FAQs

If stormwater isn’t managed properly, it can cause erosion of slopes and streambanks and degrade water quality in bodies of water such as creeks, streams, and inlets. Erosion is a significant concern for property owners as it can lead to slope failure or slides which can damage structures, trees, and landscaping on private property. It’s also a significant concern from an environmental perspective. As stormwater passes over roads, parking lots, driveways, and other paved surfaces, it picks up pollutants such as oils, pesticides, solvents, and other chemicals. These pollutants are then carried into local bodies of water where they can damage or destroy fish and wildlife habitat. The City's ditches, pipes, and culverts, as well as other infrastructure, can ensure stormwater is safely transported away from homes and businesses.

This is a new plan to address stormwater management in the north shore area and east of Burrard Inlet to the Coquitlam border. Past ISMPs for Chines and Stoney Creek on the south shore were completed in collaboration with the City of Coquitlam and Metro Vancouver in 2016 and 1999 respectively. This new plan is part of our commitment to Metro Vancouver's Integrated Liquid Waste Resource Management Plan.

We are completing an ISMP now as part of our commitment to Metro Vancouver's Integrated Liquid Waste Management Plan. The Province of British Columbia mandates that all local and regional governments complete plans that comply with provincial and federal rules for waste management, including B.C.'s Environmental Management Act.

Yes. The Chines Integrated Stormwater Management Plan and the Stoney Creek Integrated Watershed Management Plan were completed in collaboration with the City of Coquitlam and Metro Vancouver in 2016 and 1999 respectively. Additional ISMPs are scheduled for 2022 to incorporate the remaining watersheds in Port Moody and fulfill the commitment to Metro Vancouver's Integrated Liquid Waste Management Plan.

This ISMP project is divided into three phases. The first phase includes data collection and the City's consultants may require access to your property to complete field work. This field work will determine locations and conditions of existing drainage infrastructure and watercourses. A Notice to Residents was sent to all properties within the study area. Please note, access to the interior of your home is not required and would not be requested by the City’s consultants.

As we progress to the second and third phases, we will keep residents informed about any impacts to private property.

The final ISMP will inform the Subdivision Servicing Bylaw which contains requirements on how to manage stormwater as properties redevelop. Additionally, the ISMP may inform future City policies, programs and voluntary initiatives such as a rain barrel installation.

Watercourses, which are a natural feature included in the City's current ESA Management Strategy and Official Community Plan (OCP), also provide important stormwater management services. This ISMP project, to be undertaken by the City's Engineering department, will investigate existing watercourses on the north shore and east of the Burrard Inlet to the Coquitlam border, and recommend solutions to manage water quality issues that result from land use change. 

This project is not related to the ESA Management Strategy Update that was cancelled in May 2021.