Metro Vancouver has recently added 56 hectares to the Codd Wetland Ecological Conservancy Area. Located east of Pitt River in the Pitt Polder region of Pitt Meadows, the land will protect ecologically diverse wildlife habitats and provides opportunities to develop future trails and viewpoints.
“Pitt Meadows is known as the Natural Place for a reason,” says Mayor Bill Dingwall. “Parks are the second-largest land use in Pitt Meadows at 27 per cent. “The addition of these park lands is an important natural asset and another positive step that reaffirms our commitment to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to protect our natural areas to ensure current and future generations can continue to connect with nature in our community.”
The existing Codd Wetland Ecological Conservancy Area was acquired in 2004 and consists of 104.5 hectares that includes the Blaney Creek floodplain, the wetlands and the tributary streams east of Codd Island. It is one of the last remaining floodplain wetlands within the Alouette River watershed that is not diked and is home to more than 200 species of wildlife including birds, mammals and amphibians.
In recognition of its significant ecological value, the Codd Wetlands are currently managed as an Ecological Conservation Area and are not open to the public.
“We pride ourselves in Pitt Meadows for our close connections with nature,” says Dingwall. “What better way to enhance those values than to collaborate with Metro Vancouver and other orders of government to bring new park lands into the growing regional network.”
The acquisition of these additional lands will help Metro Vancouver and the city realize its goal of creating a large and resilient park land in the northeastern part of Pitt Meadows.
Metro Vancouver is responsible for managing the regional park systems, which include the Pitt River Regional Greenway.
“Our vision for the Greater Codd area is to create a vast and stunning park complex in the rapidly-growing northeastern part of the region by expanding and connecting three separate existing protected areas: Codd Wetland Ecological Conservancy Area, Blaney Bog Regional Park Reserve and the North Alouette Regional Greenway,” says Regional Parks Committee chair John McEwen. “Thanks to our collaborations with the cities of Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, we are making progress on bringing together these three areas that have been fragmented by historical land use changes.”
