A advocacy Active support. alevin An embryonic development stage of salmonids, recently hatched from the egg but not yet absorbed the yolk sac or emerged from the spawning gravel. algae A group of chlorophyll-bearing plants distributed in salt and fresh water, including seaweeds and kelps. anadromous fish (1) Fish which mature in ocean water and spawn in fresh water. (2) Pacific salmon, sea-run cutthroat trout, steelhead, sea-run dolly varden, oolichans. aquatic Associated with water. aquifer Underground water body. B bedload Stream-transported material, such as sediment and rocks. benthic Living in or on the bottom sediment of a body of water. berm Material, usually soil, which has been built up or shaped into a mound. BIEAP "Burrard Inlet Environmental Action Program". biodiversity The variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes of which they are a part. This includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. BMP "Best Management Practices". C CA "Community Advisor" (CA) is a job title for a person with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Community Advisors serve as a liaison between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and its contract and volunteer projects. Each CA lives and works in a specific area. The Burrard Inlet area includes North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Belcarra, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody. Canadian Fisheries Waters All waters in the fishing zones of Canada, all waters in the territorial sea of Canada and all internal waters of Canada. (Canada Fisheries Act, sec.2) channelized (1) A stream channel which has been straightened. (2) Stream banks which have been reinforced with material. CNV "City of North Vancouver". A municipality on the north shore of Burrard Inlet. Approximate boundaries: west of MacKay Creek, east of Lynn Creek mouth, south at Burrard Inlet, north at 28th Street - excluding District of North Vancouver and Squamish Nation lands. coho One of five Pacific salmon species in North America. oncorhynchus kisutch. confluence Point where one stream flows into another. conservation Managing wildlife and habitat to ensure sustainability and biodiversity. cutthroat A fish. A type of trout. D DFO "Department of Fisheries and Oceans" (former). "Fisheries and Oceans Canada" (current). deleterious substance Substance harmful to fish or fish habitat. (Canada Fisheries Act, sec.36.3) detritus Organic debris from decomposing plants and animals. DNV "District of North Vancouver". A municipality on the north shore of Burrard Inlet. Approximate boundaries: west at Capilano River, east at Deep Cove, south at Burrard Inlet, north to North Shore mountains - excluding City of North Vancouver and Squamish Nation lands. E ecology The science that deals with the interrelationships between organisms and their environment. ecosystem (1) The inter-dependent organisms and physical environment in a given area. (2) The sum total of vegetation, animals, organisms, and the physical environment in which they inter-react. (3) An ecological unit consisting of biotic communities and the non-living (abiotic) environment which interreact to form a stable system. The largest functional unit in ecology. e.g. pond, forest. erosion The wearing down of a surface caused by external factors. Soil erosion may be caused by wind, water or human activity. ESA (1) "Environmentally Sensitive Area". Areas which require special management to protect fish and wildlife resources and natural systems or processes, including those which are rare, outstanding or endangered. (2) "Endangered Species Act" - (US). estuary A partially enclosed body of water freely connected to the ocean and within which the seawater of the lower estuary is measurably diluted by mixing with freshwater and in the upper estuary where tidal fluctuations affect river water levels. Within the estuary, species such as salmon can find food, shelter and a seawater/freshwater acclimation holding area. F felts Non-slip soles on the boots of waders. fish (1) Any vertebrate animal provided with gills throughout life and cold-blooded, the limbs being modified into fins. (2) Fish are defined as: shellfish, crustaceans, marine animals, the eggs, spawn, spat and juvenile stages of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and marine animals. (Canada Fisheries Act, sec.31.5) fish habitat Spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply and migration areas on which fish depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes. (Canada Fisheries Act, sec.31.5) fishery operating window The time period of reduced risk for commercial, sport and resident fish species, based on their life cycle. The fishery operating window is the time of year in which there are no fish eggs or alevins present in the substrates of local streams or rivers. This is the preferred time for any instream work or development which could have an impact on fish or stream habitat. Prior to work commencing, proponents should contact DFO and MELP for information regarding species timing windows for work in a specific area. freshet A sudden rise in water level associated with rainfall or snow melt. fry Juvenile salmonids that have matured past the alevin stage such that they have absorbed the yolk sac and emerged from the gravel. G GIS "Geographic Information System". GPS "Global Positioning System". gradient Degree of slope or steepness of a geographic feature. groundwater (1) Water that infiltrates the ground surface and accumulates as underground pools in porous rock or gravels. (2) Water which has collected in soil over an impermeable base. The water may remain in place as a ground water reserve, or gradually evaporate, or seep away. GVRD "Greater Vancouver Regional District" (1) The geographic area of Greater Vancouver. (2) The federation of municipalities which cooperate on the provision of services, such as water supply and sewer treatment. Includes: Lions Bay, West Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, Belcarra, Anmore, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Township of Langley, City of Langley. H habitat (1) A locality which provides food, water and shelter for an organism. (2) Area where a plant or animal naturally grows or lives. HEB "Habitat Enhancement Branch". A department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). I impervious Not able to filter or absorb water. incubation The action of maintaining a suitable stable environment for fertilized eggs while they develop. indigenous (1) Born or produced naturally within a land or region. (2) Native to a region. invertebrate Not having a backbone or spinal column. L limnology The study of fresh waters in all their aspects. littoral Growing on or near the seashore. LOD "Large Organic Debris". An entire tree or large pieces of stable organic material having a minimum diameter of 10 cm. and a length greater than 1 m. in the stream channel which provides channel stablility or creates fish habitat. LWD "Large Woody Debris". Large tree trunks, branches or pieces of woody plant material. M MELP "Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks" (former). Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (current). A government ministry in the province of B.C. migrate To deliberately move, usually periodically, from one region to another for purposes of breeding, feeding, etc. MoTH "Ministry of Transportation and Highways" (former). A government ministry in the province of B.C. MOU "Memorandum of Understanding" mitigation Actions taken during the planning, design, construction and operation of works and undertakings to alleviate potential adverse effects on the productive capacity of fish habitats. (DFO Policy for the Management of Fish Habitat, 1986) N Naturescape A program to support landscaping and gardening using indigenous plants to create habitat for wildlife in urban areas. no net loss A working principle which strives to balance unavoidable habitat losses through avoidance, mitigation, and habitat replacement on a project-by-project basis so that further reductions to Canada's fisheries resources due to habitat loss or damage may be prevented. (DFO Policy for the Management of Fish Habitat, 1986) non-point source pollution Pollutants which enter the environment from a broad area. O OCP "Official Community Plan". A municipality's long term vision and plan for land use within that municipality's boundaries. Usually reviewed and adjusted every 5 to 7 years. outfall The discharge end of a pipe or pipe system. oviparous Laying eggs that are fertilized in the water by the sperm discharged by the male. P pelagic Of the open ocean. permeable pavement (1) Artificial ground surface material which allows water to penetrate through to the ground below. (2) Perforated ground surface material. (3) Ground cover assembled from separate pieces or pavers (usually concrete, brick, or rock). PIP "Public Involvement Program". (1) A municipal government may or may not have PIP policies which require that the public be involved in decision making. (2) The Fisheries and Oceans Canada PIP includes salmon enhancement projects operated by volunteers, as groups or individuals, or by community organizations in cooperation with Fisheries and Oceans. point source pollution Pollutants which enter the environment from a specific source or site. protection (of habitats) Prescribing guidelines and conditions, and enforcing laws for the purpose of preventing the harmful alteration, destruction, or disruption of fish habitat. (DFO Policy for the Management of Fish Habitat, 1986) PSF or PSkF "Pacific Streamkeepers Federation". A non-profit umbrella organization for Streamkeeper groups in the province of B.C. Affiliated with the Salmon Enhancement Program (SEP) of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. R reach A section of a stream or river with homogeneous characteristics. redd A gravel nest salmon or trout build in which to lay their eggs. restoration (of habitats) The treatment or clean-up of fish habitat that has been altered, disrupted or degraded - for the purpose of increasing its capability to sustain a productive fisheries resource. (DFO Policy for the Management of Fish Habitat, 1986) riffle Relatively fast flowing shallow water in a stream, where an uneven streambed produces surface agitation. riparian The land area adjacent to the high water level of a stream or waterbody, and extending to land directly influenced by the presence of adjacent pond, ground or channeled water. rip rap Broken rocks used to build or reinforce stream banks. runoff Rain fall or snow melt which flows over the ground surface. S salmonid A fish of the Salmonidae family (salmon, trout, char, whitefish and related species). Often used in a narrow sense to refer to Pacific salmon and trout. scouring Removal of underwater material by waves and currents, especially at the base of a shore or slope. sediment Fine particles of material carried in suspension in water - which will ultimately settle to the bottom, as water velocity decreases. In streams, usually composed of inorganic and organic matter. sedimentation The process where material carried in suspension in water, settles out. semelparity Reproducing only once in a lifetime. e.g. Pacific salmon. SEP "Salmon Enhancement Program" Fisheries and Oceans Canada launched the Salmon Enhancement Program (SEP) in 1977. The program is a partnership between citizen volunteers and the federal government in carrying out salmonid enhancement and water stewardship projects throughout the Pacific Region. Today, community groups, clubs, schools and individuals operate about 300 projects involving more than 10,000 volunteers. Local communities and Native bands operate an additional 21 community-based projects. There are four types of projects: Community Economic Development Program (CEDP), Public Involvement Program (PIP), Streamkeepers, and School Projects. smelt A type of small salt water fish. smolt A juvenile anadromous fish that has undergone physical changes to prepare for life in salt water. snag A dead tree which is still standing. Snags provide roosting sites for raptors, nest holes for birds and small mammals. spawn (1) To produce or deposit eggs or sperm, usually referring to aquatic organisms. (2) The eggs of fish or other oviparous animals. spawner (1) A fish which is ready to reproduce. (2) A salmon which has undergone physical changes in order to reproduce (spawn). spawning habitat Parts of a stream or lake that provide suitable areas for fish to spawn, usually gravel beds. SPCA "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals". stakeholder A person who has an interest in or responsibility towards some thing, place, or idea. steelhead An anadromous trout. stewardship The practise of managing or looking after the well being of something. storm drain An opening into the underground storm water pipe system. storm sewer An underground water pipe system which carries rain water runoff. Storm sewers usually discharge into streams, rivers or other water channels. Streamkeepers (1) A Fisheries and Oceans Canada Program. (2) Volunteers or volunteer groups which focus on protection, preservation and rehabilitation of streams, rivers and entire watersheds in accordance with Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Streamkeeper Program. T terrestrial Associated with land. top of bank (1) The top of the slope leading down to a stream or waterbody and any adjacent pond, ground water or channeled water. (2) In flat landscapes, the normal high water mark. tributary A stream or river which flows into another. turbidity (1) Condition of suspended matter in water. (2) A measurement of light passing through water. (3) Cloudy, muddy. U UBCM "Union of British Columbia Municipalities". umbrella organization (1) A group which represents other groups. (2) A group which exists to serve other groups with similar interests or mandates. USHP "Urban Salmon Habitat Program". V vagility Ability to tolerate environmental variation or ability to cross ecological barriers. W waders High waterproof footwear which covers the legs. Hip waders cover the legs, but not the torso. Chest waders cover the legs and the torso up to the armpits. watershed All the land area that drains into a particular body of water or water channel. WBT "Wild Bird Trust". A non-profit group based in North Vancouver. wetlands (1) Areas of permanent or temporary standing water. Usually containing vegetation distinct from freely drained areas. (2) Swamps, marshes, bogs. wild salmon Salmon produced by natural spawning in fish habitat from parents that were spawned and reared in natural fish habitat. WLAP Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (current). Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (former). A government ministry in the province of B.C. X xeriscape A landscape designed for water conservation, using drought tolerant plants.