A local resident is worried that Highway 1 construction is encroaching on wildlife at Burnaby Lake after a swath of parkland was razed for a habitat enhancement project.
Lisa Walker, who has been walking by the lake daily for the past five years, noticed a large section of parkland that was recently cleared as part of the highway project.
"We need to protect this area as much as possible," Walker said.
The cleared area is on the east side of Glencarin Drive, where the road runs close to the highway and makes a sharp turn. On the west side, construction for the Sperling exit is underway.
According to Walker, the area is a feeding zone for herons, and hawks and owls are often spotted in the trees. It's also close to where the endangered Western painted turtles have been found, and Walker is concerned the buffer zone between the park and the highway is under threat.
"It's nesting season," she said. "To take down trees in nesting season is like rubbing salt in the wound."
The land in question is owned by the City of Burnaby but leased to Metro Vancouver for Burnaby Lake Regional Park. Walker was told the work on parkland was for riparian enhancement, but she suspects it's to clear space to reduce flooding on the side of the highway.
Max Logan, spokesperson for the highway project, said the trees were cut as part of an environmental enhancement project to connect nearby creeks and streams to the lake.
"This doesn't have anything to do with flooding on the highway," he said. "That work in that area is specially to improve the streamside habitat for fish and wildlife."
Kiewit Flatiron, the company working on the project, hired environmental consultants to survey the area for wildlife before cutting the trees. Logan said they found a songbird nest, and that part of the site was flagged and won't be disturbed until the nest is vacated.
"We're working around that wildlife while we are trying to improve the habitat in that area," he said.
Logan explained that the area was cleared of trees so crews can have room to create the waterways. Once that work is done, they will plant native species to enhance the habitat. Metro Vancouver and the City of Burnaby have OK'd the project, he added.
"Any time people see trees being removed, they will often wonder why, and we're more than happy to respond to questions from members of the public," he said.
The entire Port Mann/Highway 1 improvement project passed environmental assessment before work began. The Burnaby stretch of the highway expansion should be complete by 2013.
Still, Walker is worried that development is taking place at such a rapid speed that the park is under siege.
"One day, we're going to come down here, and there won't be wildlife," she said. "It's a really beautiful area. I want to help protect it."
