Tsleil-Waututh Reserve Shoreline Adaptation & Restoration
Client:
Westmar Advisors and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation)
Location:
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Dates:
July 2023 – July 2026
Background:
Due to high erosion rates and the impacts of sea level rise, səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) led a coastal adaptation and restoration project along the shoreline of their IR#3 Reserve in North Vancouver. The project was designed to improve shoreline resilience through nature-based protection and stabilization measures, native plant revegetation, and the integration of Indigenous stewardship practices and technologies to support habitat restoration, biodiversity, and long-term ecosystem health.
The final design incorporated a range of shoreline protection and eco-cultural restoration strategies tailored to specific shoreline reaches based on geomorphology, wave and sediment dynamics, and existing habitat features. Along the western shoreline, the design prioritized eco-cultural habitat restoration through the creation of vegetated salt marsh and upland forest garden habitats, while directing foot traffic to designated trails. Along the eastern shoreline, the focus was to enhance forage fish spawning habitat while supporting community use and recreation, including the development of a safe canoe launch area.
The multidisciplinary consulting team was coordinated by Westmar Advisors, with support from Hatfield, DHI, and PWL. Construction began in August 2025 and included shoreline restoration and protection works, with salt marsh and riparian planting completed in spring 2026.
Services Provided:
Hatfield served as the environmental and regulatory lead, providing environmental assessment, permitting, technical support, monitoring, and stakeholder engagement services throughout planning, design, and construction. In 2023, Hatfield completed two field programs that included surveys of marine and upland vegetation, marine fauna, and sediment chemistry. Findings from these investigations informed the preparation of an Existing Conditions Report and a Sediment Characterization Report, which supported project design and regulatory applications.
Hatfield worked closely with the design team to provide technical input on environmental considerations and participated extensively in engagement with səlilwətaɬ members, including multiple Chief and Council meetings. The team filed a Notification to the BC Environmental Assessment Office and a Notification of No Interference under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, and successfully secured key regulatory approvals including a Vancouver Fraser Port Authority Project and Environmental Review Category C permit and a Letter of Advice under the Fisheries Act.
Prior to shoreline restoration construction, Hatfield coordinated the relocation of approximately 20,000 oysters from the project footprint to protect existing marine organisms during construction activities. Following completion of the shoreline works, Hatfield worked with the səlilwətaɬ community to return the oysters to the restored shoreline, supporting recolonization of marine organisms and the project’s broader ecological restoration objectives.
In addition, Hatfield provided environmental and regulatory support for an associated shoreline cleanup project along the same stretch of coastline. During shoreline construction, Hatfield delivered full-time, 24-hour environmental monitoring services and prepared compliance reporting to meet regulatory requirements.
The project’s success was recognized with the Indigenous Project Award at the Environmental Managers Association of BC (EMA of BC) 2026 Awards Gala.
