1. The Fraser River The Alaksen National Wildlife Area was originally designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Significance in 1982. Raincoast Conservation Foundation 110 views. Often, as in the Fraser River, this occurs at an abrupt salt front. The site is formed by six components (Burns Bog, Sturgeon Bank, South Arm Marshes, Boundary Bay, Serpentine, and the former 'Alaksen' Ramsar Site), all in the Metro Vancouver Region and part of the the most important river delta/estuary for fish and birds on the west coast of Canada. The Fraser Estuary supports more than 100 species that are recognized as “at-risk” (threatened, endangered or of concern) either provincially or federally. 2.1 Ecology of the Fraser River Basin and Estuary The Fraser River is the largest river in British Columbia (BC) and has the fifth largest drainage basin in Canada. Management of the Fraser River estuary is not simply a scientific problem; it involves the legal community as well, especially with respect to resolving issues involving competing interests. Fraser River Delta. The Fraser River Estuary IBA was designated a Hemispheric Site under the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) in 2004. Misty MacDuffee is part of a team of researchers working in the Fraser River estuary to try to understand how habitats within the estuary work together to support these species. 5:23. Because of this, the Fraser River Estuary is designated as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). A Federal Review Panel looked into the environmental impacts of the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 … After a couple of rather unsettling hours of heavy rain and rolling seas, the weather opened and we were treated to close views of The Fraser River / ˈ f r eɪ z ər / is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Blackrock Mountain in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for 1,375 kilometres (854 mi), into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. The Fraser River Estuary supports life in the Salish Sea and beyond. It is the 11th longest river in Canada. Because of this, the Fraser River Estuary is designated as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). Migration paths of many birds converge here, as waterfowl and shorebirds travelling from northern and prairie breeding grounds stop to refuel on their way to winter in California, Mexico, Central and South America or the South Pacific. The Fraser River Estuary is an area of continental significance for North American ducks, geese and swans. The Fraser River empties into the Salish Sea just south of Vancouver, BC, and this outflow of fresh water produces extremely productive estuarine waters, mudflats and coastal marsh habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls, and raptors. The Burrard Inlet Environmental Action Program and the Fraser River Estuary Management Program, often referred to as BIEAP-FREMP, is an intergovernmental program that coordinates environmental management review and interagency communications for projects and shoreline developments in the Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River estuary. When river water meets sea water, the lighter fresh water rises up and over the denser salt water. 24/05/82; British Columbia; 20,682 ha; 49º06'00"N 123º03'00"W. IBA, WHSRN. Our evidence to the federal panel assessing the Terminal 2 project argued that the existing terminal reduced the rearing area of the estuary and served as a barrier to the movement of young salmon. Fraser River Estuary Connectivity Project - Duration: 5:23. The Boundary Bay - Roberts Bank - Sturgeon Bank site (Fraser River Estuary) is a large complex of interconnected marine, estuarine, freshwater and agricultural habitats in southwestern British Columbia near the city of Vancouver. Since 2016, Raincoast has been undertaking research across the Fraser River estuary as we survey out-migrating juvenile salmon arriving from upper parts of the Fraser watershed. A major part of BIEAP … Fraser River Estuary (from Oak Street Bridge and George Massey Tunnel to Mission Bridge): June 16 - February 28; Howe Sound (inland from Point Atkinson to Gibson's Landing including islands): August 16 - January 31; Area 29 - Steveston/Surrey. Sea water noses into the estuary beneath the outflowing river water, pushing its way upstream along the bottom. The Fraser River estuary is a globally important zone of biodiversity with 17,000 hectares of rich wetlands used annually by 1.4 million migratory birds and 2 billion juvenile salmon. The Fraser River Estuary is a critical crossroads as millions of the migrating birds converge on the mudflats, marshes and shallow tidal flats of the estuary where the fresh water meets the ocean. My first opportunity to appreciate the diversity and sheer numbers of waterbirds in the vicinity of the Fraser River Estuary was from the back of a boat. The Fraser River Estuary is a critical crossroads as millions of the migrating birds converge on the mudflats, marshes and shallow tidal flats of the estuary where the fresh water meets the ocean.
The Fraser River empties into the Salish Sea just south of Vancouver, BC, and this outflow of fresh water produces extremely productive estuarine waters, mudflats and coastal marsh habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls, and raptors. Birding in the Fraser River Estuary, just south of Vancouver, is an amazing experience, especially during the winter months and shorebird migration.
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