Whereas, the entire West Creek watershed is located on unceded Traditional Sto:lo Territory and,

Whereas, the 1979 (and 1990) Gloucester OCP designated numerous parcels of land to be non-industrial use (park, golf course, compensatory habitat) and, 

Whereas, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Permit #99-HPAC-PA-000-00217 and MELP File #A2004880 require that Compensatory lands “shall consist of a number of features”  and are to “function as intended”  and be “left undisturbed in perpetuity” and,

Whereas, these compensatory lands are now under threat of development. There are two proposals before Langley Township Council which are in the headwaters of West Creek:

1) project #14-05-0105   Location 5500 Block of 268 street through 276 street

2) project #14-08-0055   Location 27500 block of 60 Ave

Whereas, the above noted development would diminish the natural value of the West Creek wetlands, would certainly have a negative impact on the habitat for the Coho salmon and would be a huge loss to the community as a whole, in light of the value of wetlands in mitigating the negative effects of climate change and,

Whereas, many communities in BC, Indigenous lead groups (such as the Wild Salmon Defenders Alliance), local, national and global environmental groups are actively involved in creating or re-establishing wetlands because of their critical value in carbon capture and acting as heat sinks. 

Therefore, We the Petitioners demand that the West Creek Headwater Wetland remain an undisturbed  Compensatory  Habitat within the Township of Langley, Metro Vancouver Regional District in perpetuity.