Riparian Areas Regulation

1. Property Owners Guide
2. Development Process Flow Chart - 25Kb PDF
3. RDNO RAR Transition Policy - 35Kb PDF
4. Affidavit - 30Kb PDF

Property Owner’s Guide to the Provincial Riparian Areas Regulation

What is a Riparian Area?
A “riparian area” is the area adjacent to ditches, streams, lakes and wetlands. These areas support a unique mixture of vegetation, from trees and shrubs to emergent and herbaceous plants. The vegetation in riparian areas directly influence watercourses and waterbodies and provide important fish habitat. The functions of a riparian area are numerous and varied. They include such things as sources of large organic debris (fallen trees and tree roots), areas for stream channel migration, vegetative cover to help moderate water temperature, provision of food, nutrients and organic matter to the stream, stream bank stabilization and buffers for streams from excessive silt and surface runoff pollution. The Riparian Areas Regulation identifies the area within 30-60 metres of a watercourse/body or ravine as a Riparian Assessment Area.

How does this legislation affect my property?
The Riparian Areas Regulation calls for local governments to protect riparian areas during residential, commercial and industrial development by ensuring that proposed activities are subject to a science based assessment conducted by a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP). Land developers are now required to hire a QEP to assess potential impacts, develop mitigation measures and avoid impacts of development on fish habitat in the Riparian Assessment Area. A report must be prepared by the QEP and submitted to the Ministry of Environment. When the Ministry receives a report that certifies that the proposed works will not cause adverse impacts to the environment they will notify the local government that it can proceed with processing the development applications required for the proposal. It is important to note that if the QEP is unable to certify that the proposed works will not cause harmful alteration, disruption or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat the proposal must be sent to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for approval. If DFO approves the proposal, the local government may move forward with the application.

**The Regional District and the municipalities of Enderby, Armstrong, Spallumcheen and Lumby have adopted a transition policy which will be in effect while bylaw amendments are under preparation. For more information please see the policy attached to this handout.

More information on the Riparian Areas Regulation can be found at:

www.env.gov.bc.ca/habitat/fish_protection_act/riparian/riparian_areas.html

Staff Contacts:

Local Qualified Environmental Professionals¹:

1. There may be other companies qualified to conduct this work. Please consult your local telephone directory.