A proposed ecology walkway along Richmond’s Sturgeon Bank could help the public learn about this environmentally sensitive area which five species of salmon frequent during their life cycle.
Not only would it be a tourist attraction, but it would be a great educational tool for school groups and others to learn about the wildlife in the area, noted a city staff report.
The report showed that the raised walkway would be built above the marshland, parallel to the Fraser River, starting and ending from the Terra Nova Park Playground parking lot.
But Coun. Michael Wolfe, at the parks and recreation committee meeting Tuesday, said Richmond needs to make sure there is a replacement for fish habitat before work is done.
“We need to ensure that we have a way to do (habitat compensation planning) well before we make a need to do it,” said Wolfe.
However, Coun. Harold Steves said that the project will naturally enhance fish habitat.
He has advocated in previous meetings to open up the Terra Nova Slough during critical chum salmon breeding times, using a floodgate.
“We can have sturgeon or salmon and certainly that will be compensation for anywhere in Richmond for decades to come,” said Steves.
“I think we should consider that as one of the pluses for this project.”
Staff said, if council approves moving ahead with the walkway, habitat compensation will be part of the design work.
Sturgeon Bank is an area that all five species of Pacific salmon utilize at some point in their life cycle.
The committee unanimously voted for the Sturgeon Bank eco walkway project.
Richmond resident John Young, who often runs and walks along the Richmond dykes especially the West Dyke Trail, previously, approached Steves about the idea of a boardwalk along Sturgeon Banks in 2019.
Young told the Richmond News he was excited to know the project proposal was on the parks and recreation committee agenda.
“This is a great idea that other communities, such as Burns Bog in Delta, have implemented with great success,” said Young.
He added signage and a lookout at the end of the boardwalk would create a better learning environment for the community.
“This will enhance their knowledge of the banks as well as its important ecological role.”
Young suggested that with “more and better understanding” of the role that Sturgeon Banks plays in the ecology of the area, more Richmond community members will support maintaining the area.
“Compared to the huge area of the banks, the impact of a relatively narrow walkway would be minimal,” said Young
