Delta is taking the lead on the dredging issue in the hopes that a financial commitment from the municipality will spur other levels of government to loosen the purse strings.

At Monday night's Delta council meeting, civic politicians approved a $2 million contribution toward dealing with the silt build up in the Ladner channels of the Fraser River.

The dredging of the Fraser used to be handled by the federal government, however, the secondary channels have not been cleared in over a decade and the build up is starting to cause problems. Until 1998, dredging of all channels was a federal responsibility. In 1999 the port authority took over dredging only the main navigational channel. Since then, silt has been building up in the many secondary channels.

Sometimes, during low tides, there is only a few feet of water covering the bottom of the river and on many occasions over the last few years boats trying to move in or out of Ladner Harbour, or any of the other local channels, have got stuck in the silt for several hours until the water level rises.

Float homes also risk going aground unevenly, which can cause damage to the structures and pose a safety risk to those inside.

Concerned residents established the Ladner Sediment Group in 2008 to bring attention to the issue with all levels of government. The group is extremely happy to see Delta come forward with funding and take the bull by the horns on the issue, said chair John Roscoe.

"The Corporation of Delta has just done an outstanding job," Roscoe said.

Since 2009, Delta has been working with the group and Port Metro Vancouver to find funding to alleviate the sediment problems. Since then the issue has been brought up numerous times with various levels of government.

Members of the Ladner Sediment Group, Mayor Lois Jackson and MLA Vicki Huntington have all made appeals to both provincial and federal representatives for funding to help deal with the sediment.

As recently as late last year, Jackson, along with Coun. Ian Paton and chief administrative officer George Harvie, met with officials from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the B.C. Ministry of Transportation.

"While there is agreement that the issue needs to be resolved, so far, neither government has been willing to commit financially to the project," said Sean McGill, Delta's director of human resources and corporate planning, in a report to council Monday.

Last year, Delta hired a consultant to undertake an economic impact assessment and prepare a business case for dredging. The study will take into account the social, environmental and economic impacts of a project. A report is expected by the end of March.

"We know there's an economic impact here," Harvie said. "But now we'll have the professional report."

The total project cost is estimated at around $8 million - Port Metro Vancouver has also committed $2 million. Delta's share of the funding is coming from reserves and will only be used if the federal and provincial governments agree to provide funding as well.

"It is anticipated that a strong business case in support of dredging may prompt funding of the remaining portion by the federal and provincial governments," McGill said.

Delta staff is currently working with the port to determine who will assume responsibility for the management of the project.

"Given that Port Metro Vancouver is in the business of dredging and already has approved ocean disposal sites for the dredged material, the port may be the most appropriate agency to manage the project," McGill said.

Delta staff will work with the port to finalize a plan and submit an application to the Fraser River Estuary Management Plan.

McGill said that by April Delta should be in a position to approach senior government officials with the business case, technical data for the sedimentation processes and a detailed implementation plan to pursue funding.

Ladner Harbour itself falls under the jurisdiction of the DFO small craft harbour division and, during a recent meeting with Delta, representatives indicated that funding is available for harbour dredging. Council approved a letter from the mayor asking that DFO partner with the Corporation to dredge the Ladner Harbour basin.