A wetland region in Pitt Meadows has grown in size, part of a long-term lease agreement between Metro Vancouver and the City of Pitt Meadows.
In total, 63 hectares of forested land will be added to the Codd Wetland Ecological Conservancy Area, located in an area east of Neaves Road and Thompson Road.
The new leased lands are mostly forested, with Douglas-fir, western red cedar, western hemlock, and deciduous tree species like mature big leaf maple and alder. Two streams run north to south and flow into Blaney Creek at the north end of Blaney Bog Regional Park Reserve in Maple Ridge.
Metro Vancouver has been working to increase the size of Codd Wetland since 2019.
Previous additions included 54 hectares of forested area on Thompson Mountain, in addition to 59 hectares of wetlands and forests.
Under the lease, Metro Vancouver will operate the properties as regional parkland for 25 years, with the possibility of a 25-year extension.
City of Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole MacDonald noted the lease agreement directly supports the city’s Parks, Recreation, and Culture Master Plan, as well as its Climate Action Strategy – specifically its goal to preserve and enhance natural environments and parks .
“Pitt Meadows is proud to be known as The Natural Place, and protecting our abundant green spaces and natural beauty is an important part of our community’s vision,” said MacDonald, elaborating that by protecting 63 hectares of high-value forested land, the agreement helps conserve biodiversity, maintain natural carbon storage, and support ecosystem functions that contribute to flood mitigation and climate resilience.
It also advances the strategy’s objective of protecting environmentally significant areas, including wetlands and forested lands, through regional partnerships, said the mayor.
“This partnership with Metro Vancouver reflects our commitment to balancing growth with environmental stewardship and safeguarding an important part of our community’s natural heritage. By working together to conserve these lands, we are helping to maintain the quality of life that residents value while contributing to a healthier and more resilient region,” MacDonald added.
Metro Vancouver acquired Codd Wetland in 2004, supported by the Province of BC, the City of Pitt Meadows, The Land Conservancy of British Columbia, Ducks Unlimited, and the Aquilini family.
The agency has a history of cooperating with the city on ecological conservation, with several similar agreements in place for Codd Wetland as well as the Pitt River Regional Greenway.
Mike Hurley, chair of Metro Vancouver’s boards, said the agency has played an important role in protecting the region’s natural areas for more than five decades.
“This partnership with the City of Pitt Meadows means that we can continue our work to build a resilient network of regional parks and greenways in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge,” said Hurley.
According to Metro Vancouver, the Codd Wetlands contribute to the health of local waterways, air, climate, and soil systems and protects critical habitat for a variety of birds, fish, mammals, and amphibians, some of which are no longer found in developed and well-used landscapes of the region.
The area is not currently open to the public, as the goal of a conservancy area is to protect the ecosystems and associated wildlife. However, the long-term vision for Codd Wetland is to develop public access, including trails, through these new properties leading east into upland areas of Blaney Bog.
John McEwen, chair of Metro Vancouver’s Regional Parks Committee and vice chair of the boards, noted that parks and green spaces are key to the region’s livability.
He said they provide opportunities to be active and escape from urban life, while mitigating climate change and protecting important natural areas.
“Sensitive ecosystems are disappearing as the region grows, so this significant addition to Codd Wetland is a gift to current and future generations,” said McEwen.
Metro Vancouver’s regional parks system is made up of 24 parks, five greenways, two ecological conservancy areas, and two regional park reserves, spanning nearly 14,000 hectares in communities from Bowen Island in the west to Langley and Maple Ridge in the east. Since 1967, Metro Vancouver has been expanding this system to create a resilient network of connected parks and greenways that protect natural areas while providing access to nature for the region’s growing population.