About the project
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is advancing the proposed South Arm Jetty Tidal Marsh Project as a potential fish habitat offsetting project for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) Project. Located between the southern edge of Sturgeon Bank and the Steveston North Jetty, at the mouth of the South Arm of the Fraser River, the proposed offsetting project involves approximately 35 hectares of habitat enhancement through converting lower-value sand flat into an expanded high-value brackish intertidal marsh containing tidal channels and bordered by a protective cobble beach berm. These habitats are important for juvenile salmon and other fish and wildlife. To construct the project, we will beneficially re-use dredged material (sand).
Project status
The proposed South Arm Jetty Tidal Marsh Project is currently in the design, permitting and approvals stage.
In 2016, the BC Environmental Assessment Office granted the port authority an exemption from requiring a provincial environmental assessment certificate for the proposed project. Projects can be exempted from provincial environmental assessment if they are unlikely to result in significant adverse environmental, social, economic health or heritage effects. Further information is available on the BC Environmental Assessment Office webpage.
As the proposed project is located on provincial land, it requires the port authority to obtain land tenure from the province. The ministry of forests is reviewing the land tenure application submitted by the port authority in 2018.
The port authority will continue to engage with all levels of government, regulators, Indigenous groups and adjacent communities, through the offsetting project development. The project would be subject to approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada as offsetting for the RBT2 Project through the Fisheries Act Authorization process and would require a port authority project and environmental review permit.
Outreach with stakeholders is underway, and will include opportunities for stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed project. Public consultation on the offsetting project will take place as part of project permitting.
The proposed offsetting project may change based on further consultation and technical input.