+ 2.1 Create and implement a coordinated strategy for managing growth (population, tourism, development growth) sustainably throughout the Sound, to reduce impacts on the marine environment.

• Destination BC has created the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Sustainability Council to improve sustainability practices of the tourism industry and partners, including improving environmental monitoring. This project supports the Provincial Strategic Framework for Tourism focus on sustainability, as well as the DBC corporate strategy Destination Stewardship pillar and the Invest in Iconics pillar. Meetings commenced in the spring of 2021.

+ 2.2 Increase the proportion of area protected within the Sound, with a particular focus on beach spawning habitat and critical habitats

• Fisheries & Oceans Canada conducting stakeholder engagement sessions in 2020 towards protection of six new glass sponge reef sites in Howe Sound. Mar 2021 - Stage 1 Engagement on interim protection measures for newly ground truthed glass sponge reefs. Jan 2021 - Spring 2022 - Stage 2 Longer term engagement on integration of marine refuges (glass sponge closures and Rockfish Conservation Areas) in Howe Sound.

• The Town of Gibsons is looking at the designation of no-anchor eelgrass protection zones in the critical nearshore marine environment in front of their shoreline in early 2022. This initiative is in collaboration with the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre and SeaChange. Gibsons will be one of the first communities to implement these no-anchor zones on the Canadian side of the Salish Sea.

• The Town of Gibsons is pursuing Statutory Rights of Way over private properties through which Charman Creek runs. The creek is a fish bearing stream, and Town staff hope to restore degraded sections in the coming years. Resulting from a 2021 creek assessment and following recommendations from the 2018 Integrated Stormwater Management Plan, staff have applied for a grant through UBCM’s Strategic Priorities Fund for a “Lower Watershed Climate Resilience through Natural Assets” project that aims to reduce the flooding risk and improve the natural environment in lower Gibsons. The project will involve restoring degraded habitat and failing infrastructure which pose a risk of flooding and erosion to residents, businesses, and public areas in lower Gibsons, utilizing both nature-based and built infrastructure solutions.

+ 2.3 Work with the Federal, Provincial, First Nations and local governments to refine Bill C-64 to clarify the laws applied to abandoned, wrecked or problem vessels so location (on land or at sea), marine debris and waste management issues arising are covered.

• Bowen Island Municipality incurred costs to remove two abandoned vessels from Manion Bay in 2021 with no cost recovery from Transport Canada.

• Bowen Island Municipality is in communication with Transport Canada on issues related to Abandoned vessels and mooring buoys.

+ 2.4. Reduce entry of pollutants into the marine environment (e.g., plastics and microplastics, harmful chemicals and wastewater).

• Town of Gibsons initiated the Healthy Harbour project in 2020. Clean up efforts in fall of 2020 removed trash hindering the growth of eelgrass. Q2 Progress: Finalized pilot report, draft guidance document for review (this document provided a finer level of detail on the modelling and how to incorporate coastal NA into asset management), finalized guidance document, staff training on Coastal Protection Benefits Tool. Q3 Anticipated Work: Pilot Report to be released.

• Bowen Island Municipality teamed up with volunteer Divers for Cleaner Lakes and Oceans on February 6, 2022 to remove about 650 kg of debris from under one of the marinas in Snug Cove. A second clean up under the largest marina in Snug Cove is scheduled for spring 2022.

+ 2.5. Other initiatives.

• SeaChange Conservation Society continues to plant eelgrass with community members. Bowen Island's Mannion Bay the most recent location. Previously planted sites continue to be monitored.

• Seachange Conservation Society is collaborating with the Bowen Island Municipality to establish a voluntary no-anchor zone in Mannion Bay/Deep Bay on Bowen Island to protect eelgrass in the estuary. This no-anchor zone will be established with marker-buoys that have been designed in collaboration with groups throughout the Salish Sea. SeaChange is also working with the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre and Town of Gibsons on establishing a similar no-anchor zone in the Gibsons Harbour.

• The Town of Gibsons in partnership with the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Cente (NSMEC), are in a four year partnership and phased workplan called Project Healthy Harbour. The project aims to understand, monitor, develop, conserve and restore the critical nearshore marine environment of the Town of Gibsons, and to do so in a way that balances the environmental, social and economic needs of the harbour. The purpose is to advance the goals and objectives set out by Council for the Gibsons Harbour area; and Transform the Gibsons Harbour area into a world-class example of innovative, eco-asset management. Read more here

• The Town of Gibsons Source to Sea project began in November 2020. Staff performed an initial site visit to determine suitable locations for the installation of the hydrometric stations on each of these three waterways to collect stream flow (discharge data), water levels (stage data), and water quality data. Work progress in Q2 as follows: Watershed assessment of current conditions: filling data gaps, filling asset register; development of initial maps; condition assessment of assets.

• The Town of Gibsons completed a Coastal Resilience project with the David Suzuki Foundation and the Municipal Natural Assets Initiative. This report focuses on the Town of Gibsons. The project developed and tested a Coastal Toolbox (CT) model to determine how enhancing coastal natural assets like subtidal eelgrass, coastal vegetation or beach sediments could reduce flood and erosion impacts, especially if used alongside conventional grey infrastructure. UN SDG 13.1

• In May 2022, the Marine Stewardship Initiative will onboard a Marine Debris Coordinator who will be doing a three-month placement through the Ocean Bridge Direct Action program, an initiative through Ocean Wise. This person will be responsible for collecting large scale debris data and coordinating and initiating a clean-up in Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound.

• September 2022 - The Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative has coordinated or participated in six shoreline cleanups within Átl’ḵa7tsem including Britannia Beach, Downtown Squamish, Lions Bay Beach, and north Anvil Island from July to August 2022. This project was in collaboration with Ocean Wise’s Ocean Bridge Direct Action program, the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre, Metro Vancouver, and the Lions Bay Bird Friendly Community.

• In July 2020, the Town of Gibsons announced that it had been awarded a total of $955,000 by the Province of BC and the Government of Canada to construct an additional stormwater detention pond at Whitetower Park. The new pond will reclaim wetland that was historically infilled, protect approximately 2 km of Charman Creek’s natural watercourse and habitats, and aid in managing flood risk to downstream infrastructure and properties. Additionally, it will mitigate the effects of past development, serve future development, and provide greater resiliency to climate change. On completion, this project will improve water quality and stormwater management capacity, expand Whitetower Park, and better connect residents to our natural assets.

• March 2022, District of Squamish completed a NATURAL ASSET MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

**Update June 2023 * The Squamish River Watershed Society continued its decades long work on restoration of the Squamish estuary and removal of barriers for fish. Removal of the "Squamish spit" began in the fall of 2022, continued through spring 2023 to completion May 15th. This project referred to as Restore the Shore, will result in improved survival of juevenile chinook salmon. This is a act of reconciliation with the Squamish Nation, with multiple funders.

• The Atl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative, in collaboration with Ocean Wise Seaforestation, and Vital Kelp began a small kelp forestation pilot project in the Sound, looking at cultivating and reforesting Neoagarum, a native kelp species in Alt'ka7tsem/Howe Sound. Harvested kelp has been grown and tied to string to over winter off of a private dock on Bowen Island. Out planting is best conducted over the winter and spring months. As such, out planting will be delayed until 2024, to ensure permits are secured and in place prior to forestation.