Sections of water near Steveston Harbour could soon be a no-go area for many vessels, unless senior levels of government kick in millions of dollars for dredging.
A City of Richmond report has indicated the build-up of sediment along Steveston Island and in the Steveston Channel has severely narrowed the passage in which vessels can safely navigate.
And in some cases, only boats with a draft of less than 12 feet can sail the channel without the risk of running aground.
With the interest of keeping the harbour open to the 350 or so commercial fishing fleet, the largest in the country, the city looks set to put $2 million on the table for a long-term dredging strategy; but only of senior governments match the funding levels.
MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, whose Delta/Richmond-East constituency covers the harbour, said shes only too aware of the urgency needed to dredge the channel.
However, she wasnt sure if and when federal funding would become available to tackle the issue.
Ive been working with multiple levels of government for some time to coordinate the dredging, said Findlay.
Theres a recreational and commercial benefit to everyone to deal with this and Ive been dealing with it since I was elected.
It needs to happen sooner rather than later and Ive been expressing this to those in the federal government and provincially as well.
Findlay did admit the fact the City of Richmond has come forward and pledged some funding may expedite the potential matching of funding from other levels of government.
The report that went before city councils public works committee last week was clear; get the channel dredged properly or prepare for the worst.
Richmond maritime commercial and recreational activities will no longer be available in the future if the harbour is not dredged and if a long term strategy is not in place to maintain the sediment build up of the channels, Mike Redpath, the citys parks manager, wrote in his report to council.
The report also warned that the Scotch Pond entrance to the channel is now so low that its only accessible at high tide by shallow draft vessels.
Its forecast that between eight million and nine million dollars is needed to implement the dredging.
City council has agreed to spend $2 million from utility provisions, provided the other levels of government step up and match the commitment.
