The City of Delta encompasses some of the most ecologically important areas in Canada, North America, or globally. Delta is located at the heart of the Fraser River delta ecosystem, which includes Burns Bog, the Fraser River Estuary, Boundary Bay and Roberts Bank. The complexity of ecosystems include bog, estuarine marsh, mudflats, floodplains, sloughs and river channels and is of global importance for migrating and overwintering waterfowl, and all five species of Pacific salmon.
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Burns Bog is a raised bog ecosystem covering approximately 3,000 hectares of land, and is the largest undeveloped land mass in North America. Burns Bog is globally unique because of its chemistry, form, flora and large size.
The only publicly-accessible part of Burns Bog is in the Delta Nature Reserve. When visiting Burns Bog, remember the hiker's code: Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.
Burns Bog is managed as an Ecological Conservancy Area (ECA). The priority is ecological protection, not public use. Bog vegetation is highly sensitive to trampling, and peat fires can easily spark and burn underground for weeks. Until research can be undertaken to determine how people can access the bog without causing any damage, the ECA lands remain closed to the public to ensure protection of this unique bog ecosystem.
Burns Bog supports a wide variety of wildlife, including 175 bird species, 41 mammals, 11 amphibians, 6 reptiles, and thousands (approximately 4,000) of invertebrate species. Burns Bog is one of two Sandhill Crane nesting sites in the Lower Mainland.
Fish have been found at the edge of the bog, but they have a hard time in the bog itself due to the low pH (too acidic) and the lack of oxygen (stagnant water).
The high diversity of wildlife in Burns Bog is due to the wide variety of habitats that the bog provides, such as open water in ponds and ditches, Sphagnum fields, low and high shrub communities, and several types of forest. The most important plant communities in Burns Bog are "peat-forming" - plants that grow in places with a high water table, such as Sphagnum mosses. These are the plants that form the bog ecosystem.
Delta is located at the heart of the Fraser River Estuary ecosystem. As the Fraser River enters the Salish Sea, the current slows, suspended sediment starts to settle, and shallow water, side channels, mudflats and low islands start to form. Marshes, wetlands, and other productive ecosystems develop in these shallow waters.
The Fraser River Estuary (including Boundary Bay, Roberts Bank and Sturgeon Bank, in Richmond) is ranked as the most Important Bird Area in Canada. The Estuary forms one of the richest and most important ecosystems for migratory and overwintering waterbirds in Canada. The Estuary supports globally or continentally significant populations of fifteen species, including American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Mallard, Brant, Snow Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Western Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, Great Blue Heron, Western Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Glaucous-winged Gull, Thayer's Gull, and Mew Gull. In addition, the Estuary supports nationally significant numbers of Barn Owl and Peregrine Falcon.
The Fraser River Estuary is also designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, the highest designation for the protection of wetlands. The Ramsar site includes Burns Bog, the provincial Wildlife Management Areas of Sturgeon Bank (in Richmond), South Arm Marshes, Boundary Bay, Serpentine Wildlife Management Area (in Surrey); and the Alaksen National Wildlife Area on Westham Island.
The Fraser River is an important migratory, rearing and spawning area for fish. All five species of Pacific salmon (Chinook, Chum, Coho, Sockeye and Pink), Rainbow (steelhead) trout and Cutthroat trout inhabit the Fraser River. These salmon use the lower Fraser River during upstream migration to spawning grounds, and during their outward migration to the ocean as juveniles. The brackish waters in the Estuary are used by juvenile salmon prior their migration to the ocean.
The South Arm Marshes are located in the south arm of the Fraser River, adjacent to Ladner and Richmond. The South Arm Marshes can be accessed from Ladner Harbour Park and the Spirit Trail off of Ferry Road.
The South Arm Marshes are designated as a provincial Wildlife Management Area. The purpose of this designation is the management of critical habitat for fish, waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, songbirds and small mammals.
The South Arm Marshes form a part of the Fraser River Estuary Important Bird Area and the Fraser River delta Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. The area supports high densities of waterfowl and shorebirds, and the tidal marshes and channels support juvenile salmon.
Hunting is permitted in certain areas of the South Arm Marshes provided hunters have a valid permit and follow all provincial rules.
Beach fires and camping are prohibited and dogs are required to be on-leash at all times.
Boundary Bay borders the municipalities of Delta, Surrey and White Rock and stretches down into the United States. Boundary Bay can be accessed from Delta through Metro Vancouver's Boundary Bay Regional Park, which includes the dike along Boundary Bay. The dikes are open to the public as recreational trails, but users are reminded to be aware that the dikes may also be used for access by authorized vehicles, including farm vehicles.
The City of Delta’s jurisdiction in Boundary Bay ends at the toe of the dike in most places. Beyond that, Boundary Bay is Crown land. Boundary Bay is designated as a provincial Wildlife Management Area. The purpose of this designation is the conservation of critical, internationally significant habitat for year-round, migrating and wintering waterfowl populations, along with important fish and marine mammal habitat.
Boundary Bay forms a part of the Fraser River Estuary Important Bird Area and the Fraser River delta Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, renowned for its waterfowl, shorebirds and birds of prey. Boundary Bay has a variety of habitats including mudflats, eelgrass beds, salt marshes, sand dunes, grasslands and sandy shorelines. The Bay supports a number of invertebrates and microorganisms that are an important source of energy for migrating shorebirds.
Hunting is permitted in certain areas of Boundary Bay provided hunters have a valid permit and follow all provincial rules, including the requirement to be a minimum of 150 m from the toe of the dike.
Beach fires and camping are prohibited and dogs are required to be on-leash at all times.
Boundary Bay is within the BC tidal area 29 management area. There is a ban on recreational bivalve shellfish harvesting. It is both illegal and unsafe to harvest shellfish from closed or contaminated areas. Crab and some other invertebrate species are harvestable by both commercial and recreational fishers in compliance with federal regulations and restrictions.
Roberts Bank is located along the west coast of Delta between the south arm of the Fraser River and Tsawwassen. Roberts Bank can be accessed from Brunswick Point, the south side of the BC Ferries causeway, Fred Gingell Park, and the Tsawwassen First Nation.
Roberts Bank is designated as a provincial Wildlife Management Area. The purpose of this designation is the management of critical habitat for fish, waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and other species. Sea mammals such as the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale, Harbour Seal, California Sea Lion frequent the area.
Roberts Bank forms a part of the Fraser River Estuary Important Bird Area, renowned for its waterfowl, shorebirds and birds of prey. The marshes and mudflats of Brunswick Point are a great place to view migrating shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors. A highlight is the Western Sandpiper migration in late April, during which tens of thousands of these birds stop to feed on their journey to the Arctic. They return south in July and August. The expansive mud flats contain a “biofilm”, which is produced as diatoms and bacteria settle out of the seawater and bind to the mud, providing extraordinary amounts of nutrient-rich forage for the sandpipers.
Hunting is permitted in certain areas near Brunswick Point provided hunters have a valid permit and follow all provincial rules, including the requirement to be a minimum of 150 metres from the toe of the dike.
Beach fires and camping are prohibited and dogs are required to be on-leash at all times.
The Tsawwassen Ferry terminal and the Deltaport Container terminal are both located in Roberts Bank.
Delta’s creeks, ravines and park reserves face many ecological threats: illegal dumping, invasive species, water pollution, erratic flows, erosion, and climate change. Environmental stewardship by all of Delta’s residents is needed to protect these sensitive ecosystems. Volunteer with Delta or another stewardship organization, such as the Cougar Creek Streamkeepers to help protect, restore and maintain these valuable natural assets.
There are several ecologically important creeks in Delta that flow into the Fraser River and Boundary Bay. In North Delta, creeks that flow into the Fraser River include Cougar Creek, Blake Creek, Sunbury Creek, McAdam Creek, Norum Creek, Collings Creek, Kendale Creek and Gunderson Creek. Shaw Creek, Briarwood Creek and Watershed Creek flow south, into Boundary Bay.
These creeks are accessible from a number of locations, including through Watershed Park, Delta Nature Reserve, Westview Mini Park, Cougar Canyon Environmental Reserve, and the Chateau Wynd Park Reserve. These creeks have year-round salmon rearing and spawning habitat. The main migratory salmon species in these creeks are Coho and Chum salmon. Non-migratory salmonids include Rainbow trout and Cutthroat trout.
Many of the creeks flow in ravines, which contain mature forests along the steep banks. Some of these ravines are part of the City’s Park Reserve network, which are intentionally undeveloped green spaces that allow more natural processes to carry out compared to other managed parklands. Trees and shrubs beside creeks are very important because they minimize erosion of the banks; filter out sediments, nutrients and chemical pollutants from surface runoff from nearby urban areas; and shade the water and keep it cool for aquatic life. This transitional zone between the aquatic and upland environment is called the riparian zone. Riparian zones provide important habitat for a variety of animals.
Storm drains collect rainwater from buildings, sumps, roads and parking lots into underground pipes that then discharge the water to local creeks and ditches, untreated. This water is called stormwater. Stormwater will pick up contaminants and debris as it moves. Examples of contaminants and debris include oils, soap, brake dust, animal or human waste, sediment and fertilizers. Because stormwater is untreated, make sure “only rain goes into a storm drain” and be mindful of any chemicals used outdoors.
Delta is working to reduce impacts on local creeks and waterways through integrated storm water management plans, development of green infrastructure and, in some areas, implementation of the Development Permit Area for Streamside Protection and Enhancement for development applications.
Natural areas can only handle the leaves and debris they produce themselves. It is not appropriate to dump yard waste (leaves/grass clippings/trimmings), other green waste (e.g., Christmas trees, hanging baskets) or soil into the ravines or Park Reserves. Learn about how dumping in natural areas is harmful to the environment and the best way to deal with yard waste.