Environment | City of Port Moody

Situated on Burrard Inlet and surrounded by forested mountains, Port Moody has a beautiful natural environment. Living in a city surrounded by wilderness means that we need to take extra precautions to develop with care around Environmentally Sensitive Areas, manage wildlife interactions, remove invasive plants, and help protect streams and the marine environment.

Working together

To get involved with environmental initiatives in Port Moody, check out upcoming environment events and volunteer opportunities below. You can register for activities through our Recreation department.

Upcoming events and volunteer opportunities

Coming soon: EVENTS & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 2025

Monthly Environment Tips

In this section you will find valuable resources and information on how to make a positive impact on the environment in your everyday life. From tips on how to coexist with bears to managing invasive plant species, we are committed to providing you with practical and informative content. Check back at the beginning of each month with new updates and expert insights. Together, we can protect our environment and create a sustainable future.

In Port Moody, road salt is applied in the winter to maintain safe roads and sidewalks. This practice, crucial for melting ice and snow, is a key component of our winter road maintenance strategy.

Salt Management Best Practices

Pure road salt (NaCl) or brine is used to manage ice and snow conditions, applying specific amounts as per our Winter Road Maintenance Policy. This approach ensures we avoid overusing salt, aligning with best practices and minimize overapplication. Additionally, as part of our commitment to environmental responsibility, we report our seasonal road salt usage to Environment and Climate Change Canada as per the Federal Salt Regulations.

Road Salt and Its Impact on Salmon

While road salt is essential for reducing safety risks in winter, it also poses environmental challenges. As the snow melts, this salt washes into our drainage systems and creeks and can have drastic impacts to fish and other aquatic life.

Recognizing these concerns, the City of Port Moody joined the Road Salt & Salmon Project in 2023. This project, backed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), is focused on studying how road salt influences water quality in our local streams. We have installed conductivity meters in key areas like South Schoolhouse Creek, Suter Brook Creek, and Noons Creek to monitor this.

We encourage everyone to use road salt responsibly and avoid overapplying. Always follow the directions on the product label for safe and effective use.