Richmond's Environment
Richmond’s location – at the point where the Fraser River meets the Pacific Ocean means that our island City is located within some of the most productive ecosystems in the world. The mixing of freshwater river water and saline ocean water creates an estuarine environment that supports a rich and diverse community of aquatic and terrestrial life.
Along the Shores
The Fraser River which travels amongst the seventeen islands, which make up Richmond is one of the world’s largest salmon producing rivers and its estuarine environment provides essential rearing habitat for juvenile salmon. The Fraser River also supports an abundance of other fish, shellfish and marine life, including harbour seals and sea lions, which can be seen along Richmond’s shores.
In the Skies
Approximately 750,000 waterfowl and 1.2 million shorebirds use the Fraser River estuary. The estuary provides essential resting areas for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway – a major migratory route for birds travelling between the western Arctic and southern areas of the continent of South America. The Fraser River estuary also supports the largest overwintering population of birds in all of Canada.
Numerous types of birds can be found at any one time throughout Richmond, including:
- raptors like the Bald Eagle, the Red-Tailed Hawk and Peregrine Falcon;
- sea birds such as Buffleheads and Golden-Eyes; and
- migratory shorebirds, including Snow Geese and Sandpipers.
On the Land
A mix of natural estuarine and deltaic habitats are present throughout the Richmond area, including marshlands, shoreline meadows, riparian zones, bog forests, sloughs and other inland waterways. Although dramatic human induced changes have occurred over the recent past, remnants of bogs and marshlands provide insights into the intricacy of Richmond's ecological network. The Richmond area continues to support a variety of terrestrial and freshwater species, including deer, coyotes, beaver, racoons, muskrats, squirrels, bats, frogs, snakes, turtles, butterflies and salamanders.
- Richmond's natural environment, visit the University of British Columbia web site.
- Fraser River estuary, visit Environment Canada's Discover Your Estuary web site.
- City policies and programs for protecting natural areas, visit the Natural Habitat and Sensitive Areas section.
- Current condition of the natural environment in Richmond, visit the State of the Environment Report.
- Current condition of the Fraser Basin, visit the State of the Fraser Basin Report web site.
