
including First Nations, on
initiatives of shared
interest and benefits.
CSP strategy (p 3)
In partnership with other levels of government, adjacent municipalities, First
Nations and community groups, develop programs and projects to preserve and
enhance the natural assets of Maple Ridge.
CSP strategies (p 3)
Develop and maintain strong, positive working relationships with our adjacent
neighbours, the municipalities of Pitt Meadows and Mission; the Katzie and
Kwantlen First Nations; our fellow members of the Greater Vancouver Regional
District and the Fraser Valley Regional District.
Enhance relationships with provincial and federal employees and politicians to
further the legitimate interests of the District.
OCP objectives (Ch 5, p 13/14)
To participate in Regional, Provincial, and Federal programs and projects aimed
at protecting and improving the District’s water resources.
6. Partner with non-
government organizations
on initiatives of shared
interest and benefits, and
support local stewardship
groups in achieving
common objectives.
CSP (p 3/4)
In co-operation with other regional stakeholders, identify improvements to the
inter-municipal transportation system within the Lower Mainland and the Fraser
Valley.
Continue to leverage our voice and enhance our relationships with the UBCM,
FCM and the LMLGA.
Identify and promote the use of partnerships and networks with public agencies;
crown corporations; business; not-for-profit; community groups; and volunteers to
provide local government and community services in a cost-efficient, effective and
timely manner.
Townshipof Langley
Districtof MapleRidge
Districtof PittMeadows
2 4 8 T H S TFERN CRNEAVESRDNEAVES RDHINCH CR224THST
DITTO
N S
T
98TH AVSILVERVALLEYRDS WILDWOOD CR
LOU
G
H
E
E
D
H
W
Y
132ND AV
Z001216TH STZ002
KEARNS A
V224TH STJOHNSON AV
287TH ST203RD ST246TH ST112TH AV
113TH AV
125TH AV
1 2 9 TH AV
226TH ST256THST125TH AV 220AST211TH ST116AAV
243 B ST122ND AV
109TH AVOWEN STTELEP AV
DOCK STWOOD STALPINE AV
121STAV
237AST232ND ST115THA V
124 B AV
119 AAVHOOD ST216TH ST129TH AV
BRUCE AV
125TH AV
PARKRD116TH AV232AST119AAV
BELL AV
122A AV
118 A AV
130TH AVSILVERVALLEYRD233RD STFULTON STSLAGER AV
122ND AV
231ST ST112TH AV
MAPLEPL
MILLER ST124 AAV
PLAZA STPINE ST114TH AV 284THST230TH ST224TH ST118TH AVGRAY ST214TH ST209TH ST288THST121AAV BLUEMOUNTAINCR123RD AV
FERN PL
DOUGLAS AV
142ND AV
RIVERRD
BARKER AV 212TH ST116THA
AV FRASERST233RD ST115AAV
113 B AV 243RD STEDGE STLOUGHEED HWYBALSAM AVMAPLECR
BLANE
Y
C
R
E
E
K
R
D
232ND ST246TH STST ANNE AV
DA
L
EDR227THST228TH STDOVER ST118TH AV
130TH AV
236ASTKLASS
ENPL
PENNY LN
CONNECTING RD
218TH STEDGEDALE AV
EXETER AV
EAGLE AV
117THAV
MCINTOSH AV214TH AV254TH ST118TH AV209TH STWEST ST124TH AV
123 B AV
DAVISON STDENIZA AV
112TH AV231 B ST267TH ST196 B STANSELL ST241ST ST1 2 7 T H AV
224TH ST117TH AV
127TH AV
B IR C H A V
117TH AV
STRENG AV
DONOVAN AV
RI
V
E
R
R
D
108TH AV 252ND ST227TH STROYAL CR
SPRIN G CRFI
R
S
T
119TH AV
SELKIRK AV
STANTONAV
288TH STFRASERDYKERD GRAHAM ST122ND AV
232BST288TH ST116TH AV207ASTNORTH AV210TH STDEWDNEY TRUNK RD
CLIFF AV
RITCHIEAV 249THSTSTOREY AV
ROGERS AV 256TH STKATHRYN STDUNN AV
HALNOR AV
STEEVES STWALNU
T
C
RMAKINSONST
210TH ST126TH AV
ADAIR ST128TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
202NDSTTHORNTONAV
HARRISONSTRIDGEWAYCR
127TH AV
LAURIE AV203RD STMORSE CRLARCH AV
248TH STCARSHILL ST225TH STREID AV
RIV
E
R
R
D
MCKAYAVACADIAST122ND AV
117TH AV
212TH STHEAPS AV
GARDENST201 A ST
119TH AV
121ST AV
SELKIRK AV
STONEY
A
V
GOLF LN STEPHENS STBROWN AV
128TH AVMCKECHNIE RDLAITY ST121ST AV217THSTCHATWIN AV
122ND AV
261ST ST116TH AV
128TH AV
126TH AV
RIVER WYND261ST ST285TH ST227TH ST280TH ST269THSTCARR ST125 AAV
251ST STWIL
D
W
O
O
D
P
L
205T
H
S
THILLSIDE STTAMARACK
L
N
117TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
108TH AV
SHARPE PL
123RD AV
ODELL ST245 B STSKILLEN STKINGSTONS T
HAMPT
ON
ST
FI
S
H
E
R
M
A
N
S
R
D
124TH AVBLACKSTOCKST
LORNE
A
V
LEE AV
207TH STGRACE STCHIGWELL
ST
RI
V
E
R
R
D
STEWARTCR
240TH ST96TH AV
STONEHOUSE AV
111TH AV
123RD AV
CAMPBELL AV
122ND AV
CAMWOOD AV
H
A
N
E
Y
B
P
PALMERROLPHST216TH ST238TH STLOUGH
E
ED
HW
Y
LOUGHEED HWY ISAAC CR276TH ST222NDSTPATTERSON AV
DEWDNEY TRUNKRD
BROOKS A
V
260TH STGLENWOOD AV
285TH STMORISSETT E PLLAITY ST130TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
LOUGHEEDHWY235TH ST268TH ST96TH AV
98TH AV
124TH AV196C ST116TH AV
125TH AV
GEEST236TH ST240TH STEDGE ST287TH ST234TH ST229TH ST264TH STROTHSAY STMILL ST239TH ST123RD AV
248TH STLOCKWOOD ST249TH ST248TH ST228TH STGLENHURST AV104TH AV
248TH ST113TH AV
SMITH AV223RD STLOUGHEEDHWY
263RD ST124TH AV
DUNBAR ST221ST STGLENHURST ST256TH ST220TH STYORK STASHLEY CR HAWTHORNE ST126TH AVRENNIE RD26
1STST106TH AV
103RD AV267TH ST230TH ST269TH ST125TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
JACKSON
RD
OSPRIN
G
ST
121ST AV
WANSTEA
D ST
S A Y E R S C R
116THAV
141ST AV
116TH AV 250TH STRIVER RD
108TH AV
RIVER RD208TH STWICKLUND AV
COOK AV MARC RD119TH AV 232ND STABERNETHYWY
98TH AV240TH AVHYNES ST272ND ST118THAV
ZERO
N
A
V
240TH STSPILSBURYRD
112TH AVHALE RD206TH ST240TH STPOWELL AV
124TH AV
108TH AV
FERGUSON AV
BURNETT ST252ND ST112TH AV
RIVERRD
266TH ST
BELL AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
150TH AV
286TH STDEWDNEY TRUNK RD 251ST ST268TH STLOUGHEEDHWY
118TH AV
WHARF ST
124TH AV
144TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
MAPLEMEADOWSWY136TH AV
INDUSTRIALAV128TH AV
MARSHALL AV
284TH STFERN CR128TH CRHAMMONDRD
128TH AV
129TH AV
272ND S
T
LOUGHEED HWY
128TH AV
FLETCHER STGRA
N
T
A
V
105TH AV
113TH AV237TH ST232ND STROLLEY CRFERNCR128TH AV
HANEY
B
P
RIV
E
R
R
D
LOUGHEED HWY262NDST102ND AV 277TH ST256TH ST116TH AV
232ND ST124TH AV
96TH AV210TH ST264TH ST104TH AV
DOGWOOD AV
100TH AV208TH ST246TH ST243RD ST132ND AVHALE RD260TH ST287TH ST244TH ST116TH AV
108TH AVPARK LN132ND AVCEDAR WYLOUGHEED HWY
BOSONWORTH AV
110TH AVCOTTONWOOD DR128TH AV
280TH STC
U
NN
INGHAM
A
V
276TH ST272ND ST132ND AV
112TH AVGARIBALDI ST256TH STLOUGHEED
HWY
144TH AV
280TH ST110TH AVTRETHEWEY CRALOUETTE RDMCNEIL RD104TH AV
100TH AV
102ND AVMAR RD272ND STMCNUTT RDKA
NAKA
CREEK
R
D236TH ST240TH ST98TH AV
104TH AV
112TH AVSHARPE RDRICHARDSON RD
MCKECHNIE RD100TH AV
LO
U
G
H
E
E
D
H
W
Y 284TH ST102ND AV
FERGUSON AVSILVERVALLEYRDTHOMPSON RD
GOLDEN EARS PARK RDFraser River
P i t t R i v e r
A l o u e t t e L a k e
MikeLake
WhonnockLake
StaveRiver
ParsonsChannel
BedfordChannel
EnterpriseChannel
Hammond
PortHaney
Albion
Whonnock
Ruskin
TheRidge
Haney
Webster'sCorners
EastHaneyPittMeadowsHighlands
SilverValley
Thornhill
Yennadon
Map 1:Watercourses
Legend
Watercourses
Wetlands
Municipal Boundaries
Active Planning and Servicing Boundary
MAPLE RIDGEENVIRONMENTALMANAGEMENTSTRATEGY
0 250 500 750 1,000125
m
I
3D TerrainPerspective
Please note:
This map is an illustration of thetype of information that couldsupport the Watercourses DP. Date: 10/04/2014
Townshipof Langley
Districtof MapleRidge
Districtof PittMeadows
2 4 8 T H S TFERN CRNEAVESRDNEAVES RDHINCH CR224THST
DITTO
N S
T
98TH AVSILVERVALLEYRDS WILDWOOD CR
LOU
G
H
E
E
D
H
W
Y
132ND AV
Z001216TH STZ002
KEARNS A
V224TH STJOHNSON AV
287TH ST203RD ST246TH ST112TH AV
113TH AV
125TH AV
1 2 9 TH AV
226TH ST256THST125TH AV 220AST211TH ST116AAV
243 B ST122ND AV
109TH AVOWEN STTELEP AV
DOCK STWOOD STALPINE AV
121STAV
237AST232ND ST115THA V
124 B AV
119 AAVHOOD ST216TH ST129TH AV
BRUCE AV
125TH AV
PARKRD116TH AV232AST119AAV
BELL AV
122A AV
118 A AV
130TH AVSILVERVALLEYRD233RD STFULTON STSLAGER AV
122ND AV
231ST ST112TH AV
MAPLEPL
MILLER ST124 AAV
PLAZA STPINE ST114TH AV 284THST230TH ST224TH ST118TH AVGRAY ST214TH ST209TH ST288THST121AAV BLUEMOUNTAINCR123RD AV
FERN PL
DOUGLAS AV
142ND AV
RIVERRD
BARKER AV 212TH ST116THA
AV FRASERST233RD ST115AAV
113 B AV 243RD STEDGE STLOUGHEED HWYBALSAM AVMAPLECR
BLANE
Y
C
R
E
E
K
R
D
232ND ST246TH STST ANNE AV
DA
L
EDR227THST228TH STDOVER ST118TH AV
130TH AV
236ASTKLASS
ENPL
PENNY LN
CONNECTING RD
218TH STEDGEDALE AV
EXETER AV
EAGLE AV
117THAV
MCINTOSH AV214TH AV254TH ST118TH AV209TH STWEST ST124TH AV
123 B AV
DAVISON STDENIZA AV
112TH AV231 B ST267TH ST196 B STANSELL ST241ST ST1 2 7 T H AV
224TH ST117TH AV
127TH AV
B IR C H A V
117TH AV
STRENG AV
DONOVAN AV
RI
V
E
R
R
D
108TH AV 252ND ST227TH STROYAL CR
SPRIN G CRFI
R
S
T
119TH AV
SELKIRK AV
STANTONAV
288TH STFRASERDYKERD GRAHAM ST122ND AV
232BST288TH ST116TH AV207ASTNORTH AV210TH STDEWDNEY TRUNK RD
CLIFF AV
RITCHIEAV 249THSTSTOREY AV
ROGERS AV 256TH STKATHRYN STDUNN AV
HALNOR AV
STEEVES STWALNU
T
C
RMAKINSONST
210TH ST126TH AV
ADAIR ST128TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
202NDSTTHORNTONAV
HARRISONSTRIDGEWAYCR
127TH AV
LAURIE AV203RD STMORSE CRLARCH AV
248TH STCARSHILL ST225TH STREID AV
RIV
E
R
R
D
MCKAYAVACADIAST122ND AV
117TH AV
212TH STHEAPS AV
GARDENST201 A ST
119TH AV
121ST AV
SELKIRK AV
STONEY
A
V
GOLF LN STEPHENS STBROWN AV
128TH AVMCKECHNIE RDLAITY ST121ST AV217THSTCHATWIN AV
122ND AV
261ST ST116TH AV
128TH AV
126TH AV
RIVER WYND261ST ST285TH ST227TH ST280TH ST269THSTCARR ST125 AAV
251ST STWIL
D
W
O
O
D
P
L
205T
H
S
THILLSIDE STTAMARACK
L
N
117TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
108TH AV
SHARPE PL
123RD AV
ODELL ST245 B STSKILLEN STKINGSTONS T
HAMPT
ON
ST
FI
S
H
E
R
M
A
N
S
R
D
124TH AVBLACKSTOCKST
LORNE
A
V
LEE AV
207TH STGRACE STCHIGWELL
ST
RI
V
E
R
R
D
STEWARTCR
240TH ST96TH AV
STONEHOUSE AV
111TH AV
123RD AV
CAMPBELL AV
122ND AV
CAMWOOD AV
H
A
N
E
Y
B
P
PALMERROLPHST216TH ST238TH STLOUGH
E
ED
HW
Y
LOUGHEED HWY ISAAC CR276TH ST222NDSTPATTERSON AV
DEWDNEY TRUNKRD
BROOKS A
V
260TH STGLENWOOD AV
285TH STMORISSETT E PLLAITY ST130TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
LOUGHEEDHWY235TH ST268TH ST96TH AV
98TH AV
124TH AV196C ST116TH AV
125TH AV
GEEST236TH ST240TH STEDGE ST287TH ST234TH ST229TH ST264TH STROTHSAY STMILL ST239TH ST123RD AV
248TH STLOCKWOOD ST249TH ST248TH ST228TH STGLENHURST AV104TH AV
248TH ST113TH AV
SMITH AV223RD STLOUGHEEDHWY
263RD ST124TH AV
DUNBAR ST221ST STGLENHURST ST256TH ST220TH STYORK STASHLEY CR HAWTHORNE ST126TH AVRENNIE RD26
1STST106TH AV
103RD AV267TH ST230TH ST269TH ST125TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
JACKSON
RD
OSPRIN
G
ST
121ST AV
WANSTEA
D ST
S A Y E R S C R
116THAV
141ST AV
116TH AV 250TH STRIVER RD
108TH AV
RIVER RD208TH STWICKLUND AV
COOK AV MARC RD119TH AV 232ND STABERNETHYWY
98TH AV240TH AVHYNES ST272ND ST118THAV
ZERO
N
A
V
240TH STSPILSBURYRD
112TH AVHALE RD206TH ST240TH STPOWELL AV
124TH AV
108TH AV
FERGUSON AV
BURNETT ST252ND ST112TH AV
RIVERRD
266TH ST
BELL AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
150TH AV
286TH STDEWDNEY TRUNK RD 251ST ST268TH STLOUGHEEDHWY
118TH AV
WHARF ST
124TH AV
144TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
MAPLEMEADOWSWY136TH AV
INDUSTRIALAV128TH AV
MARSHALL AV
284TH STFERN CR128TH CRHAMMONDRD
128TH AV
129TH AV
272ND S
T
LOUGHEED HWY
128TH AV
FLETCHER STGRA
N
T
A
V
105TH AV
113TH AV237TH ST232ND STROLLEY CRFERNCR128TH AV
HANEY
B
P
RIV
E
R
R
D
LOUGHEED HWY262NDST102ND AV 277TH ST256TH ST116TH AV
232ND ST124TH AV
96TH AV210TH ST264TH ST104TH AV
DOGWOOD AV
100TH AV208TH ST246TH ST243RD ST132ND AVHALE RD260TH ST287TH ST244TH ST116TH AV
108TH AVPARK LN132ND AVCEDAR WYLOUGHEED HWY
BOSONWORTH AV
110TH AVCOTTONWOOD DR128TH AV
280TH STC
U
NN
INGHAM
A
V
276TH ST272ND ST132ND AV
112TH AVGARIBALDI ST256TH STLOUGHEED
HWY
144TH AV
280TH ST110TH AVTRETHEWEY CRALOUETTE RDMCNEIL RD104TH AV
100TH AV
102ND AVMAR RD272ND STMCNUTT RDKA
NAKA
CREEK
R
D236TH ST240TH ST98TH AV
104TH AV
112TH AVSHARPE RDRICHARDSON RD
MCKECHNIE RD100TH AV
LO
U
G
H
E
E
D
H
W
Y 284TH ST102ND AV
FERGUSON AVSILVERVALLEYRDTHOMPSON RD
GOLDEN EARS PARK RDFraser River
P i t t R i v e r
A l o u e t t e L a k e
MikeLake
WhonnockLake
StaveRiver
ParsonsChannel
BedfordChannel
EnterpriseChannel
Hammond
PortHaney
Albion
Whonnock
Ruskin
TheRidge
Haney
Webster'sCorners
EastHaneyPittMeadowsHighlands
SilverValley
Thornhill
Yennadon
Map 2:Natural Features
Legend
Mature Forest
Old Forest
Riparian
Woodland
Wetland
Young Forest
Old Field
15 - 30% slopes
Major Parks
Municipal Boundaries
Active Planning and Servicing Boundary
MAPLE RIDGEENVIRONMENTALMANAGEMENTSTRATEGY
0 250 500 750 1,000125
m
I
3D TerrainPerspective
Please note:
This map is an illustration of thetype of information that couldsupport the Natural Features DP. Date: 10/04/2014
Townshipof Langley
Districtof MapleRidge
Districtof PittMeadows
2 4 8 T H S TFERN CRNEAVESRDNEAVES RDHINCH CR224THST
DITTO
N S
T
98TH AVSILVERVALLEYRDS WILDWOOD CR
LOU
G
H
E
E
D
H
W
Y
132ND AV
Z001216TH STZ002
KEARNS A
V224TH STJOHNSON AV
287TH ST203RD ST246TH ST112TH AV
113TH AV
125TH AV
1 2 9 TH AV
226TH ST256THST125TH AV 220AST211TH ST116AAV
243 B ST122ND AV
109TH AVOWEN STTELEP AV
DOCK STWOOD STALPINE AV
121STAV
237AST232ND ST115THA V
124 B AV
119 AAVHOOD ST216TH ST129TH AV
BRUCE AV
125TH AV
PARKRD116TH AV232AST119AAV
BELL AV
122A AV
118 A AV
130TH AVSILVERVALLEYRD233RD STFULTON STSLAGER AV
122ND AV
231ST ST112TH AV
MAPLEPL
MILLER ST124 AAV
PLAZA STPINE ST114TH AV 284THST230TH ST224TH ST118TH AVGRAY ST214TH ST209TH ST288THST121AAV BLUEMOUNTAINCR123RD AV
FERN PL
DOUGLAS AV
142ND AV
RIVERRD
BARKER AV 212TH ST116THA
AV FRASERST233RD ST115AAV
113 B AV 243RD STEDGE STLOUGHEED HWYBALSAM AVMAPLECR
BLANE
Y
C
R
E
E
K
R
D
232ND ST246TH STST ANNE AV
DA
L
EDR227THST228TH STDOVER ST118TH AV
130TH AV
236ASTKLASS
ENPL
PENNY LN
CONNECTING RD
218TH STEDGEDALE AV
EXETER AV
EAGLE AV
117THAV
MCINTOSH AV214TH AV254TH ST118TH AV209TH STWEST ST124TH AV
123 B AV
DAVISON STDENIZA AV
112TH AV231 B ST267TH ST196 B STANSELL ST241ST ST1 2 7 T H AV
224TH ST117TH AV
127TH AV
B IR C H A V
117TH AV
STRENG AV
DONOVAN AV
RI
V
E
R
R
D
108TH AV 252ND ST227TH STROYAL CR
SPRIN G CRFI
R
S
T
119TH AV
SELKIRK AV
STANTONAV
288TH STFRASERDYKERD GRAHAM ST122ND AV
232BST288TH ST116TH AV207ASTNORTH AV210TH STDEWDNEY TRUNK RD
CLIFF AV
RITCHIEAV 249THSTSTOREY AV
ROGERS AV 256TH STKATHRYN STDUNN AV
HALNOR AV
STEEVES STWALNU
T
C
RMAKINSONST
210TH ST126TH AV
ADAIR ST128TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
202NDSTTHORNTONAV
HARRISONSTRIDGEWAYCR
127TH AV
LAURIE AV203RD STMORSE CRLARCH AV
248TH STCARSHILL ST225TH STREID AV
RIV
E
R
R
D
MCKAYAVACADIAST122ND AV
117TH AV
212TH STHEAPS AV
GARDENST201 A ST
119TH AV
121ST AV
SELKIRK AV
STONEY
A
V
GOLF LN STEPHENS STBROWN AV
128TH AVMCKECHNIE RDLAITY ST121ST AV217THSTCHATWIN AV
122ND AV
261ST ST116TH AV
128TH AV
126TH AV
RIVER WYND261ST ST285TH ST227TH ST280TH ST269THSTCARR ST125 AAV
251ST STWIL
D
W
O
O
D
P
L
205T
H
S
THILLSIDE STTAMARACK
L
N
117TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
108TH AV
SHARPE PL
123RD AV
ODELL ST245 B STSKILLEN STKINGSTONS T
HAMPT
ON
ST
FI
S
H
E
R
M
A
N
S
R
D
124TH AVBLACKSTOCKST
LORNE
A
V
LEE AV
207TH STGRACE STCHIGWELL
ST
RI
V
E
R
R
D
STEWARTCR
240TH ST96TH AV
STONEHOUSE AV
111TH AV
123RD AV
CAMPBELL AV
122ND AV
CAMWOOD AV
H
A
N
E
Y
B
P
PALMERROLPHST216TH ST238TH STLOUGH
E
ED
HW
Y
LOUGHEED HWY ISAAC CR276TH ST222NDSTPATTERSON AV
DEWDNEY TRUNKRD
BROOKS A
V
260TH STGLENWOOD AV
285TH STMORISSETT E PLLAITY ST130TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
LOUGHEEDHWY235TH ST268TH ST96TH AV
98TH AV
124TH AV196C ST116TH AV
125TH AV
GEEST236TH ST240TH STEDGE ST287TH ST234TH ST229TH ST264TH STROTHSAY STMILL ST239TH ST123RD AV
248TH STLOCKWOOD ST249TH ST248TH ST228TH STGLENHURST AV104TH AV
248TH ST113TH AV
SMITH AV223RD STLOUGHEEDHWY
263RD ST124TH AV
DUNBAR ST221ST STGLENHURST ST256TH ST220TH STYORK STASHLEY CR HAWTHORNE ST126TH AVRENNIE RD26
1STST106TH AV
103RD AV267TH ST230TH ST269TH ST125TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
JACKSON
RD
OSPRIN
G
ST
121ST AV
WANSTEA
D ST
S A Y E R S C R
116THAV
141ST AV
116TH AV 250TH STRIVER RD
108TH AV
RIVER RD208TH STWICKLUND AV
COOK AV MARC RD119TH AV 232ND STABERNETHYWY
98TH AV240TH AVHYNES ST272ND ST118THAV
ZERO
N
A
V
240TH STSPILSBURYRD
112TH AVHALE RD206TH ST240TH STPOWELL AV
124TH AV
108TH AV
FERGUSON AV
BURNETT ST252ND ST112TH AV
RIVERRD
266TH ST
BELL AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
150TH AV
286TH STDEWDNEY TRUNK RD 251ST ST268TH STLOUGHEEDHWY
118TH AV
WHARF ST
124TH AV
144TH AV
DEWDNEY TRUNK RD
MAPLEMEADOWSWY136TH AV
INDUSTRIALAV128TH AV
MARSHALL AV
284TH STFERN CR128TH CRHAMMONDRD
128TH AV
129TH AV
272ND S
T
LOUGHEED HWY
128TH AV
FLETCHER STGRA
N
T
A
V
105TH AV
113TH AV237TH ST232ND STROLLEY CRFERNCR128TH AV
HANEY
B
P
RIV
E
R
R
D
LOUGHEED HWY262NDST102ND AV 277TH ST256TH ST116TH AV
232ND ST124TH AV
96TH AV210TH ST264TH ST104TH AV
DOGWOOD AV
100TH AV208TH ST246TH ST243RD ST132ND AVHALE RD260TH ST287TH ST244TH ST116TH AV
108TH AVPARK LN132ND AVCEDAR WYLOUGHEED HWY
BOSONWORTH AV
110TH AVCOTTONWOOD DR128TH AV
280TH STC
U
NN
INGHAM
A
V
276TH ST272ND ST132ND AV
112TH AVGARIBALDI ST256TH STLOUGHEED
HWY
144TH AV
280TH ST110TH AVTRETHEWEY CRALOUETTE RDMCNEIL RD104TH AV
100TH AV
102ND AVMAR RD272ND STMCNUTT RDKA
NAKA
CREEK
R
D236TH ST240TH ST98TH AV
104TH AV
112TH AVSHARPE RDRICHARDSON RD
MCKECHNIE RD100TH AV
LO
U
G
H
E
E
D
H
W
Y 284TH ST102ND AV
FERGUSON AVSILVERVALLEYRDTHOMPSON RD
GOLDEN EARS PARK RDFraser River
P i t t R i v e r
A l o u e t t e L a k e
MikeLake
WhonnockLake
StaveRiver
ParsonsChannel
BedfordChannel
EnterpriseChannel
Hammond
PortHaney
Albion
Whonnock
Ruskin
TheRidge
Haney
Webster'sCorners
EastHaneyPittMeadowsHighlands
SilverValley
Thornhill
Yennadon
Map 3:Natural Hazards
Legend
>25% slope
Escarpment Area (100m buffer)
Escarpment Area (300m buffer)
Provincial Floodplain Areas
Draft Wildfire DP Areas
Municipal Boundaries
Active Planning and Servicing Boundary
MAPLE RIDGEENVIRONMENTALMANAGEMENTSTRATEGY
0 250 500 750 1,000125
m
I
3D TerrainPerspective
Please note:
This map is an illustration of thetype of information that couldsupport the Natural Hazards DP. Date: 10/04/2014