Baker Beach
Shoreline Project

This was the most frequently raised concern, and we heard it clearly. The original multi-property proposal involved beach nourishment across a larger area. The new proposal is a single-property hybrid rock revetment that significantly reduces the scale and volume of material. The design uses targeted rock placement and bioengineering rather than broad beach nourishment. This is precisely why we changed our approach: to directly address this concern while still protecting the shoreline.

The original application was a staff-level decision under Islands Trust policy, not a Local Trust Committee decision - meaning it did not require a public hearing. The correct process was followed. Public consultation occurred through the provincial Crown Land application process, which is the standard mechanism for community input on foreshore projects. Additionally, the website bakerbeach.ca was created specifically to inform the public and answer questions, going above and beyond what was required.

This is categorically false. We've engaged extensively with Indigenous communities throughout the entire project. We reached out to 13 First Nations communities with hereditary rights in the area. Engagement with the Penelakut Tribe began in August 2022, more than two years before the permit was issued, and has been continuous, including phone calls, letters, video conferences, in-person site meetings, and participation in a Penelakut potluck at Baker Beach. We have also engaged with the Tsawout First Nation, including site visits. A Heritage Conservation Act Permit was issued in November 2024 following full compliance with consultation requirements. See the full timeline below.

A diver was hired to collect sediment samples around the eelgrass beds, demonstrating that gravels from the slopes are not migrating to eelgrass areas. The environmental assessment by Corvidae Environmental confirms no net loss of productive fish habitat capacity with the recommended mitigation measures. All work will be done during low tide, overseen by an Environmental Monitor, and timed to avoid forage fish spawning periods. DFO provided a letter of advice confirming measures to avoid and mitigate potential effects to fish and fish habitat.

Absolutely not. The beach has always been and will always remain fully accessible to the public. The project works on the slope and immediate foreshore. It does not block, impede, or alter any beach access paths. The CRD's own reinforcement of beach access points with rock walls demonstrates that some structural intervention is already normal and accepted for this beach.

Professional geotechnical assessment confirms ongoing, incremental erosion that presents a foreseeable risk to slope integrity over time. The geotechnical experts note that loss of toe support and progressive slope retreat are difficult or impossible to reverse once they occur. Early intervention using nature-based methods is considered more environmentally responsible and cost-effective than reactive hard armouring after significant degradation. The mature trees on the slope, home to eagles and bats, are directly threatened by continued erosion.

While property protection is one element, the project's primary objectives include protecting marine and riparian habitat, preserving mature trees that support wildlife (eagles, bats), stabilizing the slope to prevent uncontrolled sediment delivery to the nearshore environment, and enhancing native vegetation. Doing nothing risks losing not only land and structures but also critical habitat, something anyone who walks Baker Beach can see is worth protecting. The CRD itself has already intervened with rock walls to protect public access infrastructure.