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Integrated Watershed Management

Watershed Boundaries Map Coquitlam manages stormwater within watershed boundaries to ensure that properties are protected from flooding and impacts to the environment are minimized. A watershed is defined as an area of land where all of the water drains to the same place. The following figure shows the location of watersheds in the City.

Coquitlam Watershed Boundaries Map

For all urban watersheds, Coquitlam is developing integrated watershed management plans (IWMP) to preserve watershed health, while also meeting community needs and facilitating growth and development. IWMP’s use a Net Environmental Benefit approach that strives to improve fish and fish habitat.

An IWMP investigates issues related to the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff, flood protection, environmental protection of aquatic resources, wildlife and their habitats, land use, greenways, and recreation. The IWMP’s outline cost effective solutions (capital, operation and maintenance) complete with implementation and maintenance plans.

An IWMP is to be cost-effective, scientifically defendable, supported by the public, and endorsed by the environmental agencies.

Hyde Creek IWMP

Hyde Creek is a watershed located on Burke Mountain in northeast Coquitlam and partly in Port Coqutilam. The watershed encompasses Hyde, Watkins, West Watkins, Smiling, West Smiling and Burke Mountain Creeks.

The Coquitlam portion of the watershed is a near Greenfield and lies within the Northeast Coquitlam Area Plan, which calls for the development of a community of 7,500 dwelling units and 24,000 people.

The IWMP provided valuable input into the Lower Hyde Creek Neighbourhood Plan, Upper Hyde Creek Neighbourhood Plan and Smiling Creek Neighbourhood Plan to ensure that watershed health is preserved while facilitating orderly land development.

The key issues addressed in this watershed are:

Flood protection of low lying lands, mainly in Port Coquitlam
Stream flow protection
Stream water quality protection
Riparian area protection
Fish habitat restoration and enhancement
Mitigation of stream erosion in steep grades
On-site Rainwater Management to mimic the natural hydrology
Integration of land development with stormwater management

See the plan: Hyde Creek IWMP
See the map: Hyde Creek Watershed Map

Partington Creek IWMP

Partington Creek is a 625 ha watershed located on Burke Mountain in northeast Coquitlam. The watershed ismainly covered by second growth forest, and supports rich aquatic and wildlife systems. This watershed is withinthe development area identified in the Northeast Coquitlam Area Plan, which calls for the development of acommunity of 7,500 dwelling units and 24,000 people.

The IMWP provides valuable input into the Partington Creek Neighbourhood Plan to ensure that watershed healthis preserved while facilitating orderly land development.

The key issues addressed in this watershed are:

Flooding in low lying farmlands
Stream flow protection
Stream water quality protection
Riparian area protection
Fish habitat restoration and enhancement
Mitigation of stream erosion and sediment management
On-site Rainwater Management to mimic the natural hydrology
Integration of Land development with stormwater management

See the plan: Partington Creek IWMP | Partington Creek IWMP Appendices

Como Creek IWMP

The Como Creek watershed covers approximately 850 ha and is located in Southwest Coquitlam. The IWMP was completed in 2002, and was the “first urban drainage study in the Greater Vancouver region to truly integrate engineering, planning and ecological perspectives through an interdisciplinary process that included community involvement.” (Stormwater Planning Guidebook, 2002).

Much has evolved since then and work is currently underway to bring this plan up to date. The 2002 plan was not formally adopted by Council.

The key issues addressed in this watershed are:

Flooding
Erosion and sedimentation
Aquatic habitat restoration and enhancement
Impervious area and surface runoff

See the 2002 plan: Como Creek IWMP

Nelson Creek IWMP

The Nelson Creek watershed is located in southwest Coquitlam and is 250 ha in area. Nelson creek is contained within the underground stormwater system for its upper lengths and in open channels in downstream areas.

Work for this IWMP is currently underway and will be complete in early 2012.

The key issues addressed in this watershed are:

Integrate land development with stormwater management
Stream water quality
On-site Rainwater Management to mimic natural hydrology
Stream erosion and sediment transport
Stormwater detention and diversion
Storm system capacity
Aquatic habitat restoration and enhancement
Riparian area protection

See the draft plan: Nelson Creek IWMP

Maple Creek IMWP

The Maple creek watershed is approximately 192 ha and is located in both the City of Port Coquitlam and the City of Coquitlam.

Work for this IWMP is currently underway, with completion expected in late 2012.

Key issues to be addressed in this watershed are:

Flooding
Poor stream water quality
Riparian encroachment and lack of riparian cover
Low summer steam flows
Barriers to fish passage
Aquatic habitat restoration and enhancement
On-site Rainwater management to mimic natural hydrology

Chines IWMP

The Chines is a series of watersheds that lie within the cities of Port Moody and Coquitlam. This watershed includes the Schoolhouse Creek, Kyle Street, Williams Street, Pigeon Creek and Suterbrook sub catchments.

Work on this IWMP is currently underway, with completion expected in late 2012.

Key issues addressed to be addressed in this watershed are:

Environmental enhancements
Slope stability
Stream corridor management
Flooding, erosion and sedimentation control

See the plan:

Scott Creek IWMP

The Scott Creek basin is located on the south slope of Eagle Mountain in northwest Coquitlam. The drainage system collects stormwater runoff for a 1,950 ha watershed that includes Scott Creek, Hoy Creek and their tributaries, approximately 160km of storm drain pipes, two flow diversion systems and Lafarge Lake.

The key issues addressed in this watershed are:

Mitigate stream erosion in steep grades
Control sediment deposition in the flat watercourse reaches
Flooding in lower Scott Creek
Management of base flows
On-site Rainwater Management to mimic natural hydrology
Stream and riparian habitat protection
Protection of fish spawning areas

See the plan: Scott Creek IWMP

Stoney Creek IWMP

The Stoney Creek watershed comprises a main stem plus three tributary channels that originate on Burnaby Mountain and discharge to the Brunette River. The area encompasses parts of Burnaby, Coquitlam and Port Moody as well as Simon Fraser University.

The key issues addressed in this watershed are: