RiverGreen Program

The Riparian Woodland Enhancement Program, known as RiverGreen, seeks to offset some of the impacts of habitat loss by regenerating woodlands along the banks of the Fraser River.

Delta presently has several areas where mature trees exist along the Fraser River foreshore. This includes:

• Ladner Marsh,
• Deas, Tilbury and Annacis Islands, and
• the banks of various sloughs.

These areas, known as riparian woodlands, provide valuable habitat for birds and wildlife, including nesting birds such as eagles and great blue herons. Trees near watercourses also moderate water temperatures and provide a source of in-stream debris, both of which are important to aquatic life. The loss of healthy and mature trees, either through development, land use changes or natural processes is a significant community issue since trees provide numerous tangible and intangible benefits. Read more about the benefits of trees in riparian zones.

Riparian woodland ecosystems have become increasingly rare in the municipality and region. While some of these areas are protected in parks and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs), riparian woodlands outside of protected areas may be at risk of being developed or converted to other land uses. Areas located upland of streamside protection setbacks are particularly at risk because regulatory requirements for habitat protection and/or compensation are more limited.

In addition to losses through land development, natural processes are also changing the face of riparian woodlands. Many of Delta's remaining riparian woodlands are composed of black cottonwood trees due to low elevations, sandy soils and moist growing conditions in the delta. Many of these stands are mature, which makes them inherently more vulnerable to natural disturbances such as wind throw, disease and infestations. These trees are difficult to replace once they are lost.

RiverGreen concentrates on planting cottonwood trees since they are well suited to site conditions and are relatively fast to establish. The program focuses on the Fraser River foreshore as it is one of Delta's most important environmental assets. It also extends to other areas to provide a riparian forest legacy upon which Delta can build in the future.

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