Phase I Phase II Highlights Phase III

The purpose of Phase II in developing a Coquitlam River Watershed Strategy was to bring stakeholders together to engage in a series of community workshops to establish a Common Vision, while developing guiding principles to gain broad support for decision making.  Many of these stakeholders are governed by various federal and provincial legislations and authorities, often with conflicting objectives and mandates. 

The project objectives undertaken during Phase II were:

• Working with consultants and the Project Team including City of Coquitlam staff, the Kwikwetlem First Nation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Watershed Watch Salmon Society and the Coquitlam River Watershed Society to plan a community engagement strategy;
  
  
• Plan, oversee and work with consultants who will engage stakeholders in a series of workshops to establish a common vision for this urban river;
  
  
• Develop guiding principles to gain broad support for decision making;
  
  
• Develop options for a governance framework for how the many stakeholders can work together to support the common vision;
  
  
• Based on the vision established, develop goals and objectives for improving watershed health;
  
  
• Working with the community and the consultant, build upon and develop the web-based communication hub drafted during Phase I; and,
  
  
• Achieve consensus to move forward to Phase III, Governance and Strategy Development Phase.

Through Phase II, which began fall 2008, the process involved the City’s Coquitlam River Aggregate Committee, several groups and stakeholders engaging with the Project Team. The Project Team formed to guide Phase II was chaired by the City of Coquitlam and its project partner, Kwikwetlem First Nation.  The Project Team collaborated with the following groups through Phase II:

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Oceans, Habitat and Enhancement Branch
• BC Hydro and BCTC
• Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources
• Ministry of Environment
• Metro Vancouver
• City of Port Coquitlam
• Aggregate Industry
• Environmental Stewards, including Coquitlam River Watershed Society and Watershed Watch Salmon Society
• Development community and general public

The Project Team membership comprised of City of Coquitlam staff, Kwikwetlem First Nation representatives, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Watershed Watch Salmon Society and the Coquitlam River Watershed Society. 

Through the Phase II initiative, Coquitlam Watershed Coordinator and Workshop Facilitator were retained to assist the Project Team to undertake the following scope of Phase II work through to spring 2009.  The Phase II project work concluded early April 2009 and a summary report, “Coquitlam River Watershed Strategy Community Engagement & Visioning Phase II” was completed during June 2009.  To view the Phase II Report click on Reports & Documents.

The funding partners for the Phase II project included: Pacific Salmon Foundation’s Fraser Salmon and Watershed Program – Living Rivers Project; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; and the Coquitlam River Watershed Society.  In-kind support was provided by the City of Coquitlam, Kwikwetlem First Nation, Watershed Watch Salmon Society, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Coquitlam River Watershed Society and the Coquitlam River Aggregate Committee.

Phase II of the project was completed in the summer, 2009. Click here to view Phase II Highlights