Esquimalt Harbour Projects

Background

CFB Esquimalt leadership is fully committed to its role as environmental stewards of Esquimalt Harbour. We acknowledge “es- whoy-malth,” or “the place of gradually shoaling waters” is a culturally significant area located within the Traditional Territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. We thank them for sharing their traditional knowledge of the environment and their consultations with the Department of National Defence (DND) in the management of Esquimalt Harbour Projects past, present and future.

Esquimalt Harbour has been inhabited by people longer than recorded history. However, it is only since the arrival of European nations in the late 1700’s that negative environmental impacts from human activity began to accrue. The establishment of HMC Dockyard by the British in 1865 is an important date in the history of the region. Not only did it establish an enduring naval presence in the harbour, but it was also a harbinger for the environmental pressures to follow.

The past 200 years have witnessed increased industrial activity around the harbour including civilian and military shipbuilding and repair, commercial and military ship operations, and sawmilling. As population centres around the harbour grew, releases from storm sewers, surface runoff and other sources have added to contaminant levels in the marine environment.

The modern-day environmental movement began to take shape in North America in the early 1960’s. Since then, our knowledge and attitudes about the environment have steadily improved.

When DND assumed management authority for the designated federal harbour in 2005, environmental remediation was already a top priority for the government. Supported by a dedicated team of full-time environmental scientists, researchers and managers, DND has made steady progress over the past 20 years.

We are proud of what we have accomplished through reducing or eliminating harmful practices, creating favourable habitat for the revitalization of native species and remediating legacy contamination through stand-alone projects in conjunction with infrastructure upgrades.

At Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt, care for the environment isn’t merely an afterthought: it’s integrated into everything we do.

Projects

In order to meet its Defence commitments to the Government of Canada, the Royal Canadian Navy requires a range of infrastructure (buildings, roads, jetties etc.) suitable to support its sailors and the vessels they operate.

Given that some structures in HMC Dockyard date back 175 years, infrastructure recapitalization is an ongoing effort. However, each new upgrade project is also an opportunity to invest in the environment. By introducing green technologies, sustainable practices and concurrently remediating legacy contamination, each project advances our goal of fostering a vibrant, more diverse marine ecosystem and a healthier harbour for the surrounding residents.

Remediation projects require careful investigation, analysis, and planning to ensure that contaminants are safely removed and disposed of. First, environmental investigations are done to identify contaminated areas and how deep they are embedded into the seabed. This information is then used to determine the best course of action for removal. Next, dredging is done to remove as much of the contaminated sediments as possible. This is done by using a clamshell bucket attached to a crane or excavator. The removed sediments are then processed and transported by a barge or truck to a facility for disposal or treatment. In most cases, areas that are dredged are then backfilled with a clean sand cover to enhance the natural recovery process. In areas near the shore where dredging cannot be done, contaminated sediments are “capped” with engineered layers of sand, gravel, and armoured rock to cover the contamination and limit its exposure to humans and marine life.

At the same time, DND continues to rebuild and upgrade infrastructure at CFB Esquimalt to meet operational, maintenance, environmental, and technological advances. In 2013, DND announced plans to replace the existing “A” and “B” jetties at CFB Esquimalt’s dockyard to synchronize with Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, which will deliver modern ships to the Royal Canadian Navy over the next 30 years. CFB Esquimalt’s upgraded A/B Jetties will be home to several of these Canadian-built vessels.

DND will continue to share updates about harbour remediation and infrastructure projects as they progress.

Esquimalt Harbour Projects Overview

Contact us

E-mail: cfbesquimalt@outlook.com
Fax:  250-363-2124

Telephone numbers

Base Public Affairs: 250-363-4006
King's Harbour Master: 250-363-2165
Harbour Official / Assistant to King's Harbour Master: 250-363-7584
Emergency Line 24/7: 250-363-2160 / 250-363-5848
Harbour Control Officer: 250-363-2162
Harbour Operations Officer: 250-363-2160

Mailing Address

Base Public Affairs
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt
PO Box 17000 Stn Forces
Victoria, BC  V9A 7N2