Ecological Design

Habitat restoration, creation, or compensation are critical components of environmental management, particularly in urban areas. Raincoast Applied Ecology has contributed to or led the design of a variety of innovative projects including stream daylighting, off-channel habitat creation, biofiltration wetlands, and large and small streambank or shoreline stabilization projects using bioengineering.


Spanish Bank Creek in northwest Point Grey.

NEW! Central Valley Greenway Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
Development of plan to improve the quality and riparian and wildlife habitat along this newly-constructed transportation and recreation corridor. Project includes design, invasive plant management, permitting, oversight of installation, and post-construction monitoring (for City of Burnaby by HB Lanarc and Raincoast Applied Ecology, 2010–present).

Seymour River Bank Stabilization Project
Design, permitting, and oversight of environmental aspects of major bank stablization works on the Seymour River in North Vancouver, including instream fish habitat creation, bank replacement, and riparian planting (for Squamish First Nation by KWL Associates and Raincoast Applied Ecology, 2008–2009).

Wagg Creek Stormwater Improvement Project
Design, permitting, and oversight of a pond expansion and biofiltration project to improve sediment removal and stormwater treatment on Wagg Creek (for City of North Vancouver by KWL Associates and Raincoast Applied Ecology, 2008).

Sasamat Lake Shoreline and Slope Stabilization Project
Inventory and assessment of degraded shoreline sites, prioritization of sites for restoration, and restoration prescriptions (for Metro Vancouver Regional Parks by Raincoast Applied Ecology, 2008).

Kitsilano, Jericho, and New Brighton Shoreline Stabilization Projects
Design, permitting, and implementation of the environmental components of shoreline stabilization projects in Vancouver (for Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation with KWL Associates, Raincoast Applied Ecology, and Sea Science, 2004–2007). Download photo pages.

Lost Lagoon Biolfiltration Wetland
Design of environmental components for the large biofiltration wetland in Stanley Park (with PWL Associates, Coast River Environmental, and KWL Associates, 2001). Download photo pages.

Green Roof Plant Communities
Design and testing of native and non-native plant communities for use on green roofs in coastal BC (with Goya Ngan Landscape Architect and the BCIT Green Roof Research Facility, ongoing).

Thain Creek Daylighting
Design and implementation of instream and riparian habitat features in a 180 m stream daylighting project in North Vancouver (with KWL Associates, Lanarc, and Coast River Environmental, 2001). Download photo pages.

Spanish Bank Creek Daylighting
Conceptual design of culvert removal and stream channel restoration at the mouth of Spanish Bank Creek in northwest Point Grey including riparian and beach plantings (for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 1994–present). Download photo pages.

Langara College Wetland
Design and implementation of a wetland restoration project on the Langara College campus (by Raincoast Applied Ecology with Kelly Sveinson, Langara College, 2002). Download photo pages.

Stoney Creek Bioengineering Assessment Study
Assessment and design study prepared for the Stoney Creek Environment Committee (KWL Associates and N. Page (Coast River Environmental), 2001). Hardcopy report available from Raincoast.

Overview Fish and Riparian Habitat Assessment of the Indian River Watershed
Assessment report prepared for International Forest Products Ltd. and the Watershed Restoration Program (Region 2) (by Coast River Environmental, Northwest Hydraulics, and Talisman, 1999). Hardcopy report available from Raincoast.

Beach Grove Lagoon and Spit: Shoreline Processes and Habitat Assessment Study
Report prepared for Beach Grove Lagoon and Spit Steering Committee by Coast River Environmental and others (N. Page, J. Millar, J. Harper, A. Poynter, I. Robertson and M. Tarbotton), 1998). Hardcopy report available from Raincoast.