History

Shared Waters Alliance is an international working group focused on the water quality of the Canadian-US shared waters of Boundary Bay. Boundary Bay is a critical section of BC’s rare coastline habitat, recognized locally, nationally and internationally. These intertidal salt marshes, mudflats and open water marine habitats comprise Canada’s top rated, globally significant, Important Bird Area (IBA Canada 2017), are “protected” through BC’s Wildlife Management Area designation (MFLNRO 1995) and have been named a “Wetland of International Importance” as part of the Fraser River Delta Ramsar site (Ramsar 2012). Shared Waters was formed in 1999 and is made up representatives from government, First Nations and community groups from both countries. A primary driver for the formation of this working group was the shellfish harvesting closures on both sides of the border due to bacteriological contamination. Indigenous peoples (including Semiahmoo First Nation) traditionally harvested the abundant fish and shellfish resources for their livelihood. Boundary Bay oysters accounted for 50% of the total provincial oyster production (1940 - 1963), until water contamination forced the closure of commercial, recreational and First Nations harvest (Delta Heritage Advisory Commission 2017).

Since 1999, collaborative initiatives have included: marine and freshwater fecal pollution monitoring studies, a circulation study of Boundary Bay (that concluded the Little Campbell River was the most significant contributor of fecal pollution to Semiahmoo Bay), a characterization of potential pollution sources in the Little Campbell River watershed, and ongoing Metro Vancouver BBAMP monitoring studies. Multiple jurisdictions across the international watersheds of Boundary Bay make it a complicated region to affect change. Many individual organizations are collecting data and conducting stewardship projects; however, over the past few years, collaborative efforts to improve habitat and water quality have decreased (on the Canadian side). Shared Waters was dissolved in 2011 due to lack of leadership.

In 2018, efforts have been made to re-engage and re-initiate the Shared Waters Alliance, following the pattern of the Whatcom County Clean Water Program to identify and address contamination sources on the Canadian side of Boundary Bay. Shared Waters has expanded its scope to reflect emerging concerns, such as nonpoint source pollution and ecosystem management while still maintaining its historical focus on shellfish harvest for Semiahmoo First Nation. Still in the early stages of revival of the Shared Water Alliance, we are updating our goals and establishing actions to move forward. We hope that by re-engaging, we can streamline efficiencies in monitoring, and better facilitate transparent communication amongst stakeholders to deliver on action based objectives to achieve measurable improvements in local water quality.