What is a riparian area?
A riparian area is the vegetated transition zone between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This area is highly productive and provides natural services like:
- Water quality protection by preventing excess sediment, nutrients or heavy metals from entering water
- Regulates water and air temperature by shade from trees and shrubs,
- Protection for fish and other organisms that live in aquatic ecosystems.
- Decreased flood hazard
- Shoreline protection
- Winter precipitation retention in soil for release in summer
- Enhanced property aesthetics and value
What is the Riparian Area Protection Regulation (RAPR)?
The RAPR establishes guidelines to conserve riparian areas, such as streams, lakes, wetlands or ditches, during development activities on residential, commercial or industrial property. The RAPR was amended in 2019 to improve regulatory oversight, requirements for training and qualifications by assessors, and additional detail and rigor in the application of regulations. Any project that is set to take place within 30m of a stream boundary is subject to a riparian area assessment, see figure 1 below. Note that for ravines the determination of the RAA is dependent on the size of the ravine and should be determined by a Qualified Environmental professional (QEP). The word ‘stream’ is used to identify any watercourse, e.g., lakes, ponds, rivers, streams creeks, ditches marshes and wetlands.
Examples of projects are that would require an RAPR assessment are:
- Building a structure
- Disturbing soil
- Removing or altering plants
- Servicing sewage or water systems
- Creating hard surfaces such as a deck or pavement
- Constructing a bridge or dock
Who is a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP)?
As determined by the regulation, a riparian area assessment must be conducted by a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) who has successfully completed the RAPR training course and who has one of the below designations:
- an agrologist (PAg);
- an applied science technologist or certified technician (AScT, CTech);
- a registered professional biologist or registered biology technologist (RPBio, RBTech);
- a professional engineer or professional engineering licensee (PEng);
- a professional forester or registered forest technologist (RPF, RFT); and
- a professional geoscientist or professional geoscience licensee (PGeo).
Click here for the list of QEPs in British Columbia with this training.
How do I know if my project requires a RAPR assessment?
If you are uncertain whether your project will fall under the RAPR, you can use the web map as your first step. To use this web map, type the address of the intended project site into the search bar and mapped riparian areas will appear. However, this tool may not identify all streams and riparian areas in North Cowichan. Proponents must also do their due diligence and engage with a QEP to assess whether a RAPR assessment is necessary. Use the above link to find the full list of QEPs in your area.
What do I do if my project falls under the RAPR?
If a project on your property is subject to the Riparian Area Protection Regulation you must retain the services of a QEP to conduct an assessment of the area. If your development plans don’t comply with the conditions listed in the assessment, then your plan needs to be redesigned in order to protect the integrity of the SPEA. Once these conditions are met, your QEP will submit your assessment to the provincial government for review. The municipality may then proceed with the approval process for your development if the assessment stipulations were followed.
Learn more
To find more information please visit the Government of British Columbia’s website.