The Codd Island Wetlands are in urgent need of protection as the present owners have plans to develop the area into dyked commercial cranberry bogs. The owners have however expressed an interest in selling the property for the purposes of preservation if a monetary value for the property is agreed upon. The GVRD, provincial government, and TLC are currently in negotiations with the property owners to determine a fair purchase price.
Conversion of the Codd Island Wetlands into cranberry bogs would completely eliminate the habitat value of the area. Even though the wetlands are located in the North Alouette watershed, there are at least two connectors that allow for fish to move between the North and South Alouette rivers. In the conversion to cranberry farms these connectors would be effectively cut off as the area is dyked. Therefore, both the North and South Alouette systems would be adversely affected by reduced fish access and reduced flow regimes.
Unfortunately, some of the adjacent lands to the south of the wetlands have already been transformed into cranberry farms, destroying or diverting creeks in the process. The owners of Codd Island Wetlands have already dyked some sections within the property in anticipation of further development. A large dyke has been constructed destroying a number of Blaney Creek feeder streams. Another dyke has been created around the perimeter of the property diverting the flow of McKenzie Creek.
In 1999, a 91 hectare section of Blaney Bog was purchased from the same owner through a partnership arrangement between the District of Maple Ridge, the GVRD and the provincial government. It is thought that a similar partnership arrangement can be formed along with additional partners including the Federal government and the general public to purchase the Codd Island wetlands and preserve this unique and highly productive habitat.
Proposed Management Objectives
Long-term objectives are to develop a management plan for the area that would include conservation / restoration and protection as the main objective. Access would be limited and only low impact activities such as nature appreciation, natural history, ecological interpretation, promotion of environmental awareness and eco-tourism would be allowed.
Project Support
The following organizations have endorsed and support the conservation of Codd Island Wetlands:
The Pitt Polder Preservation Society
Alouette River Management Society
Alouette Field Naturalists
Katzie First Nation
The District of Pitt Meadows
Tourism Pitt Meadows
Ministry of Sustainable Resources
Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Ducks Unlimited
The Burns Bog Conservation Society
K.E.E.P.S
BC Hydro
GVRD
Burke Mountain Naturalists
Rivershed Society of BC
Federation of BC Naturalists
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
The David Suzuki Foundation
