THE SHRINKING HABITAT LOWER CREEK In this area, south of Marine Drive, the stream corridor is very narrow with not much vegetation between the water, and the street and buildings. Although the minimum width, on each side, should be 50 feet or 15 metres for salmon bearing streams, many places here are under 10 feet. It is important that the vegetation along a creek be continous. It functions the same way that a house does for people. The trees are the roof, the shrubs and smaller plants are the walls. Whenever a bridge is built, a section of the creek is clear-cut. It is like cutting a slice out of the house - and leaving a permanent hole in the roof and two sides. No habitat, no protection. Preservation of this particular section of streamside habitat has been very important because there is an obstacle to fish passage here - a weir. Even though there is a fish ladder, it's not always passable. Sometimes leaves and branches build up in the ladder, sometimes the water levels are low. Before this habitat was clear-cut, the thick vegetation offered protection, shelter, and privacy for salmon and other fish waiting to travel upstream. 1995 3 bridges Larson, Marine, Bewicke 1998 4th bridge - Low Level parkland sold 2012 Area Cleared for 5th bridge MOSQUITO CREEK BRIDGES In 1995, there were 3 bridges. In 1998, there were 4. In late 2011, the entire road width of 3rd Street was clear-cut. If another bridge is constructed, there will be 5 - within 5 city blocks. The City declared Mosquito Creek to be a protected Green Zone and an Environmentally Sensitive Area, and pledged to protect salmon habitat. Streamside Protection Bylaws were adopted. The primary goal of these types of Bylaws is supposed to be in protecting the Fisheries and fish habitat - which means preserving what remains of streams and streamside habitat (riparian) to a minimum depth/width (50 feet or 15 m) continuous on both sides of a stream channel - and restoring those sections already missing. Municipalities are supposed to work toward that goal. So why are they continuing to clear-cut the creek ? Some argue that urban development and increased density is necessary. Perhaps, but it shouldn't be necessary to cover every piece of land with buildings and pavement. The stream channels and their wildlife habitat are a very small percentage of the North Shore land base. If they cannot be respected, preserved, and kept viable at this time in our history, then --- shame on us.