Surrey's proposal for Bear Creek Park connector will result in fish deaths, DFO says

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says construction of an 84th Avenue connector through Bear Creek Park will kill fish and it's asking the city to submit a new engineering proposal.

The city asked the DFOto review its proposal last fall as part of the planning to fast-track the highly controversial road through the park.

According to the review performedby the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP), a program under theDepartment of Fisheries and Oceans thathelps conserve and protect fisheries and aquatic ecosystems,a big chunk of thework will likely result in the death of fish.

The FFHPPsaidthat while some of thework will not harm wildlife,installing a bridge over Bear Creek, modifying its banks, and removing vegetationcan be harmful to the fish,disrupting or destroying fish habitats.

The agency also mentioned that installing a culvert on King Creek, constructing a stormwater ditch and stream realignment will result in loss of fish as well.

The review did not indicate the number of fish likely to be impacted if thework goes ahead. According to the City of Surrey's website, more than 900 spawning chum salmon have been observed in Bear Creek in past years.

The City of Surrey sent a proposal to the FFHPPon Sept.3, 2021, in which it proposed:

• Installing a clearbridge span crossing Bear Creek including modifications to channel banks.
• Installing an open bottom concrete culvert crossing King Creek, including channel realignment, substrate placement and morphological changes.
• Infilling several wetland habitats and drainage features.
• Constructing new wetland habitats.
• Constructing new culvert outfalls and drainage ditches.

The city's engineering department says its goal is to complete this project while ensuring all "environmental assets" are protected.

"The City is moving ahead with the project and work at the site is continuing as planned in areas that do not require regulatory approval," saida statement sent by city's engineering department.

Coun.Laurie Guerra says that while work is still underway, the city has adjusted its approach to the project's phases, so that ithas time in which to submit aresponse to the DFO assessment.

Guerra says the response will indicatehow the city is planning to minimize the environmental impacts on Bear Creek and King Creek.

It'snot the first roadblock the proposed connecter has hit since it was resurrected by the current council in February2021.

The Force of Nature Society, an environmental organization opposing theconnector, hadfiled a petition in B.C. Supreme Court to have theparkland areas declared 'impacted' by the 84th Avenueproject but the judge ruledin favour of the city.

The same connecter was proposed in 2007, but at the time, city staff recommended council dropthe idea because of heavyopposition.

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