Accommodation and Real Estate Services

Major Property Updates - Riverview Lands

Natural Areas

While it is recognized that the entire 244 acres of the Riverview lands have been previously disturbed, there are significant "naturalized" areas. Natural areas for the Riverview lands has been defined as:

  • Forests and heavy vegetation (trees not included in the Tree Collection),
  • Streams and wetlands, and
  • Wildlife corridors and nesting/roosting zones.

In order to protect and enhance Riverview's natural areas, ARES initiated a project to develop principles that would help to guide site operations and any future planning activities. Five workshops were held from June 2007 to February 2008, with participation by stewardship group members, the City of Coquitlam's Parks and Leisure/Planning and Development groups, Metro Vancouver Parks and technical experts.

The lands' natural areas contribute to the working landscape vision by providing passive recreation opportunities, therapy and restoration activities, educational and scientific values, fish and wildlife habitat. They perform nature's "ecological services" in the region, including dispersing seeds, mitigating droughts and floods, purifying water and air, and detoxifying and decomposing wastes. There are also social and economic benefits that flow from the use of the land for purposes such as filmmaking. This work will be included in any future potential planning processes.

Natural Areas Management Plan
To help ensure that the lands' natural areas are managed for their protection, enhancement and continued connection to the overall lands, a management plan is currently being developed (expected to be complete in 2009).

Community Heritage Register

In early 2008, the City of Coquitlam recognized the Riverview lands' heritage value by including it in its Community Heritage Register and by adopting a statement of significance. This inclusion automatically places the lands on the Provincial Heritage Register, although it does not formally designate them as heritage.