Abstract
Pigeon Cove, located at the head of Burrard Inlet in Port Moody, British Columbia, is an ecologically and culturally significant coastal interface that supports substantial wildlife movement, public recreation, and marine habitat connectivity. The City of Port Moody has developed an extensive trail system through the area, including a recently constructed elevated boardwalk that links Rocky Point Park to the south and Old Orchard Park to the north. Due to its accessibility and scenic views of Burrard Inlet and the adjacent mudflats, the site receives over 230,000 visitors annually. The mudflats and shoreline also support a diverse assemblage of marine birds and serve as an important stopover along the Pacific Flyway, making the area a valuable destination for birders and naturalists. Ecologically, Pigeon Cove functions as a critical corridor connecting the wilderness areas of the coastal mountains including Buntzen Lake, Eagle Mountain, and Coquitlam Lake to the marine environment. This interface allows wildlife to move between upland forests, freshwater systems, and coastal habitats. Several salmon‑bearing streams flow through the site, including Noons Creek at the northern boundary, which supports a hatchery upstream. Species known to use the area include Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias), American Black Bears (Ursus americanus), Coyotes (Canis latrans), and numerous other wildlife species. The site is historically within the territory of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil‑Waututh) Nations, who cultivated the region as an Indigenous Forest Garden. These forest gardens are characterized by high plant diversity and the presence of culturally important species used for food, medicine, and materials. Industrial development, beginning with the construction of a sawmill in 1905 and followed by post‑war urban expansion such as the Port Moody Library and Recreation Centre, has significantly altered the landscape and reduced ecological integrity. Today, Pigeon Cove faces multiple stressors resulting from historic land use, hydrological alteration, and the introduction of nonnative plant species. Existing infrastructure including concrete foundations, compacted trails, and watercontrol structures has disrupted natural drainage patterns, leading to increased soil saturation and creating establishment points for invasive vegetation. High visitor traffic along narrow trail sections also increase the potential for human–wildlife conflict. Invasive plant species are a major ecological concern at the site. English ivy (Hedera helix), common walnut (Juglans regia), cutleaf blackberry (Rubus laciniatus), and creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens) form dense patches that suppress native plant recruitment and reduce biodiversity. Common walnut trees release juglone, an allelopathic chemical that inhibits the growth of surrounding vegetation. The decline in native plant diversity, combined with altered hydrology, has reduced stream shading, increased water temperatures, limited large woody debris inputs, and contributed to bank erosion. These factors have degraded fish habitat and may negatively affect wildlife species that depend on healthy salmonid populations. Restoration efforts at Pigeon Cove will focus on reestablishing native plant communities, restoring natural hydrological connectivity across the shoreline, and improving riparian habitat complexity. Key actions include removing invasive vegetation, decommissioning or modifying remnant infrastructure that alters drainage, and enhancing stream structure through the addition of large woody debris and residual pools. These treatments aim to restore ecological connectivity, increase native biodiversity, and support the high productivity historically maintained by Indigenous stewardship practices.