Fraser River Maintenance Dredging & Sand Management

FRPD performs annual maintenance dredging along the lower reaches of the Fraser River, a 34-km deep-sea navigation channel that supports Port Metro Vancouver and the broader British Columbia economy. This work is essential to maintaining safe depths for commercial vessels that navigate one of Canada’s busiest waterways.

Problem

Each year, the Fraser River carries more than 20 million tonnes of sediment from inland regions to the ocean. During the spring freshet, this flow deposits large volumes of material along the riverbed, gradually reducing channel depth. Without regular dredging, sediment buildup would limit vessel access, disrupt port operations and impact the region’s economic activity. Maintaining this depth requires continuous hydraulic dredging, precision cleanup in constrained areas, accurate hydrographic surveying and close coordination with multiple river users.

Solution

Since being awarded the maintenance contract, FRPD has consistently met the challenge of maintaining channel grade in this dynamic river system—a highly active metropolitan waterway with strict environmental, operational and safety requirements. Using an advanced dredging fleet, we remove accumulated sediment while minimizing environmental impact. We also maximize the beneficial reuse of dredged sand by supplying a large portion to the local construction industry. FRPD works closely with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to identify priority dredging zones each year, with the work completed efficiently, on schedule and within budget.