Editor:
The article in the Delta Optimist of May 6, “Port to address farmer’s concerns about habitat project” fails to mention one key issue.
This area is not the wasteland that the Port Authority would have everyone believe.
It is an area that contains biofilm and one where Western Sandpipers and Dunlin feed.
Like many of the Port’s enhancement projects this one is not necessary. It is viable and valuable wetlands habitat.
To try and justify and offset the significant environmental damage that Roberts Bank Terminal 2 will cause the Port is looking for areas where it can claim that it has “improved" existing habitat. Canoe Pass - adjacent to Westham Island is, but one of a number of so called enhancement projects that also include Boundary Bay, Semiahmoo Bay, Roberts Bank Saltmarsh Restoration, Glenrose Tidal Marsh, Timberland Basin and Gladstone Park Tidal Marsh.
It is important to remember that several of the Port’s previous habitat enhancement projects failed. Habitat enhancement for the Deltaport Third Berth project included plantings and many of these died. An Osprey nest was removed - the Osprey never returned. Another one involved removing logs from Boundary Bay. Wetlands experts recommended against carrying through with this project because it was an area where raptors hunted for voles and other creatures. The Port went ahead anyway and the raptors largely deserted the area.
The Delta farmers are right to be concerned. The wildlife that uses the area has no voice so let us hope the farmers prevail and the Port leaves Canoe Pass alone.
Roger Emsley
