About the shoreline mapping initiative
The Resilient Coasts for Salmon initiative has completed a five-year effort (2021 to 2026) to map shoreline modifications along the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, identifying areas where shores have been altered by hard armoring (such as seawalls and riprap) and overwater structures (including piers and docks). These modifications impact the resilience of our coastlines by disrupting natural coastal processes, contributing to habitat loss, and affecting the behavior and diets of Pacific salmon, among other organisms. Additionally, the initiative has tracked the extent of log accumulation along these shores, as excessive log deposits can scour beaches, alter sediment composition, and smother forage fish spawning habitats. These data are intended to help researchers, planners, and community members make informed decisions about coastal adaptation and habitat protection.
Contaminants of concern:
As a part of out mapping initiative we are focused on tracking three main feature types:
Explore Our Map
Read through our User Guide in the map enjoy all the features of this tool. Here is an overview of the widgets:
Layers
Legend
Filter
Timeline
Table
Feature information
Additional Resources
- Pacific Toxics Contaminants Map Explorer: this contains over 200 maps depicting information and datasets relating to contaminants in the environment as well as physical features, human use, natural resources, and sensitive and protected areas within the province.
- Pacific Toxics Contaminants Database Search Engine: a geographically referenced searchable database of published literature relating to environmental contaminants in the Georgia Basin and other areas in British Columbia.
- Water Rangers Water Quality Open Data Platform: an online tool to help community members/groups collect, manage and share water quality data.
- Langley Environmental Partners Society Water Quality Testing Atlas: an interactive web map georeferencing water sampling events taken place to look for fecal coliform levels in drinking water.
- Canada-B.C. Water Quality Monitoring Program – Interactive Map: an interactive web map that displays monitoring stations that are a part of the Canada-B.C. Water Quality Monitoring Program
- Real-time Water Data Tool – Province of British Columbia: this tool is a repository of continuous surface, groundwater and snow data from monitoring stations across the province.
- Automated Fresh Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Data – ECCC Data Catalogue: Historical water quality data measured on a continuous basis at over 23 locations across Canada is included in this dataset.
- Washington State Department of Ecology’s Environmental Information Management Database:
- EIM search
- Explore various long-term monitoring programs and their collected data. Relevant programs include (but are not limited to):
- Persistent, Bioaccumulative Toxics (PBTs) – Assessment of PBTs in environmental Media, including mercury in fish and organic PBTs in sediment cores, 2005 to present
- Freshwater Fish Contaminants – Characterization of toxic chemicals in freshwater fish, 2001 to present
- Water Rangers Water Quality Open Data Platform: an online tool to help community members/groups collect, manage and share water quality data.
- National Pollutant Release Inventory Data Search Tool: use this tool to search detailed information on pollutant releases (to air, water and land), disposals and transfers for recycling reported by facilities to the NPRI. You can also use this tool to display facility data by location, sector and substance as well as to view pollution prevention information.
- National Pollutant Release Inventory Dashboard: this dashboard provides a visual interface for users to view and interact with NPRI data.
- Oceanwise Pollution Tracker: a coast-wide monitoring program for British Columbia that documents the levels and trends of hundreds of contaminants of concern in mussels and nearshore ocean sediments.
- Disposal at sea- environmental monitoring of disposal sites: this program conducts monitoring studies of the environmental conditions at representative disposal sites each year
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Toxics Biological Observation System: WDFW’s TBiOS team monitors the geographic extent and magnitude of toxic contaminants in fish and other organisms living in Puget Sound, Washington’s portion of the Salish Sea.
- Environmental Contaminants program: the Environmental Contaminants Program (ECP) is a funding opportunity that supports BC First Nation community-based research projects that explore the link between human health and environmental contaminants..
Get Involved
Taking action to safeguard the salmon in the Strait of Georgia requires collective effort. Individuals can play a crucial role in advocating for stronger environmental policies and practices. By supporting organizations dedicated to marine conservation, reducing personal pollution footprints, and participating in local clean-up initiatives, each of us can contribute to the preservation of the salmon population and the broader marine ecosystem. Your involvement can make a tangible difference in ensuring the survival and health of these essential creatures and their habitat.
Here are some useful resources to learn about the latest contaminants news in BC:
Recent Relevant Literature
Abihssira-García, I. S., Park, Y., Kiron, V., & Olsvik, P. A. 2020. Fluorescent microplastic uptake by immune cells of atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Frontiers in Environmental Science, 233.
Garai, P., Banerjee, P., Mondal, P., & Saha, N. C. 2021. Effect of heavy metals on fishes: Toxicity and bioaccumulation. J Clin Toxicol. S, 18.
Kampezidou, D. 2021. Behavior effects of a psychotropic pharmaceutical contaminant on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) juveniles: Atlantic salmon juveniles exposed to two different oxazepam concentrations.
Shah, S. B. 2021. Heavy metals in the marine environment—an overview. Heavy Metals in Scleractinian Corals, 1-26.
Wang, W., Ge, J., & Yu, X. 2020. Bioavailability and toxicity of microplastics to fish species: a review. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, 189, 109913.
Washington Department of Ecology, Stormwater Strategic Initiative. 2020. Narrative. Toxics In Fish Implementation Strategy. Washington Department of Ecology, Washington Department of Commerce and Washington Stormwater Center.