DPA 1 Galiano Island Fact Sheet

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Galiano Island Local Trust Committee, 2014 
 
FACT SHEET 
RIPARIAN AREAS DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 
AREA 1 
 
What is the Riparian Areas Development Permit Area (DPA 1)? 
British Columbia’s Local Government Act enables communities to designate parts of their planning area as Development 
Permit Areas (DPAs) so they can set objectives and guidelines for development within those areas. The Galiano Island Official 
Community Plan (OCP) designates seven DPAs generally designed to protect sensitive ecosystems or to guide development in 
areas with special circumstances. Depending on the particular Development Permit Area and its exemptions, the requirement 
to obtain a Development Permit may be triggered by any building construction, demolition, land alteration, or subdivision of 
land that occurs in the DPA. 
The Riparian Areas DPA was adopted by the Galiano Island Local Trust Committee (LTC) in order to implement the provincial 
Riparian Areas Regulation. Riparian areas occur adjacent to lakes, streams, and wetlands where the vegetation and landscape 
have the potential to directly impact on fish habitat. The purpose of the Riparian Areas DPA is to guide development in a 
manner that prevents loss or degradation of these sensitive habitats and that protects aquatic wildlife.  
Why are riparian areas important?  
Riparian areas are distinct and unique habitats that are vital in the natural maintenance of stream health and productivity. 
Some of the features and functions of riparian areas include:  
 Sources of large organic debris, such as fallen trees and tree 
roots 
 Areas for stream channel migration 
 Vegetative cover to help moderate water temperature 
 Provision of food, nutrients and organic matter to the stream 
 Stream bank stabilization 
 Buffers for streams from excessive silt and surface runoff 
pollution 
These features and functions are essential to create habitat supportive 
of fish life processes. Furthermore, many of the lakes, streams and 
wetlands on Galiano Island are an important source of drinking water 
for the community. Regulating development in riparian areas helps to 
protect biodiversity and aquatic habitat, maintains water quality, and 
helps to retain wildlife corridors.    
How do I know whether my land is affected by the DPA? 
Approximately 189 hectares of land on Galiano Island are designated 
within the Riparian Areas DPA, accounting for about 3.1% of the total 
land area.  

Galiano Island Local Trust Committee, 2014 
 
All land designated in Schedule F of the Official Community Plan is 
included within the DPA. Islands Trust mapping of the DPA identifies 
riparian assessment areas as defined in the Riparian Areas Regulation, 
which includes any watercourse, stream, wetland, lake, or other water 
body that provides fish habitat and an associated landward “buffer zone”. 
In general, the buffer consists of a 30 metre strip on all sides of the water 
body measured from the high water mark.  
The DPA also includes the 

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