Enhancing Beaver Lake

Recent developments with this project

Invasive Species Control

Spring 2024 - Ongoing work to control the invasive ornamental lilies and the floating islands of vegetation began in the spring of 2024. These invasive species have depleted the water quality for native species and reduced the total water volume available. By working to remove them, we will slowly push back the invasive vegetation, leaving more water for native species of flora and fauna. This will involve ongoing annual maintenance until the water quality and habitat have improved.

Phase one of the Beaver Lake Enhancement Plan complete 

Spring 2021 -  The new robust outlet structure has been successfully installed. This means the water levels in Beaver Lake will be stabilized throughout the year, ensuring there is sufficient water through the dryer summer months for the native species that inhabit the lake and its creeks.

Enhancement Plan Implementation

Fall 2018 - We are implementing the enhancement plan in phases. The consultant team is now developing construction drawings and budgets for project implementation. It is anticipated that work around the outlet and on the bog boardwalk will begin in early 2019.

Consultant team conducting additional investigations

Beginning in 2016 - The consultant team has been undertaking additional field investigations that will inform detailed design and working drawings, expected by spring 2018. Working around sensitive environmental windows, such as bird nesting, these investigations include additional sediment analysis, geotechnical analysis, and exploring alternate sources of water.

Park Board adopts concept plan

October 27, 2014 – The Park Board approved the plan to restore and maintain Beaver Lake in as natural a state as possible, reflecting direction from the public and First Nations. The plan calls for dredging the lake, creating islands for mammal and fish habitat, and building viewing platforms and a boardwalk.

• Read the staff and consultant's reports PDF file (20 MB)

Project team developing the preferred concept

August 5, 2014 – We have reviewed your commentary on the lake-enhancement proposals that we presented in November 2013. We are now developing a preferred concept that we will recommend to the Park Board for approval in October 2014. The concept would be built in phases. Funding is being considered as part of the Park Board 2015-2018 Capital Plan.

• Read the commentary on the proposals PDF file (307 KB)

Tell us what you think about the proposal for enhancing Beaver Lake

November 21, 2013 - If you were unable to attend our open houses on November 21 or 23, you can still tell us what you think about our proposed plan for enhancing Beaver Lake. Please review the proposal in the "Documents" tab, and then fill out our questionnaire.

The questionnaire is open until December 31, 2013.

Attend the late November open houses on Beaver Lake's future

November 5, 2013 – The scientific investigation of Beaver Lake is underway and the consultant team is creating recommendations on how to enhance it in an ecological and culturally sensitive way. Come to the November 21 or 23 open house to review and comment on options developed by the consultant team.

Date: Thursday, November 21, 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Lobby, Coal Harbour Community Centre, 480 Broughton Street

Date: Saturday, November 23, 12:00 noon – 4:00pm
Location: English Bay Room (upstairs), West End Community Centre, 870 Denman Street

Park Board retains a consultant to study how to restore the lake

April 24, 2013 – A team of consultants led by AquaTerra Environmental Ltd. was awarded the contract and will complete wildlife and vegetation assessments of Beaver Lake in spring and summer 2013.

November - December 2012 – The Park Board announced a bidding opportunity for a consultant to:

• Assess Beaver Lake vegetation and wildlife
• Develop options for a public consultation process on protecting Beaver Lake's biodiversity and aesthetic value
• Report back to the Board with a recommended vision and strategy to save the lake

Stanley Park Ecological Action Plan prioritizes Beaver Lake infilling

January 2011 – The Park Board unanimously approved the Stanley Park Ecological Action Plan to improve the ecological integrity of the park. One of the five priority areas of concern includes Beaver Lake's rapid infilling. The Plan stresses the importance of protecting and enhancing rivers, lakes, and wetlands within Stanley Park.

• Read the decision PDF file
• Read the Stanley Park Ecological Action Plan PDF file (515 KB)

Approved enhancement plan

• Enhancement Plan for Beaver Lake staff report (October 20, 2014) PDF file (Pages 1 – 7, 20 MB)
• Ecological and Culturally Sensitive Enhancement Plan for Beaver Lake consultant's report (October 16, 2014) PDF file (Pages 8 – 102, 20 MB)

Open house information boards and feedback

November 2013 open house

• Information boards PDF file (4.6 MB)
• Summary of comments PDF file (160 KB)

Background plans and reports

• Stanley Park Forest Management Plan PDF file (4.8 MB)
  (Identifies streams, lakes, and wetlands as valuable wildlife habitats; prioritizes their protection and enhancement over other forest areas)
• Stanley Park Ecological Action Plan PDF file (515 KB)
• State of the Park Report for the Ecological Integrity of Stanley Park (Stanley Park Ecology Society)

Project type

• Ecological restoration

Project status

• Planning

Key dates

Aerial images

Work leading up to this project

Early efforts to control sedimentation

The Vancouver Park Board made two attempts in the early 1900s to control the flow of sediment into Beaver Lake: removing dead trees and debris around the lake edge in 1911, then dredging the lake bottom in 1929.

Since 1916, the City of Vancouver has supplied Beaver Lake with potable water to maintain temperature, oxygen, and water levels.

Recent studies recommend different solutions

In 1984, the Vancouver Park Board contracted Hatfield Consultants Ltd to study possibilities of enhancing Beaver Lake. Hatfield found that:

• Beaver Lake was very shallow, less than 0.5 m deep in most parts
• Sediments were mostly 3 to 4 m deep and accumulating at 1.36 cm per year, meaning that the lake could disappear by 2020
• Water was too warm and too low in oxygen to support salmon and trout

To improve water quality and fish habitat, the consultant recommended dredging at least half the lake.

Later, in 1999, UBC Environmental Sciences students examined the lake's increasing sediments, ecology, land-water relationships. The research team concluded that:

• Minerals formed 60% of overall sediments, and that these inorganic sediments have grown at a faster rate than natural sediments since roads and trails were built
• City water supply mitigates the seasonal water level changes in Beaver Lake and prevents it from drying up in summer

The students recommendations included reducing the rate of inorganic sedimentation, resurfacing or installing boardwalk trails, managing stormwater drainage better, and creating settling ponds to collect silt. Students also suggested turning off the water supply in the winter.

Timeline