About Burns Bog

Burns Bog is a raised bog ecosystem covering approximately 3,000 ha of the Fraser River delta between the south arm of the Fraser River and Boundary Bay. One of the largest undeveloped urban landmasses in North America, Burns Bog is globally unique because of its chemistry, form, flora and large size. It is the southernmost extension of Sphagnum-dominated bogs in Canada.

The Corporation of Delta joined with partners in 2004 to purchase over 2,000 hectares of Burns Bog, protecting it as an Ecological Conservancy Area. The purchase also secured a parcel of land east of Highway 91 and south of 72nd Avenue that was identified by Delta Council as being important as a green zone. The Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy Area Management Plan { pdf 3.18MB } was completed in 2008 to effectively protect the special attributes of the Bog.

Metro Vancouver is the lead agency to ensure collaboration with all funding partners in the planning and management of the area, as defined in the Management Agreement. The Corporation of Delta is responsible for managing the water regime of the ECA, as well as wildfire management and response.

Burns Bog is managed as an "Ecological Conservancy Area" or ECA. The priority is ecological protection, not public use. Bog vegetation is highly sensitive to trampling, and peat fires can easily spark and burn underground for weeks. Until research can be undertaken to determine how people can access the bog without causing any damage, the ECA lands remain closed to the public to ensure protection of this unique bog ecosystem.

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