The City of Maple Ridge is advancing work to support the city’s climate action plan, Resilient Future 2050, with flood control, environmental protection, and the restoration of McKenney Creek.
At its July 28 meeting, council approved a new floodplain management bylaw, an update to the Environmental Management Framework, and the McKenney Creek Restoration and Enhancement Plan.
• The floodplain management bylaw establishes a flood hazard management framework, designates floodplain areas, sets flood construction levels and setbacks for new construction, regulates fill placement in flood-prone areas and creates a clear process for considering site-specific exemptions. It addresses flood risks from the Fraser River, Alouette River system, steep creek watercourses and groundwater-related flooding.
• The environmental management framework “modernizes how the city applies environmental protection requirements when considering development proposals,” said the city while maintaining Maple Ridge’s “meet and exceed” approach to provincial environmental standards. The update intends to improve clarity, consistency and predictability for residents, applicants, builders, environmental professionals and staff.
• The McKenney Creek Restoration and Enhancement Plan provides a long-term framework to restore McKenney Creek and improve watershed health and strengthen the community’s connection to the creek. The plan identifies actions related to rainwater management, water quality treatment, drainage improvements, riparian restoration, habitat enhancement, fish passage, invasive species management, monitoring and adaptive management.
“These are the kinds of actions that help communities adapt to a changing climate, more intense storms, increasing temperatures, and development pressures,” said James Stiver, director of planning and building. “The work will also help staff and applicants make better, more consistent decisions by providing clearer technical requirements for development and a stronger foundation for environmental and hazard management.”
The three initiatives are being advanced together to support better environmental decision-making, clearer development processes and stronger protection for natural systems as Maple Ridge prepares for future growth and climate impacts.
Council directed staff to proceed with phased implementation of the McKenney Creek Restoration and Enhancement Plan, subject to future budgets, technical studies, regulatory requirements, partnerships, and future council approvals. The plan considers current creek conditions, future development pressures, and climate impacts – more intense storms, drought, increasing temperatures, and related effects on stream health.
Recommended actions include stream restoration, riparian protection, invasive species management, fish passage, culvert assessments, water quality and streamflow monitoring, rainwater and stormwater management, drainage improvements, green infrastructure, and public education.
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