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Dredging
Each spring, when the snowpack melts, millions of tonnes of water, sand, and silt drain into the lower Fraser River in a process called freshet. During this time, the riverbed changes daily, making it shallower and pushing water levels higher.
To deal with this natural infilling and maintain the shipping channel, the Fraser River Port Authority carries out programmed maintenance dredging. Without dredging of the lower Fraser River, key shipping channels would become too shallow for commercial vessels to safely access.
The Port Authority's maintenance dredging program is designed to balance the annual infill with the amount removed by dredging, to maintain the shape of the riverbed. The program is reviewed and monitored externally by the Fraser River Estuary Management Program (FREMP).
More information regarding dredging activities and processes is provided here:
Tenants are responsible for maintenance dredging inside their lease area. Prior to any maintenance dredging, an application must be submitted to the Port Authority for review.
For more information on dredging guidelines, applications, or reports, contact the Harbour Master's office, see contact us for details.
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