Beaver Lake, one of the last remaining wetlands in the City of Vancouver, is rapidly declining and could disappear as soon as 2020 if no measures are taken.
The Vancouver Park Board and Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) have been working in partnership, under guidance from the Stanley Park Ecological Action Plan (2011), to come up with potential plans for restoration of the lake. To ensure the long-term ecological viability and diversity of the lake, a consultant team (Aquaterra Environmental Ltd) were contracted to help gather more information and devise a series of restoration plans.
The public are invited to a series of Open Houses next week to review and comment on the range of options developed.
This is your chance to have your say on the future of this special place!
Coal Harbour Community Centre
480 Broughton Street
Saturday, November 23, 12 – 4 pm
West End Community Centre
870 Denman Street.
Why is Beaver Lake shrinking?
Today the lake is nearly half the size it was in 1938. Although it is a natural process for lakes to fill in over time, for Beaver Lake this process has been rapidly accelerated by the introduction of invasive plants and the construction of the Causeway and other manmade impacts. Not only is the lake shrinking in area and depth, the quality of the habitat is also diminishing. If nothing is done to counter this, Beaver Lake will quickly become a forest meadow, and many species – including some threatened and endangered species – that rely on this much needed freshwater habitat will disappear.
Why should we save it?
SPES believes keeping this freshwater lake open is important for maintaining biodiversity in Stanley Park. Invasive plant removal, a degree of lake dredging and/or the removal of floating islands would help us retain and support a larger variety of wildlife and native vegetation, including coastal cutthroat trout, a species of special concern in BC. Restoration of the lake may also allow for the reintroduction of extirpated wildlife like the western painted turtle and Pacific tree frog. Restoration would benefit over 80 species of birds that currently rely on the lake and beavers, a species that recently returned here after a 60 year absence.
What can you do to help?
Attend an open house. Become informed and have your say!
What happens next?
Following public consultation, a final restoration plan will be created and brought to a Park Board meeting later this winter.
For further information contact:
Alan Duncan, Project Manager
604-257-8515
alan.duncan@vancouver.ca