The Mighty Fraser and Hydrology

The Fraser River is the largest river by discharge flowing into the Pacific seaboard of Canada. The river spans the province travelling 1,370 kms from headwaters in the Rocky Mountains to eventually fan out through the Fraser River Delta into the Salish Sea. 

20 million tons of sediment flow down the Fraser River each year. The sediment contains vital nutrients for a sustainable ecosystem but also collects pollutants along its way. Runoff from roads, industry, farmland and forestry practices flow unhindered down the river and out the Fraser River Estuary through Delta and Richmond and into the Salish Sea. 

 

To support shipping in the main channel the Federal Government installed barriers in the river called 'training walls' that divert the flow of water away from the secondary channels and increase flow in the main channel. By increasing water flow, sediment accumulation is reduced. However, these training walls have resulted in reduced water flow in the secondary channels and high levels of sediment accumulation. The secondary channels are vital to neighboring communities, First Nations, businesses, fisheries and residents but are now only navigable at high tide. 

Although the Port of Vancouver have a continuous dredging program on the South Arm to keep the channel navigable, the secondary channels have been neglected.

 

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