Annacis crossing project (Alex Fraser Bridge) : fifteen years of environmental success (Annacis crossing project/Alex Fraser Bridge : a review of the Vancouver-area project's environmental success since completion in 1986).

This paper was presented at the session titled `1999 TAC environmental achievement award nominations'. The Annacis Crossing Project (1982-1986) provided the Ministry of Transportation and Highways with one of the most complex and diverse engineering and environmental challenges. On completion of the project in 1986, it was named HIghway 91. Although each section of the project had its unique environmental and land use challenges, the bridge crossings, particularly the main span Alex Fraser Bridge, had the greatest potential adverse environmental impact on the fishery resources and habitat types of the lower Fraser River. In addition to assessing the physical and biological values of the project area, discussions with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) led to the first implementation of the "no net loss" objective for a major project in BC. DFO's concern stemmed from the fact that the Fraser River supports the second largest salmon run in the world. All five species of Pacific Salmon (Chinook, Chum, Coho, Sockeye and Pink) provide major commercial and sports fisheries of international importance as well as providing a locally important native fishery. Furthermore, the proposed crossing sites were located in the tidal and upper salt wedge area of the river, a section considered highly sensitive for fish behaviour. A series of fishery studies resulted in a habitat balance statement. Losses were calculated prior to construction for each habitat type and mitigation and compensation options were examined. Following construction, and during the five years of post construction monitoring, habitat losses and gains, along with productivity values, were also assessed. Although the ministry felt it had met DFO's "no net loss" objective for the project, a fifteen-year review was required to understand how the habitat types and their productivity had changed or evolved. Very few major transportation project have undergone as rigorous an assessment process as the Annacis Crossing project resulting in the development of three complex habitat compensation sites. This paper describes how, after 15 years, the habitat compensation has more than achieved "no net loss". (A)