West Coast Environmental Law
Research Foundation Workshop

SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver, Friday, June 14, 1996

Participants 1

Workshop Goals 7

Agenda 7

Legal Options For Protecting Urban Streams:
Workshop Background Paper, Linda Nowlan,
West Coast Environmental Law 9 Threats to urban streams 9

Continuing federal urban stream work 9

Recent provincial initiatives 10

Partners for Protection of Aquatic and Riparian Resources (PPARR) 10

Jurisdiction 11

Federal 11

Provincial 11

Municipal 12

Interjurisdictional 12

Legal options to protect urban streams 12

Federal legal tools 13

Fisheries Act 13

Limitations of the Fisheries Act 13

Provincial legal tools 14

Fish Protection Act 14

Waste Management Act 14

Water Act 15

Wildlife Act 16

Municipal legal tools 17

Municipal Act 17

Land Development Guidelines for Protection of Aquatic Habitat 17

Bylaws 18

Private Land Protection 19

Land Title Act and Conservation Covenants 19

Missing legal tools 20

Provincial Riparian Protection Standards 20

River Act 21

Nonpoint Pollution Control 21

Wetland Protection Policy 22

Endangered Species Act 22

Conclusion and Questions for Workshop
Participants 22

Threats to Urban Streams and Community
Activism, David Lane, T. Buck Suzuki Foundation 25

Summary 25 Discussion 26

The Fisheries Act — Powers to Protect
Urban Streams, Otto Langer, DFO 27

Speaking Notes 27 Introduction 27

The problem 28

Overheads 29

Summary 31

Provincial Legal Tools — Fish Protection Act
Toby Vigod, Ministry of Environment Lands and Parks 33

Speaking Notes 33

Summary 40

Discussion 40

Municipal Act — Powers to Protect Urban Streams,
Erik Karlsen, Ministry of Municipal Affairs 43

Speaking Notes 43

Overheads 46

Summary 48

Using Municipal Bylaws for Stream Protection,
Mel Kotyk, District of North Vancouver 49

Summary 49

Discussion 50

Excerpts from the District of North Vancouver
Environmental Protection and Preservation Bylaw 52

Using Conservation Covenants to Protect Privately
Owned Land and Urban Stream Habitat,
Ann Hillyer, West Coast Environmental Law 63

Speaking Notes 63

Overheads 66

Summary 70

Urban Streams in Other Jurisdictions,
Richard Paisley, UBC 71

Summary 71 Discussion 72

Morning discussion 73

What appear to be the main problems and gaps in the set of legal tools available for the protection of urban streams? 73 Other Themes for the Afternoon 74

Case Studies, Craig Orr, Steelhead Society 75

Speaking Notes 75 Saving Your Own Backyard: Steelhead Society of BC Paper 1 (12.95.1) 77

Sierra Legal Defence Fund — Notice of Press Conference — June 27, 1996 78

Water Releases at the Cheakamus Power Plant: A Review of Licenced
Diversion Operations — Summary 79

Summary 80

Case Studies, Emma Child, Land for Nature Initiative 81

Summary 81

Discussion 82

Small Group Discussions 83

Working Together 83

Participants 83

Points raised in Discussion 84

Other ideas on working together from Discussion: "Who needs to do what
to improve legal tools for the protection of urban streams?" 88

Memorandum of Understanding 89

Municipal Act 93 Participants 93

Points raised in Discussion 93

Other ideas about the Municipal Act from Discussion: "Who needs to do what
to improve legal tools for the protection of urban streams?" 96

Provincial Water Act 97 Participants 97

Points raised in Discussion 97

Other ideas about the provincial Water Act from Discussion: "Who needs to do what
to improve legal tools for the protection of urban streams?" 100

Public Involvement 101 Participants 101

Points raised in Discussion 101

Other ideas about public involvement from Discussion: "Who needs to do what
to improve legal tools for the protection of urban streams?" 104

Private Land Conservation 106 Participants 106

Points raised in Discussion 106

Other ideas about private land conservation from Discussion: "Who needs to do what
to improve legal tools for the protection of urban streams?" 107

Conclusion 109