Riparian Areas Protection Regulations on Gambier Island

Extracted text (beginning)

Riparian Areas Protection Regulations  
on Gambier Island 
Gambier Island Local Trust Committee 
In 2019 the Gambier Island Local Trust Committee (LTC) adopted bylaws to 
provide additional safeguards for riparian areas on Gambier Island for the 
protection of biodiversity and freshwater.   
Bylaw 148 amended the Gambier Island Official Community Plan (OCP) to 
provide a context and rationale for protection. See Section 12.3 of the OCP. 
Bylaw 149 updated the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) by defining the operational 
framework of Development Permit Area 3.  See Section 9.3 of the LUB.  
The Importance of Riparian Areas  
Riparian areas are the border regions adjacent to a stream, lake, wetland or other watercourse including ditches and 
dug ponds.  Ephemeral or seasonal water courses are also part of these valuable ecosystems. These areas support 
many plants and animals, provide important refuge and migration routes for birds and wildlife, and, most critically, 
provide fish habitat. These ecosystems are extremely sensitive to disturbances and development.  
Riparian areas play a key role in maintaining the natural hydrologic cycle of a watershed by stabilizing stream channels, 
reducing erosion, filtering sediment, capturing runoff and precipitation, and recharging aquifers that store ground-
water.   
Residential, commercial or industrial development activities within a riparian assessment area that provides fish 
habitat, or directly influences fish habitat, is protected under the provincial Riparian Areas Protection Regulation 
(formerly RAR) and is also covered within these new bylaws. 
The Development Permit Application Process  
If you are undertaking a development activity within 30 metres of a watercourse, wetland, ditch connected to a stream 
or dug pond, you will be required to submit a development permit application. This will require that you hire a Quali-
fied Environmental Professional (QEP) who will determine whether the watercourse, wetland, ditch connected to a 
stream or dug pond  is RAR or non-RAR– applicable. 
If it is determined that RAR applies to the watercourse, the QEP will assess the potential impact of your proposed 
activity on the riparian area in accordance with the provincial regulation. 
If it is determined that RAR does not apply, the QEP will assess the proposed activity and provide recommendations for 
reducing impacts and protecting the riparian area.  
Your application will then be assessed against the Development Permit Area guidelines found in the LUB. The permit 
will be issued if it meets the development permit guidelines.  

Questions? Contact Islands Trust staff: Tel: 250-247-2063 / Toll free: 1-800-663-7867 / Email: northinfo@islandstrust.bc.ca 
When a Development Permit application IS required within 30 metres of a watercourse: 
 Removal, alteration or destruction of vegetation. 
 Disturbance of soils. 
 Construction of, addition to, or alteration of a building 
or other structure.  
 Creation  of  non-st

First 3,000 characters. Open the original for the whole document.