Integrated Freshwater, Wetland, and Marine Ecosystem Management Policy

Purpose

This policy establishes a unified approach to managing freshwater, wetlands, estuaries, and nearshore marine ecosystems as connected systems. It is designed to support biodiversity, climate resilience, Indigenous stewardship, and sustainable local economies while preventing cumulative ecological degradation.

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Enforcement Framework

Permit Conditioning:

• No development, dredging, or water extraction permit shall be issued in wetland or aquatic habitat areas without demonstration of compliance with Policies 1-4 (integrated management, invasive species prevention, erosion control, habitat restoration).

Inspection and Verification:

• Authority shall conduct annual inspections of habitat restoration projects to verify success against established criteria.
• Invasive species detection requires reporting to [Authority] within 48 hours; failure to report shall result in escalating penalties.

Consequences for Violation:

• First violation: Written notice; 60-day remediation deadline.
• Second violation: Fine of not less than 5% of project value; 30-day deadline.
• Habitual violation (3+ in 5 years): Project suspension; performance bond required for future permits.

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Relationship to Biodiversity Corridors and Rewilding

Wetlands, rivers, estuaries, and nearshore marine habitats function as critical nodes and transition zones within biodiversity corridor networks.

This policy directly complements the OCRP Biodiversity Corridors & Rewilding Mandate by:

• Designating aquatic ecosystems as corridor hubs and stepping stones
• Supporting species movement across land–freshwater–marine interfaces
• Reducing fragmentation caused by infrastructure, altered hydrology, and shoreline hardening

All projects under this policy must demonstrate how they contribute to ecological connectivity at the watershed or coastal scale.

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Scope

This policy applies to:

• Rivers, streams, lakes, floodplains, and inland wetlands
• Estuaries, tidal wetlands, and nearshore marine environments
• The land–water interface where terrestrial activities affect aquatic ecosystems

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Policy 1: Integrated Freshwater and Marine System Management

Freshwater and marine systems shall be managed as continuous ecological systems, not separate regulatory domains.

Requirements:

1. Watershed and coastal planning shall account for upstream, downstream, and land–sea interactions; projects affecting water quantity or quality shall demonstrate no net harm to downstream ecosystems.
2. Estuaries and coastal wetlands shall be designated as priority habitats; no net loss of habitat is required; new habitat restoration shall target net gain of 20% within 10 years.
3. Land-based pollution, stormwater runoff, and sediment controls are mandatory for all development within [X] km of wetland or aquatic ecosystems; performance standards shall be established per watershed or coastal zone plan.

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Policy 2: Invasive Species Prevention and Management

Invasive species are treated as a primary ecological risk.

Requirements:

1. Prevention measures shall be mandatory for all projects involving soil movement, dredging, or equipment transfer between waterbodies; equipment shall be inspected and cleaned per [Standard] before and after use.
2. Early detection and rapid response mechanisms shall be established for priority invasive species; suspected invasive detections must be reported to [Authority] within 48 hours; [Authority] shall respond within 5 business days.
3. Habitat restoration projects shall include multi-year invasive species control (minimum 5 years post-planting) with documented monitoring and measurable reduction targets (e.g., <10% cover by year 3).
4. Marine pathways (vessel biofouling, ballast water) shall be addressed where applicable per international maritime standards (International Maritime Organization guidelines).

Canadian example:
The Great Lakes basin invasive species programs demonstrate coordinated freshwater invasive management across jurisdictions, recognizing invasive species as a core driver of wetland and coastal habitat loss.

International examples:
EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation (1143/2014); New Zealand Biosecurity Act 1993

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Policy 3: Erosion and Sediment Control as Habitat Protection

Sediment is treated as a pollutant and habitat stressor.

Requirements:

1. Erosion and sediment controls are mandatory for all land disturbance within [X] m of water; proponent shall submit Sediment and Erosion Control Plan (SECP) for permit approval.
2. In-stream and nearshore works require enhanced sediment containment (turbidity curtains, settling ponds, sediment traps) and post-construction verification showing <[X] mg/L suspended sediment within [Y] days.
3. Watershed plans shall identify chronic sediment sources (eroding banks, riparian gaps, stormwater discharge) and establish reduction targets (e.g., 30% reduction over 10 years).
4. Enforcement mechanisms shall include inspection authority with power to issue stop-work orders for non-compliance; inspection schedule shall be monthly during active construction.

Canadian example:
British Columbia’s Integrated Stormwater Management Planning approach explicitly links erosion control, runoff management, and stream health protection.

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Policy 4: Habitat Restoration and Natural Processes

Restoration shall prioritize ecological function over cosmetic outcomes.

Requirements:

1. Riparian and coastal buffers are designated as functional habitat and climate infrastructure; minimum width shall be [X] m or as determined by riparian function assessment; no structures, fills, or permanent alterations permitted without Authority approval.
2. Soft-engineering and nature-based solutions (live stakes, brush, log structures, native plantings) are the default for bank and shoreline stabilization; hard structures (concrete, riprap) permitted only where proponent demonstrates via written assessment that soft engineering cannot achieve stability.
3. Daylighting, floodplain reconnection, and wetland restoration shall be prioritized where feasible; projects shall target net habitat gain of 25% (measured in functional habitat units) within 10 years of completion.
4. Fish passage restoration is mandatory for all in-stream barriers; barrier removal or redesign shall be completed within [X] years of project approval; post-restoration monitoring shall track species passage for minimum 3 years.

Canadian example:
The Still Creek Integrated Watershed and Stream Restoration (Metro Vancouver) demonstrates urban stream daylighting, riparian restoration, invasive removal, and rainwater integration to support fish and wildlife recovery.

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Policy 5: Indigenous Communities and Co-Governance

Where Indigenous rights, title, or interests apply, governance shall extend beyond consultation to co-governance.

Requirements:

1. Establish co-governance or co-management pathways for priority waters and coastal areas within [X] years of policy adoption; governance mechanism shall specify joint decision-making authority and dispute resolution process.
2. Support Indigenous stewardship priorities and knowledge systems alongside scientific approaches; [Authority] shall establish cultural advisor positions on relevant advisory boards; compensation for Indigenous participation shall be determined by Indigenous communities.
3. Require proponents to demonstrate meaningful engagement (minimum 120-day consultation period) and accommodation of Indigenous concerns in project design; engagement process shall be documented and made public.

Canadian examples:

• Gwaii Haanas Cooperative Management Board, a joint federal–Haida governance model spanning terrestrial and marine ecosystems
• Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), which provide a national framework for Indigenous-led conservation across land and water

International examples:
New Zealand’s Te Mana o te Wai freshwater governance; Australia’s Sea Country and Indigenous Protected Areas.

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Policy 6: Community Involvement and Stewardship

Long-term ecosystem protection requires public participation and accountability.

Requirements:

1. Watershed and coastal plans shall include structured public participation processes with minimum two public consultation rounds, 30-day written comment periods, and documented response to comments; final plans shall be published with summary of public input.
2. Citizen science and community monitoring programs are encouraged and supported by [Authority]; data quality standards shall be established per program; citizen data shall be integrated into official monitoring where it meets standards.
3. Annual public reporting (published online, accessible in plain language) shall describe ecological condition and trends (water quality metrics, species presence, habitat area, invasive species extent), not only completed projects; report shall include comparison to targets and explanation of variance.

Canadian example:
Community stewardship groups operating under watershed-based programs across Canada demonstrate the value of local monitoring and restoration partnerships when supported by clear policy direction.

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Policy 7: Climate Adaptation and Risk Reduction

Aquatic ecosystems shall provide natural protection against climate impacts.

Requirements:

1. Wetlands and floodplains shall be protected and restored for flood attenuation; protection shall target zero net loss and restoration shall achieve net gain of 20% habitat area within 10 years; restoration shall prioritize species with drought and heat resilience.
2. Coastal wetlands and nearshore habitats shall be used as nature-based defenses against storm surge and erosion; designs shall be verified via hydrodynamic modeling to demonstrate equivalent or superior protection compared to hard infrastructure.
3. Nature-based solutions are prioritized and shall be selected unless proponent demonstrates via cost-benefit analysis that hard infrastructure is more cost-effective over a 50-year lifecycle (including climate escalation factors).

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Policy 8: Tourism and Local Economic Co-Benefits

Healthy aquatic ecosystems shall support sustainable tourism and recreation.

Requirements:

1. Wetlands, rivers, and coastal habitats are designated as public natural assets; public access shall be provided where compatible with ecosystem protection; [Authority] shall establish and post carrying-capacity limits (e.g., maximum visitors per day or per season) for high-use areas.
2. Access infrastructure (trails, boardwalks, viewing platforms) must include season-specific closures (e.g., breeding seasons), habitat buffers (minimum [X] m setback), and waste management facilities; infrastructure design shall avoid disturbance to sensitive species and habitat.
3. Tourism activities shall follow nature-positive management principles; operators shall obtain permits conditional on demonstrated compliance with habitat protection standards.
4. Where appropriate, tourism revenues may be reinvested in ecosystem management and monitoring; percentage of revenue to be reinvested shall be specified in permit conditions (minimum [X]%). Ecological integrity remains the controlling objective; tourism shall not be permitted where it compromises ecosystem function.

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Monitoring, Reporting, and Adaptive Management

Requirements:

1. Monitoring must track ecological outcomes, not just project delivery.
2. Indicators may include water quality, habitat condition, species presence, and climate resilience metrics.
3. Results must be reported publicly and used to adapt management over time.

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Applicability

This policy is designed for adaptation by municipalities, regions, and other authorities responsible for land use, water management, coastal planning, or ecosystem restoration. It supports alignment with international biodiversity commitments while remaining implementable at local and regional scales.

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Official Examples and Precedents (Non-exhaustive)

Canada

• Still Creek Integrated Watershed and Stream Restoration (Metro Vancouver)
• Gwaii Haanas Cooperative Management Board
• Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs)
• Great Lakes invasive species and wetland restoration programs

International

• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
• Convention on Biological Diversity (Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework)
• EU Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive
• New Zealand National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management
• Netherlands “Room for the River” programme
• UN Tourism nature-positive tourism frameworks