Image Source: Vancouver Trails, Mud Bay Park
Hosted by:
Lucas Wang, Sam Kohlmann, Taylor Legere
Guest Speakers:
Jeff Cutler and Angela Danyluk
Podcast description:
If one were to look around the shorelines of Vancouver, they’d see an expanse of hardened edges and cemented infrastructure. This piqued our curiosities and prompted us to ask, why? We chose to explore the question of, “why are nature based solutions (NbS) not being utilized more frequently for coastal resilience projects in Metro Vancouver?”
We started our investigation by identifying local case studies of nature-based coastal resilience projects. Using these case studies as our springboard, we then sought out a professional to talk to, in the form of Jeff Cutler, of Space2Place, who has worked on significant projects like the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant (IIWWTP), and he spoke to us about some of the challenges he’s faced on this front, and his thoughts on our central question.
We then decided we needed the perspective of someone more involved in the implementation of these projects from a government perspective, so we spoke to Angela Danyluk, who works for the City of Vancouver and was an integral part of the Sea2City design challenge. She spoke to us about her experiences coordinating with not just designers, but also engineers and professionals from other disciplines as well.
What you’re listening to is the culmination of our investigation, as we try and sweep together the pile of information we collected, and re-synthesize this huge nebulous matrix into something better parsed for understanding.
Guest Speakers BIOS
Jeff Cutler is the principal and founder of the Vancouver landscape architecture firm, space2place. His firm recently won an ASLA award for their design of the Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant which used nature-based infrastructure to reconnect the Fraser river and sea by reopening the causeway, creating off-channel habitat, and restoring intertidal wetlands. These efforts will help out-migrating juvenile salmon access critical rearing habitat.
Angela Danyluk is a Manager of Climate Adaptation and Equity at the City of Vancouver. She is a registered professional biologist recognized by the BC College of Applied Biology and works on numerous interdisciplinary projects, of which the most relevant to your ears for the next 15 minutes is the Sea2City design challenge, a project which sought to reimagine the shores of False Creek so as to better address issues related to rising sea level, urban growth, and ecological degradation, as well as work to decolonize the landscape.
Note: As we still need to allow our interviewees to approve of our usage of their voice, this podcast is not yet available for the greater public, please use the google drive link below and specifically request permission from us so that we can keep it private until then, thanks.
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Resources FOR ADDITIONAL LEARNING
West Coast environmental law
Sea2City Design Challenge
Living Breakwaters Article
References
Eyquem, J. L. (2021). Rising Tides and Shifting Sands: Combining Natural and Grey Infrastructure to Protect Canada’s Coastal Communities. Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo. https://intactcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/UoW_ICCA_2021_12_Coastal_Protection_Grey_NbS.pdf
Bridges, T. S., et al. editors. (2021). “Overview: International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management.” U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. Accessed at: https://ewn. erdc.dren.mil/?page_id=4351
Jang, N., & Doyon, A. (2023). Equitable Implementation of Green Infrastructure: An Analysis of the City of Vancouver. Canadian Planning and Policy Aménagement Et Politique Au Canada, 2023(1), 110–132. https://doi.org/10.24908/cpp-apc.v2023i1.15552
Living with Water. https://www.livingwithwater.ca/
O’Leary, B. C., et al. (2023). Embracing nature-based solutions to promote resilient marine and coastal ecosystems. Nature-Based Solutions, 3, 100044. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2022.100044
Vouk, I. et al. (2021). “Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal and Riverine Flood and Erosion Risk Management.” Canadian Standards Association. Accessed at: https://www.csagroup.org/wp-content/uploads/CSA-GroupResearch-Nature-Based-Solutions-for-Coastal-and-Riverine-Flood-and-Erosion-Risk-Management.pdf
BC Case Studies
Delta, Deltaport East Causeway Third Berth Habitat Remediation Project (Combined NBS measures)
ESSA Technologies Ltd. (2020). Green Shores 2020: Impact, Value and Lessons Learned Final Project Report.
Eyquem, J. L. (2021). Rising Tides and Shifting Sands.
North Vancouver, Maplewood Flats Eelgrass Restoration
Port of Vancouver. (2018). Maplewood Marine Restoration Project. https://www.portvancouver.com/projects/habitat-restoration/maplewood/
Port of Vancouver. (2021). Eelgrass transplanting work underway at Maplewood Marine Restoration Project. https://www.portvancouver.com/news-and-media/news/eelgrass-transplanting-work-underway-at-maplewood-marine-restoration-project/
Surrey, Mud Bay Nature-based Foreshore Enhancements Project
City of Surrey. (2023). Mud Bay Nature-based Foreshore Enhancements. https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/water-drainage-sewer/flood-control-and-prevention/coastal-flood-adaptation-projects/mud-bay
Weel, T. (2023). Surrey’s innovative ‘living dyke’ pilot project in mud bay underway. Peace Arch News. https://www.peacearchnews.com/news/surreys-innovative-living-dyke-pilot-project-in-mud-bay-underway-2881092
Vancouver, East Fraser Lands Integrated Coastal Flood Management (Beach Nourishment)
Eyquem, J. L. (2021). Rising Tides and Shifting Sands.
Vancouver, New Brighton Park Shoreline Habitat Restoration Project (Salt Marshes / Coastal Wetland Restoration)
City of Vancouver. (n.d.). New Brighton Park Shoreline Habitat Restoration in Depth. https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/new-brighton-park-shoreline-habitat-restoration-in-depth.aspx
Eyquem, J. L. (2021). Rising Tides and Shifting Sands.
Port of Vancouver. (2022). New Brighton. https://www.portvancouver.com/projects/habitat-restoration/new-brighton/
View Royal, Erosion Protection for Portage Park Midden (Sea Dikes)
Eyquem, J. L. (2021). Rising Tides and Shifting Sands.