Enhancing Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake is an important part of Stanley Park's ecology, a popular recreational site, and of cultural and spiritual significance to Coast Salish First Nations.

As one of Vancouver's few freshwater lakes, enhancing Beaver Lake is an important, short-term priority for the Vancouver Park Board.

What's happeningInvasive species control

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.

Developments with this project
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 (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 (307 KB)
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
- Read the Stanley Park Ecological Action Plan (515 KB)
Documents
Plans
- Enhancement Plan for Beaver Lake staff report (October 20, 2014) (Pages 1 – 7, 20 MB)
- Ecological and Culturally Sensitive Enhancement Plan for Beaver Lake consultant's report (October 16, 2014) (Pages 8 – 102, 20 MB)
- Stanley Park Forest Management Plan (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 (515 KB)
- State of the Park Report for the Ecological Integrity of Stanley Park (Stanley Park Ecology Society)
Aerial images
- Stanley Park, December 2006, with Beaver Lake at centre (82 KB)
- Stanley Park, May 2011, with Beaver Lake at centre (71 KB)
- Beaver Lake and Stanley Park Causeway, May 2006 (93 KB). Vegetation has died back in winter, exposing the lake surface.
- Beaver Lake and Stanley Park Causeway, May 2011 (111 KB). The lake is nearly covered with vegetation.

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.

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

Year	Event
1860s-1880s	Clear-cut logging on the south side of the lake
1911	Perimeter trail and drainage barrier constructed
1916	Prospect Creek fish hatchery and fresh water supply pipe constructed
1929	Lake dredged to increase depth and size, and to remove sediment
1936	Water lilies introduced to mark the City of Vancouver's 50th anniversary
1938	Stanley Park Causeway constructed, reducing Beaver Lake's drainage basin Lake size: 6.7 hectares (67,000 square metres)
1980s	50% of alder trees on the south side of the lake are replaced with conifers, as part of an incomplete forest management plan
1984	Hatfield Consultants Ltd. studied possibilities to enhance the lake, recommending to dredge at least half to improve water quality and fish habitat Water lilies occupy 50% of the lake's surface
1992	Park Board's Stanley Park Task Force considered three options to manage Beaver Lake, preferring to enclose the area for two years and introduce two moose for eating water lilies and naturally dredging the lake (not implemented)
1996	Beaver Lake Environmental Enhancement Project community volunteer group formed, in partnership with the Park Board, to protect the lake, maintain its biodiversity, encourage community stewardship, and create an interpretive program
1997	Lake size: 3.9 hectares (39,000 square metres)
1999	UBC Environmental Sciences students researched the sedimentation, ecology, and hydrology of Beaver Lake and recommended changing trail materials, create settling ponds for silt, and turn off the water supply in winter Water lilies occupy 70% of the lake's surface
2010	Stanley Park Ecology Society releases the State of the Park Report for the Ecological Integrity of Stanley Park which draws attention to the poor state and declining trend of Beaver Lake’s ecosystem and instigates the call for an ecological action plan for Stanley Park
2011	Park Board approves the Stanley Park Ecological Action Plan, and prioritizes Beaver Lake restoration
2013	Contract awarded to consultant to assess wildlife and vegetation