LAND USE MOSQUITO CREEK Municipalities define land by the way each portion of land is used or is allowed to be used. Certain types of buildings or activities are permitted according to designation or zone. Zoning can be changed by council decision. Land use can have an impact on hydrology in the watershed. The percentage of permeable land (porous and absorbant) versus impermeable land (covered by buildings or non-absorbant hard surface materials) relates directly to the amount of water in the creeks. When it rains or as snow thaws, absorbant soils hold water which seeps into deeper groundwater reserves which then slowly seep into the stream channels over time. Non-absorbant pavements and buildings shed water immediately which runs into street drains where it is quicky carried to and discharged into the streams. This results in extra high water in the creeks during rainy periods and too low water during dry spells. LAND USE STUDY Mosquito Creek Park Neighbourhood Survey stream bank and setback, water quantity and quality Mosquito Creek Neighbourhood Association 1995 - 1996 Voluntary Public opinion survey. Mosquito Creek The fate of a parcel of forested city-owned land next to Mosquito Creek Park was always uncertain. In 1994, the land and adjacent private property became the subject of a development study, which was discontinued in 1995. While the study was still underway, neighbourhood residents began a public opinion survey on various land use options for the site. The survey was completed in 1995, and the results were presented to City of North Vancouver council in 1996. 1065 questionnaires were returned, representing over 70% of all households in the neighbourhood. Of those, 93% supported rezoning the forested city-owned land to park land, and 85% supported only single-family or park zoning for the private properties. In 1999, the city-owned land was rezoned to park land, becoming part of Mosquito Creek Park. In 1999, the Fell Channel Salmon Habitat Restoration Project was constructed on the site. The city-owned and private lands each hold large groundwater reserves which are fed by sub-surface water channels. The location, immediately next to Mosquito Creek, is important for maintaining the stream habitat.