Greenshores

Integrated design solutions consider a holistic, long term view of the options, risks and benefits

There are major challenges in moving towards more environmentally friendly shore development, but also important opportunities to influence the next decade of developments on the coast to reflect the growing awareness that shore structures and developments must be designed in accordance with natural processes. The need for sustainable approaches to shore development in the Georgia Basin and Strait of Georgia is accentuated by three important factors:

1) Population Growth:  

The Georgia Basin and Tofino/Ucluelet sector of the west coast of Vancouver Island are experiencing unprecedented rates of growth- projected to be over 30% in most regions of the area over the next two decades (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/spd/gbpsei/documents/population.pdf)

2) Waterfront Development Pressure: 

Within these regions development is focused on waterfront property. This includes larger commercial/residential developments in former industrial areas (brown fields) as well as re-development of existing waterfront properties as older, small, seasonal homes are sold and larger full time residences built and the property re-landscaped.

3) Climate Change:

Most current models of climate change suggest sea level rises of 30-50 cm coupled with more severe episodic storm events over the next 5 to 10 decades - within the life cycle of current development projects. Most storm damage is caused by these episodic storm and storm surge events, and reaction to them is often the construction of hard seawall protection, a physical design which does not fully consider impacts to coastal processes, adjacent properties or nearshore habitat values.

View Reports and Presentations:

Sea Level Changes for BC, MOE Climate Change Branch

Projected Sea Level Changes for British Columbia in the 21st Century

 Coastal Sensitivity to Sea Level Rise