Regulatory agency approvals for the City of Richmond’s No.2 Road Bridge required the construction of compensation habitats to offset project-related impacts. Envirowest facilitated these approvals under the auspices of the Fraser River Estuary Management Program (FREMP). We conducted the assessment of impacts and designed and managed the construction of compensation habitats. Compensation habitats included intertidal marsh and riparian woodlands. Envirowest monitored the efficacy of the marsh in satisfying the performance requirements of the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Section 35(2) Authorization. Fish sampling confirmed similar use of the constructed marsh and adjacent natural marshes.
The marsh is enclosed within an intertidal basin constructed along the southern shoreline of the Middle Arm distributary channel of the Fraser River. The marsh encompasses 3500 square metres; the predominant plant species of the marsh is Lyngby’s sedge. Fish passable screens prevent large woody debris from entering the marsh at two openings to the Middle Arm. The marsh continues to be productive fish and wildlife habitat more than 18 years after its construction.