The lower Pitt River is a low-gradient, tidally-influenced watercourse that runs along the southeast side of the City of Port Coquitlam to its confluence with the Fraser River upstream of the Port Mann Bridge. To protect the City against major flood events, the Pitt River is dyked along the Port Coquitlam reach. Properties along the land-side of the dyke are currently undeveloped.
The City of Port Coquitlam recognized the opportunity to protect these undeveloped lands and their high value ecological attributes. In 2005, the City formally designated a 150 m wide strip, extending landward from the toe of the existing dyke, as a Natural Environment Protection Area to offset environmental impacts caused by on-going developments. The City engaged Associated Engineering for the design and construction management of the Pitt River Inter-Tidal Habitat Compensation Project.
The project resulted in the development of a significant multi-objective habitat complex, the objectives being to promote and implement sustainable practices and to ensure adherence to Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s policy of “No Net Loss” of fish habitat. The habitat complex is ringed by a new dyke that doubles as the Traboulay PoCo Trail, offering recreational and educational opportunities to the public.