Sunshine Coast Habitat Atlas

The Sunshine Coast Habitat Atlas is a Geographic Information System (GIS) database containing an inventory and mapping of natural areas and fish habitat for the Sunshine Coast. The Habitat Atlas will provide up-to-date information to planners, developers, government organizations, First Nations, community organizations and local businesses. The information stored in the Atlas will assist these groups with making informed land use planning and stewardship decisions in support of the protection, enhancement and restoration of fish habitat. This is a 3-year initiative running from September, 2000 – April, 2003.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (F&OC), and the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (WLAP) is creating a Habitat Atlas for the Sunshine Coast. The Habitat Atlas is a series of maps, covering the extent of the SCRD; from Langdale to Egmont and north past the top of Jervis Inlet. Each page of the Atlas will contain a map illustrating a number of features, including: streams, roads, trails, land parcels, fish and wildlife habitat, parks and protected areas, watershed boundaries, and aerial photographs. To date, over 40 different categories, or “layers” of information have been collected. Each layer is stored on computer in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) database at the SCRD office in Sechelt.

This is an important initiative since fisheries are a significant economic and environmental resource for the Sunshine Coast. This region is characterized by a myriad of fresh watercourses – streams, lakes, wetlands and ditches – and associated riparian habitat. Many of these watercourses remain unmapped. As growth occurs and development proceeds, these unmapped streams run the risk of being irreversibly damaged or lost. These watercourses cannot be protected until they are identified and mapped. The freshwater fish species at risk include: coho, chum, pink and chinook salmon; steelhead; Dolly Varden; sculpin; cutthroat, brook, bull, and rainbow trout.

The primary objective of the Sunshine Coast Habitat Atlas initiative is:

• To publish and distribute an easy-to-use Habitat Atlas containing an up-to-date mapping and inventory of aquatic and terrestrial habitat and fish species information for the Sunshine Coast.

In order to achieve this goal, the following secondary objectives will be met:

• To develop, strengthen and maintain partnerships with government organizations, developers, First Nations, community organizations and local businesses.

• To compile existing data, identify gaps in information, and collect new information to fill these gaps

• To engage in public outreach efforts to solicit input from interested parties, to generate project support from the community and to foster data sharing.

• To provide a knowledge resource to assist preparation of local government regulations to protect and maintain fish and wildlife habitat.

One of the challenges faced during the first year of the project was obtaining existing digital information relevant to the Habitat Atlas. Once a dataset was located there were often many hurdles to be overcome before obtaining the information. Hurdles such as licensing issues, confidentiality, high costs, incomplete information, and a lack of resources to respond to and fill data requests. During the second year of the project, almost all of these hurdles were overcome. Of the 40 layers targeted for collection, 36 have now been added to the Habitat Atlas.

Whenever possible, data sharing agreements were put in place to facilitate the sharing and/or exchange of information. Sometimes, data sharing agreements were not possible. This was the case with our first attempts to obtain TRIM maps data through a sharing agreement. However, during the second year of the project, TRIM was provided to the SCRD through a data sharing agreement with the Integrated Cadastral Initiative (ICI).

The Sunshine Coast Habitat Atlas project resulted from a Smart Development Workshop held on the Sunshine Coast which provided a foundation for “next steps”. Specifically, there was a requirement for more detailed, accurate and up-to-date information for use in the planning processes of the SCRD. These processes include:

• informing and educating the community about their natural resource assets,
• revising existing and developing new Official Community Plans,
• developing new Local Resource Management Plans,
• revising existing and developing new Watershed Management Plans,
• developing new FRBC Watershed Plans,
• conducting referrals, and
• implementing the Streamside Protection Regulation.

While the SCRD were considering methods for acquiring this information, there was an opportunity for a partnership with Fisheries & Oceans Canada (F&OC) Habitat Conservation & Stewardship Program (HCSP). F&OC provided examples of how other Regional Districts were fulfilling their data requirements with the creation of habitat atlases. The SCRD decided that creating a habitat atlas for the Sunshine Coast would provide a way to acquire, store and maintain the detailed and accurate information required for planning processes.

Many accomplishments have been made during the first two years of the Sunshine Coast Habitat Atlas project. Highlights of these accomplishments are listed below.

Developing Partnerships
Developing and maintaining partnerships is key to the success of this project. Partners provide a source of support, expert knowledge, information, tools, and funding. An updated contact list of all project partners has been provided to the project team. The goals of these partnerships are:

• to share information,
• to avoid duplication of effort,
• to stimulate interest in and support for the project, and
• to solicit input and direction for the project.

Technical Steering Committee (TSC)
The Habitat Atlas TSC has been established as a project ‘working group’. Members of the TSC represent the following organizations: F&OC, MELP, SCRD, Town of Gibsons, District of Sechelt, Sechelt Indian Government District, and Capilano College. Meetings are held at the SCRD office in Sechelt 3-4 times a year.

Sunshine Coast Habitat Atlas Structure
A draft copy of the Habitat Atlas has recently been published. This draft map book contains the following components: cover page, acknowledgements, data sources, report, index map, and mapsheets. Each mapsheet contains: color orthophotos; annotation; streams classified into fish presence and unknown fish presence; urban roads; sensitive habitat areas; parks and protected areas; and district lots. One mapsheet from each urban area was selected for this publication (a total of 20 pages).

Compilation of Existing Information
Over 40 layers of information have been identified for inclusion in the Habitat Atlas. Of these, 36 layers have been collected and processed, 4 layers are still being processed to fit the project parameters and 2 remain unavailable. A complete listing and status of these layers can be found at http://www.user.dccnet.com/ctrent/.

Identification of Data Gaps
During the process of data compilation, missing information has been documented and prioritized for future data collection.

Investigation of Funding Sources and Submission of Funding Applications
A listing possible funding sources has been generated and distributed to the community. Applications requesting funds for detailed stream mapping were sent to 6 of these organizations. Funding was generously provided by Fisheries Renewal BC (FsRBC), Fisheries & Oceans Canada, and the Urban Salmon Habitat Program (USHP).

Collection of New Information
Stream mapping following the Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping (SHIM) methodology was carried out during August and December, 2001 and January and February, 2002. Priority streams were mapped with a high-end GPS in Pender Harbour, Twin Creeks, and Roberts Creek. Other priority streams are scheduled for the 2002-03 fiscal year, but are dependant on securing adequate funding.

Outreach
A significant portion of the outreach strategy developed during the first project year has been implemented during the second year. Presentations have been made to local government planning committees, schools and numerous community groups. The Habitat Atlas website is kept up-to-date, and an article has been published in a local conservation newsletter.

At the end of the second year of the project, there are over 40 layers of information contained in the Habitat Atlas GIS database. The first draft copies of the Atlas have been published and distributed to the community for feedback. There are strong partnerships in place and many community groups have contributed spatial and anecdotal information to the Atlas. The Technical Steering Committee (TSC) has met quarterly, to guide project development, and members have shown high levels of interest, enthusiasm, and commitment to the project.

Data collection of a number of priority streams with a high-end Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver has been completed. Funding was generously supplied by F&OC, Fisheries Renewal BC (FsRBC), and the Urban Salmon Habitat Program (USHP). The field crew adhered to Resource Inventory Committee (RIC) GPS data standards and the Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping (SHIM) guidelines were followed.

During the third and final year of the Habitat Atlas project, the following tasks will be completed:

• Final publication of the Sunshine Coast Habitat Atlas,
• Creation of an Internet Mapping Application
• Identification of budget requirements and submission of funding applications,
• Collection of outstanding datasets
• Collection of new information to fill remaining data gaps,
• Quarterly Technical Steering Committee meetings,
• Development of new and maintenance of existing partnerships,
• Development of a distribution strategy, and
• Creation of a long-term data maintenance program.

The Sunshine Coast Habitat Atlas initiative is made possible through the key support of the following organizations:

• Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Habitat Conservation & Stewardship Program
• Fisheries Renewal BC
• Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
• Sunshine Coast Regional District
• Urban Salmon Habitat Program

Sunshine Coast Regional District
http://www.scrd.bc.ca
Planning and Development
Cheryl Trent
Habitat Steward
5477 Wharf Road, Box 800
Sechelt, BC Canada
V0N 3A0
Phone: (604) 885-2261
Fax: (604) 885-8890
Email: ctrent@dccnet.com