Salt Spring Island residents who own or use waterfront docks can now have their say on a new provincial plan for private marine docks along the southern Gulf Islands and southeastern Vancouver Island. The BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship has opened a public survey on its draft Strategic Management Plan, which runs from September 3 to October 18, 2026.
The plan comes after a five-year pause on new private moorage applications that began in 2021 to address environmental concerns, cumulative impacts, and First Nations rights. That pause expired in March 2026, and the province is now working to establish long-term rules for docks built on Crown foreshore, which is public land managed by the province.
The draft establishes two zones with different environmental sensitivity levels. In Zone 1, anyone seeking a new dock would need a marine habitat assessment to ensure the structure does not overlap with eelgrass, kelp, or salt marsh habitat. Existing docks with active authorizations would not be required to be removed or relocated, but owners would need to bring them into compliance with best management practices over time, in many cases by 2036.
Salt Spring Island currently has only two private moorage applications under review, both of which predate the 2021 freeze. One is at Collins Road fronting Sansum Narrows, and the other is a King Road parcel at Lightwater Cove.
The draft plan was developed with input from First Nations and an advisory group that included waterfront property owners, dock owners, science and conservation organizations, recreation groups, tourism and economic development organizations, and local governments.
Residents can access the survey through the BC government’s announcement. The survey closes at 11:59 p.m. on October 18, 2026.
