Green Shores Project

Construction of Cultus Lake Park Green Shores Demonstration Project: Starting September 16, 2024

Thank you to everyone who participated in our community information and engagement sessions from May – August of 2024. We appreciate your participation, feedback, and support for improving the health and habitat of this important section of the Cultus Lake Park shoreline. Public feedback on the conceptual design has been addressed and incorporated into the final design for construction.

Construction will begin on September 16, 2024, and completion is anticipated on October 18, 2024. During construction, access to the site will be limited through a fenced pathway. We ask that visitors access the pedestrian bridge from Cultus Lake Park’s west side via the fenced pathway and be mindful of construction taking place. Please direct any questions about area access to the Cultus Lake Park Board or Andrea McDonald ([email protected]).

About the Green Shores Design

This nature-based hybrid design was developed by technical experts on the project team and technical advisory committee. It incorporates both soft and hard design elements and aims to achieve these objectives:

  • Protect riparian habitat and enhance benefits for juvenile salmon and other aquatic species
  • Capture and treat stormwater runoff to reduce pollutants entering the lake
  • Achieve a dynamically stable shoreline that will mitigate erosion
  • Enhance public awareness through educational signage
  • Increase accessibility of the shoreline through a gently sloped access ramp
  • Improve biodiversity and habitat function of the site by adding native trees and plants
  • Inspire future opportunities to implement nature-based approaches for shoreline protection
  • Enhance resilience to climate change by increasing tree shading, planting drought-tolerant species, and designing for future climate scenarios

If you are interested in volunteering to help install native plantings in early October 2024, please email Andrea McDonald with your availability at [email protected].

Image 1: Green Shores design concept for Cultus Lake Park demonstration site. Details, including the location of plants, pathways, logs, and access ramps, will be subject to change based on field requirements and guidance from qualified environmental professionals.

Shoreline Restoration – a Green Shores Hybrid Approach

The shoreline will be modified by adding beach nourishment in the form of mixed sand and gravel and a set of two detached headlands (rock piles) to hold the shoreline in place and provide habitat.  Habitat will be further enhanced by strategically placing large woody debris, which allows the natural movement of sediment. The shoreline restoration design will require minimal maintenance and have no net impact on adjacent properties. The restored shoreline will reduce erosion, provide more viable habitat, and increase public access to the water.

20240903_GSSD_CLP_ScaledLandscapingPlan_Final

Image 2: Scaled Green Shores design for construction beginning Sept. 16, 2024.

Upland Restoration – Native Vegetation Provides Shoreline Benefits

The upland area of the site will be planted with native vegetation and trees to anchor the shoreline and soil in place while enhancing biodiversity. The project design seeks to balance summer and winter views, enhance canopy cover, frame existing views at various vantage points, and ensure the enhancement of ecological benefits. The site will host a variety of educational signs with QR codes to provide visitors with further opportunities to learn about and engage with the site’s naturally restored beauty and function.

If you have any questions about the Green Shores project, please don’t hesitate to contact the Project Manager, Andrea McDonald, at [email protected].

Alignment with Cultus Lake Park Policy

Green Shores has been brought to Cultus Lake Park as a demonstration project to advance the mission of the Cultus Lake Park Board to provide, preserve and advocate for the long-term prosperity of the Cultus Lake community and natural environment. As the 2019 Strategic Plan states “The heart of Cultus Lake Park is the abundant natural resources – the lake, the beaches and foreshore, the park, the trails and the forests. The health of our natural environment is critical to the community – now and in the future”. The goals of PlanCultus have been integrated into the Green Shores design to:

  • Protect and improve lake quality
  • Conserve and manage forests and urban trees
  • Protect Cultus Lake Foreshore and water
  • Protect habitat and biodiversity in Cultus Lake Park

Resources

Green Shores Cultus Lake Park Overview Presentation 2023

A brief summary of the benefits of nature-based solutions for shorelines can be found here: https://stewardshipcentrebc.ca/naturebasedsolutions-benefits/

Green Shores for Shoreline Development Credits and Ratings Guide: https://stewardshipcentrebc.ca/PDF_docs/greenshores/Resources/GSSD_PilotEditionApril2020.pdf

Green Shores Resources: https://stewardshipcentrebc.ca/green-shores-home/gs-resources/

Green Shores 2020: Impact, Value and Lessons Learned – The benefit report for communities referenced in the presentation can be found here: https://stewardshipcentrebc.ca/PDF_docs/greenshores/Resources/Green%20Shores%202020_%20Impact,%20Value%20and%20Lessons%20Learned_%20Full%20Report_July2020.pdf

 

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