2010

The various pilot project sites continued to develop as they were worked by waves and storms and received steady inputs of sediment from the creeks.

Three small kelp reefs were co-funded by the WVSPS and the Coho Society at sites adjacent to the Lawson Creek Pier and the 14th Ave Pier during the spring.   These developed very quickly and were soon visibly developing kelp gardens. The District of West Vancouver supervised the work.

Based on the demonstrated successes of previous pilot projects and action items in West Vancouver’s Shoreline Protection Plan the District further tweaked some of the reef/tombola formations installed between the 15th Street Park and Lawson Park in late 2009. Several smaller inter-tidal boulder reefs were placed.

In May the District announced a multi faceted overall initiative and plan for the Ambleside on-shore waterfront park areas and buildings.An enabling component of this larger plan is the enhanced and widened beach allowing for a naturalized shore side gravel pathway complete with vegetation and beach logs.

In July the Surf Smelt Spawning Research Project initiated by the WVSP Society, with volunteers from HSBC Bank Canada, examining six beach areas  discovered significant smelt eggs in the upper beach at Lawson Creek. It is hoped the wider and more stable expanse of upper foreshore sands and cobble will expand the spawning areas for smelt. Beach logs and shading will ensure the increasing survival of these vital forage fish which are an important part of the food chain for salmon on upwards to orcas and eagles. There has also been a noticeable increase in aquatic birdlife along the foreshore as they discover increasing sources of food in the barnacles, mussels, and kelp that are developing.

Work was anticipated in the autumn months on a pilot project to further develop a sub-tidal reef and mid-tide islet/tombola near Navvy Jack Point as described last year  The aim was to bring to this highly impacted and eroding armoured rip rap stretch of shoreline a working model of restorative natural biodiversity and productivity through the reef enhancement and subsequent natural development of an intertidal tombola over time. This project at Navvy Jack Point was a high priority of the Shoreline Preservation Plan and was implemented as soon as sponsors were obtained.   

Work was also proposed adjacent to the Marr Creek seawall, 25th Street, as funding  permits.

While no additional work was done at MacDonald Creek, 18th street , in the last two years it became very noticeable that the entire shoreline from MacDonald to the14th street pier had a much fuller upper foreshore with increased sand width and increased diversity. In short a healthier shoreline with a wider upper foreshore that over time became increasingly resistant to storm induced erosion and future impacts of climate change.