Living Dike Pilot Project
Project Description
The Living Dike Pilot Project is a nature-based solution to combat climate change and sea level rise implications. The project intends to establish a gentle, raised slope of sediment with vegetation placed on the seaward face of a traditional dike, mimicking the natural salt marsh and mudflats along Boundary Bay. There are many parts of Boundary Bay that have a natural salt marsh and this pilot project intends to expand those areas.
The living dike has the potential to improve flood resiliency by breaking wave energy from the ocean that can offset the need for dike raising in the near future. It can also improve the overall dike stability with its ability to protect the traditional dike from coastal erosion. The unique habitat benefits of salt marshes, mudflats, and eelgrass beds are an important part of the estuary ecosystem that supports migratory birds and marine life.
Living Dike Site on Boundary BayA collaborative adaptive management approach, each site will have a variety of combinations for living dike stabilization techniques that include sand berms, brushwood dams, rock berms, and oyster shell bags.
The Living Dike Pilot Project is being completed in partnership with the City of Surrey and Semiahmoo First Nation. There are two pilot study areas that are evolving into field study projects along Boundary Bay. This project is funded by the Federal Government under the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. The City of Surrey is leading design and construction of the Living Dike in coordination with Delta staff.
Project Location
The City of Delta’s Living Dike Pilot Site D1 is located near the south end of 96 Street along Boundary Bay. The project will extend approximately 200 metres along the foreshore and will be visible towards the water side of the Boundary Bay Dike Trail. See the project map highlighting the extents of the living dike.
City of Surrey’s Living Dyke Pilot Site S1 is located along the shoreline west of Mud Bay Park, south of Highway 99. This site will extend approximately 790 metres along the foreshore.
Project Timeline
The Living Dike Pilot Site D1 is anticipated to be constructed in early 2023, subject to receiving all the regulatory permits. The monitoring period begins right after construction for at least a period of three years.
Living Dike Roundtable
The living dike concept was developed and refined through the Boundary Bay Living Dike Roundtable (the ‘Roundtable’) that was established in 2018. The Roundtable is a collaborative working group that consists of representatives from First Nations, municipal staff from City of Delta and City of Surrey, environmental regulators, coastal engineering experts, and researchers. City of Delta will continue to work with the Roundtable for construction, monitoring, analysis, and evaluation of the living dike.
Engagement
Navigable Waters Comment Period
Under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, notices were posted on Delta and Surrey sites:
City of Delta Engagement
For further information or to provide comments please contact the City of Delta by email or call Delta’s Engineering Department at 604-946-3260.
