On March 24th, 2004 four partners jointly purchased 2,042 ha (5,045 acres) of Burns Bog to be protected as an Ecological Conservancy Area.

Cost of Purchase: $73 million

• Government of Canada: $28 million
• Province of BC: $28.6 million
• Metro Vancouver: $10.4 million
• Corporation of Delta: $6 million

Conservation Covenant

A legally binding conservation covenant placed on the property will ensure Burns Bog is protected and managed effectively as a natural ecosystem. The following conditions identified in the covenant act as guiding principles:

• Maintain Burns Bog in perpetuity as a large, contiguous, undeveloped natural area for the purpose of protecting the flora and fauna that depend on Burns Bog.
• Manage Burns Bog as a functional raised bog ecosystem as understood by the best science of the time.
• Maintain the extent and integrity of the water mound and the peat that enclosed it, and in particular the upper porous acrotelm, upon which the persistence of the bog ecosystem depends.
• Prevent any occupation or use of Burns Bog that will impair or interfere with the current state of Burns Bog or its Amenities (except with respect to statutory rights-of-way).

Planning and Management

Management of Burns Bog must be based on the "best science of the time". A Scientific Advisory Panel, established by the purchasing agencies, has assisted in developing and implementing the Management Plan by providing technical advice on hydrology and bog ecology. The principal roles of the Scientific Advisory Panel are to:

• Advise and make recommendations regarding the work program and action items of the Burns Bog Agency Working Group;
• Review existing and new information about the Bog;
• Identify information gaps and critical issues needing short term action or additional research;
• Propose short-term and long-term management strategies to protect the ecological assets of the bog; and
• Make recommendations on other matters as referred by the "Planning Team" and purchasing agencies.

Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy Area Management Plan

Operational Responsibilities

Immediate operational actions for Burns Bog ECA were identified in a 2004 Workplan, created by the Burns Bog Agency Work Group. The 2004 Workplan identified operational actions that address public safety, environmental integrity and overall resource protection until a Management Plan is adopted.

The Burns Bog Agency Work Group is comprised of staff from Metro Vancouver and The Corporation of Delta - each play different roles.

Metro Vancouver's Role:

Site Security

• Inventory access points and start to secure gates and fences
• Survey and map area boundaries
• Install boundary stakes and signs

Risk Management

• Inventory and map locations of encroachments into ECA from adjacent properties causing site impacts
• Where necessary, take action against encroachments.

Site Patrol

• Establish regular perimeter patrols to address trespass, hunting, dumping, vegetation removal and other illegal activities.

Safety

• Establish emergency contact list and action plans to respond to public and resource-related incidents and emergencies.

Site Signage

• Install No Public Access signs around perimeter.
• Install regulatory and information signs where required.

Trespass

• Reinforce 'No Public Access'
• Reinforce 'No Hunting'

Other Operational Responsibilities

• Remove debris and clean-up areas impacted by previous land use, on a priority basis.
• Support Mosquito Management mapping and action plan.
• Participation in Water Regime Management & Wildland Fire Management planning/actions with Delta

Corporation of Delta's Role:

Water Regime Management

• Identify and implement actions to protect hydrologic features and functions in collaboration with purchasing agencies and scientific advisory panel.
• Identify and implement a hydrological monitoring program in collaboration with purchasing agencies and scientific advisory panel.

Wildland Fire Management

• Undertake emergency planning and preparation for the event of a wildfire.
• Monitor risks.
• Respond to wildfire occurrences

For additional information about Burns Bog visit the Corporation of Delta's website at www.BurnsBog.ca