Raincoast Conservation Foundation’s North Arm Jetty Breaches Project
Overview
Raincoast Conservation Foundation is constructing three 30-metre-wide breaches in the North Arm Jetty in the Fraser River estuary to restore natural migration pathways for juvenile salmon and other fish species, and natural movement of freshwater, saltwater, and fine sediments.
Construction of the first breach will begin in January 2022 and will take approximately two weeks to complete. Construction of two further breaches is expected to follow in fall 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Based on Raincoast’s recent experience constructing similar breaches in the Steveston Jetty on the South Arm of the Fraser River, the project is expected to allow for significant passage of juvenile salmon while having a negligible impact on navigation.
Click here to see a map of the breach locations.
Background
The North Arm Jetty was constructed in 1916 to aid in navigation, creating a 6.8-kilometre-long barrier and altering connectivity between the North Arm of the Fraser River and the rest of the estuary. This barrier interrupts the natural movement of juvenile salmon and other fish species, forcing them directly from freshwater river areas into the deeper waters of the Strait of Georgia, bypassing the brackish marsh, tidal channels, and mudflat habitats upon which they rely to make the transition from freshwater to saline ocean water. The jetty is under the jurisdiction of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. It extends from the northwestern tip of Iona Island, and is located directly adjacent to Iona Beach Regional Park.
Shared Goals
The North Arm Jetty Breaches Project is supported by Metro Vancouver and is aligned with the ecological restoration goals of the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant projects.
Project Partners
Ducks Unlimited Canada, Tsawwassen First Nation, Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, Pacific Salmon Foundation, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, with support from Metro Vancouver.
Funding for Raincoast’s project provided by the Coastal Restoration Fund and the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund.
Contact Raincoast Conservation Foundation
Email Dave Scott at dave@raincoast.org
Learn more about Raincoast's work in the Fraser River estuary at the Raincoast Site.
Project Information Session
A project information session, cohosted by Metro Vancouver, was held on May 27, 2021:
Procurement
IIWWTP Pre-Procurement Market Sounding – Consulting Engineering Services
In November 2022, Metro Vancouver invited consulting engineering firms with expertise in wastewater design to participate in pre-procurement market sounding discussions. The purpose of the market sounding was to give participants an opportunity to learn more about the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant (IIWWTP) Upgrade, share their interest in the project, and offer feedback in support of Metro Vancouver’s planning for procurement in 2023. Participants were provided with an Information Brief and a Discussion Guide to learn more about the project and to prepare responses and questions of their own.
Using these materials to guide the conversations, IIWWTP project team members held several meetings with participants that were focused on level of interest and marketplace capacity, packaging and procurement approaches, terms and conditions, and risks.
Insights from the market will help the project team improve and finalize its procurement strategy and timelines, which will support Metro Vancouver as it embarks on its largest infrastructure project to date. The team will continue to welcome and review submitted feedback and incorporate input, where applicable, as it refines approach, procurement processes, and associated documentation related to the IIWWTP Projects.
Reference Documents
November 2022
February 2023
