Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD) Regional Parks Committee held at 9:00 am. Metro Vancouver Regional Greenways Plan Update Regional Parks Committee Regular Meeting Date: April 3, 2019 Page 2 of 3. Metro Vancouver Regional Greenways Plan Update Regional Parks Committee Regular Meeting Date: April 3, 2019 Page 3 of 3.
Widgeon Marsh Regional Park – Draft Management Plan and Public Engagement Process Regular Meeting of Regional Parks Date: April 3, 2019 Page 2 of 6. Widgeon Marsh Regional Park – Draft Management Plan and Public Engagement Process Regular Meeting of Regional Parks Date: April 3, 2019 Page 3 of 6.
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
Widgeon Marsh Regional Park – Draft Management Plan and Public Engagement Process Regional Parks Regular Meeting Date: 3 April 2019 Page 4 of 6. This input will inform the development of the final Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Management Plan. First Nations, agencies, stakeholders and the public will be engaged to review and provide input on the Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Draft Management Plan.
Widgeon Marsh Regional Park - Draft Management Plan and Public Involvement Process Regional Parks Regular Meeting Date: 3 April 2019 Page 5 of 6 Widgeon Marsh Regional Park - Draft Management Plan and Public Involvement Process Regional Parks Regular Meeting Date: 3 April 2019 Page 6 out of 6.
Widgeon Marsh Regional Park
REGIONAL PARKS 5.3 ATTACHMENT 1
Introduction
Process and Context
Management Plan Purpose
Planning Process
Metro Vancouver Policy Context
Park Formation
First Nations Context
Katzie First Nation Context
Kwikwetlem First Nation Context
Local Context
Landscape Context
Pinecone Burke and Golden Ears Provincial Parks protect large areas of wilderness habitat and provide backcountry and backcountry recreation opportunities, including hiking, camping, and horseback riding. Pinecone Burke and Golden Ears Provincial Parks extend north to Garibaldi Provincial Park and protect a vast area of southwestern British Columbia. Surrounded by parks and conservation areas, Widgeon Marsh Regional Park provides access to a larger conservation area from the front of the country.
Many communities and urban centers are located within 30 minutes' drive of Widgeon Marsh Regional Park (see Figure 4). Northeast Coquitlam is the closest community to Widgeon Marsh, with a 15-minute drive to the park entrance.
Park Access and Connectivity
Overview
Park Purpose
Existing Conditions
Ecosystems
Unique hydrological characteristics and processes within the area have resulted in a high diversity of wetland types within Widgeon Marsh Regional Park. Heavy stream flows, tidal influences, and the development of complex alluvial fans contributed to the development of 17 distinct wetland plant associations, including water, swamp, marsh, fen, marsh, and floodplain forest. Two new wetland plant associations have been observed at the park and have been recommended for consideration as ecosystems at risk (red list) for the Provincial Conservation Data Centre.
Traditional food sources in the wetlands for First Nations include wild rice, swamp lingonberries, swamp blueberries, water plantain and wapato. The wapato plants in the park are one of the few wild patches of wapato left in the region (Katzie Development Corporation Archeology 2015). Widgeon Marsh Regional Park is within the Coastal Western Hemlock dry maritime (CWHdm) biogeoclimatic zone.
Historical logging and quarries in the park area resulted in a varied age structure of the forest. Three of these ecosystems are of special concern (blue listed) and one is threatened (red listed) hemlock/red cedar/deer fern. While Widgeon Slough and Widgeon Creek are outside the park boundaries, these waterways are integral to the wildlife and ecosystems of Widgeon Marsh Regional Park.
Widgeon Slough and Widgeon Creek provide breeding habitat for coho, chum, sockeye, trout and steelhead. These salmon are adapted to the tidal conditions of Widgeon Marsh, moving to spawn in the marsh at high tide and back to Pitt Lake at low tide. COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) listed this sockeye salmon population as Endangered in November 2017.
Biodiversity
Habitat Sensitivity Analysis
Climate Change
Climate change is expected to result in an increase in extreme weather events, including heavy rainstorms and strong windstorms. Heavy rainstorms can lead to flooding and landslides, and a higher potential for soil erosion in forests, as well as the expansion of wetlands in previously dry areas. Summer droughts and high temperatures mean increased risk of dehydration and heat stroke for unprepared visitors.
Safety hazards from extreme weather events can result in trail and road erosion, hazardous trees, increased operating costs and temporary park closures for maintenance of affected areas.
Previously
Developed Areas and Features
Park Sub-Areas
Seven park sub-areas have been identified within the park based on biophysical resources and visual character. Parts of this sub-area were previously used as gravel and timber areas and for housing. As the entrance to the park, this sub-area provides the opportunity to orient visitors to the ecological importance of the Widgeon Marsh Regional Park.
This sub-area is terraced, which offers opportunities for different views of the wetland areas in the park. Parts of this subarea were previously developed for log storage and boat launching, including a dredged shipping channel. This sub-area provides a suitable land base for the development of the park's main day-use facilities, including picnicking and viewpoints.
The park service road follows the edge of the catchment and serves as the park's main trail ridge, connecting viewpoints, loops, and park activity areas. The meadow was previously developed as a residential area with a large field, homes, outbuildings and roads. The meadow is a destination within the park, approximately three kilometers from Gateway and three kilometers from Widgeon Creek Campground in Pinecone Burke Provincial Park.
Similar to the lowlands, the bog is also of great conservation value, as it contains most of the wetlands within the regional park. Where access is provided, it will be limited to wetland edges and previously constructed areas, with opportunities for wetland viewing and interpretation. Management of aquatic invasive species (reed grass, scarlet sedge, yellow flag iris, marsh lily of the valley and southern wild rice).
Park Vision
Park Vision and Objectives
Objectives
Strategies were developed for each focus area to provide guidance for regional park development and ongoing operations and resource management.
Habitat Protection and Enhancement
Areas of Focus
Mitigate Disturbance to Wildlife
Traditional First Nations Uses
Public Use Facilities
Non-motorized boating
Seasonal Flooding
Climate Change
Work with First Nations, partner agencies, educators, volunteers and community groups on interpretive programming as appropriate and as opportunities arise. Design an interpretive signage plan for the park with interpretive elements in collaboration with First Nations, partner agencies and community groups as appropriate and as opportunities arise. Explore the possibilities of using shuttle buses to transport users within the park as part of the programming and visitor services approach at this park.
Public Programming and Nature Interpretation
Commercial Filming
Concept and Program
Concept Plan
Activity Area Concept Plans
Site Objectives and Elements
Return group camp (parking for two support vehicles, proven food storage bins, waste receptacles, pit toilet, cooking shelter, no potable water) MARSH • Public safety. Widgeon Creek Recreation Area: non-motorized boat landing site with grassy area and short trail for viewing and picnicking. MAIN OBJECTIVE • Provide a multi-use path to connect the Lower Landing sub-area with the Meadow sub-area.
Multi-use paved surface for walking and cycling, as well as vehicle and bus service from the Lower Landing to the Meadow.
Operational Statement
WIDGEON MARSH REGIONAL PARK RESERVE CONTEXT MAP
ATTACHMENT 2
ATTACHMENT 3
Engagement Summary
Public outreach consisted of three public bus tours of the site, a public open house and an online questionnaire. Thirty-three people attended to discuss the future regional park and share their considerations and ideas for the park's management plan. In addition to engaging the general public, Metro Vancouver is committed to improving relationships with First Nations to ensure better outreach and achievement of shared objectives.
Metro Vancouver provided First Nations communities with information about Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve park management planning and opportunities to provide input. First Nations whose core traditional areas overlap and have shared interests within this area include Katzie and Kwikwetlem First Nations. The park reserve area is also within the consultation areas of six other First Nations and a Tribal Council.
There is strong support for continued protection and conservation of natural resources as the park develops. Respondents to the questionnaire emphasized the importance of protecting wildlife and ecosystems, and limiting access to create areas where only wildlife are present in the park. When asked what the primary consideration for this planning process should be, more than two-thirds of responses identified conservation/protection as the top priority.
Other themes that emerged in questionnaire responses included facilities (trails, boardwalks, lookout towers, canoe/kayak launch, etc.), condition of Quarry Road to access the park, parking, nature interpretation, connections to adjacent protected areas and accessibility. When asked what activities should be planned for at Widgeon Marsh, walking, bird watching, stewardship and research, paddling and guided nature visits received the most support. A second phase of engagement is planned with First Nations, agencies, stakeholders and the public to refine the draft management plan and inform implementation priorities.
Questionnaire Summary
Imagine an ideal Widgeon Marsh Regional Park ten years from now. In one or two sentences, please describe what you envision
What are your top three considerations for the planning of Widgeon Marsh Regional Park
Is there anything else that should be considered when planning Widgeon Marsh Regional Park?
- ATTACHMENT 1
- ATTACHMENT 2
Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve was the busiest location with 33 days of filming, hosting the longest single shoot of the TV series, See. Features shot with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks include: The Art of Racing in the Rain, Ishq My Religion, The Lego Movie 2, Needle in a Timestack, Purple Harvest and The Perfection. BURNABY LAKE REGIONAL PARK – SILL CREEK BRIDGE INTERPRETATIVE ELEMENT Replacement of Still Creek Bridge.
In May 2010, Metro Vancouver agreed to a mutually beneficial land exchange with the City of Surrey (Greater Vancouver Regional District Road Dedication of Part of Tynehead Regional Park for the 96th Avenue Widening Project Bylaw No. In support of the exchange, Metro Vancouver granted a Statutory Right of Way in April 2013 to the City of Surrey through Tynehead Regional Park for the purpose of building sanitary sewer and water infrastructure to serve the NCP area.A new water connection and gravity trunk sewer will service the NCP area and cross Tynehead Regional Park.
Metro Vancouver worked with the City of Surrey to determine the least impactful infrastructure alignment and installation methods and minimize the area disturbed. Within the refined Right of Way park, approximately thirty trees will be removed; A tree replacement strategy has been developed which will see sixty new trees planted in the regional park. At Belcarra Regional Park on Feb. 18, 129 adults and 110 children warmed up around a campfire to sing along, listen to nature-themed stories and roast marshmallows.
Campbell Valley Regional Park – Owl Hoot-enanny Saturday, February 23 Owl Hoot-enanny has become an annual Campbell Valley. Campbell Valley Regional Park – Public Engagement and Management Plan Update Completed George Ross Legacy Three-Year Agreement (Pacific Parklands Foundation) Completed. Aldergrove Regional Park (East) – Agreement with the City of Abbotsford Pending Crippen Regional Park Davis Orchard – Capital Project Update Pending External Agency Reporting – Delta Heritage Air Park & Pacific Parklands Foundation Pending.
METRO VANCOUVER REGIONAL PARKS Summary of Events
May 2019