Wetlands are vital ecosystems that support clean water, biodiversity, flood protection, and climate resilience. In British Columbia, wetlands also hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for Indigenous Nations and provide recreational and educational opportunities for communities. 

The Water Sustainability Act (WSA) regulates the activities that can occur in and about a stream. Wetlands are included in the definition of a “stream” under the WSA. It is important to understand the location and boundaries (known as delineation) of wetlands before assessing permit applications for projects in and around wetlands.  

To help improve wetland management under the WSA, the Province has developed a manual for wetland identification and delineation. This manual is designed to:  

• improve permitting efficiency 
• ensure consistent decisions 
• better protect wetlands across the province  

The Province is seeking public input on this manual and how to implement it effectively. 

Why wetland identification and delineation matters  

Clear and consistent delineation is critical for: 

• Permitting efficiency: Accurate boundaries help applicants understand what areas are regulated which informs the information requirements and permitting process. 
• Environmental protection: Defining where a wetland begins and ends ensures that environmental impacts are properly assessed and mitigated. 
• Transparency and fairness: Consistency in determining wetlands boundaries helps ensure that all permit applicants are treated equally and that decisions are based on sound science. 

Unclear wetland delineation rules can cause confusion, delay, and disagreement. 

How other jurisdictions provide delineation guidance

Many jurisdictions across North America and globally have adopted standardized manuals and protocols to guide wetland delineation. Many of them refer to three main factors to delineate wetland boundaries:  

• Hydrophytic vegetation: plants adapted to wet conditions 
• Hydric soils: soils formed under saturated conditions 
• Wetland hydrology: evidence of water presence during the growing season 

Several Canadian provinces provide their own wetland delineation guidance for their local climate, soil and vegetation conditions. Examples include:  

• Alberta uses the Alberta Wetland Identification and Delineation Directive, based on the U.S. approach but tailored to local conditions 
• Ontario provides technical guidance for evaluating wetlands under its Provincial Policy Statement 
• Nova Scotia and New Brunswick incorporate delineation guidance into their wetland alteration approval processes adapted from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual 

These documents provide detailed field indicators and decision-making guidelines to help professionals consistently identify wetland boundaries. These tools help ensure that wetland boundaries are defined consistently, transparently, and in a way that supports regulatory decision-making. 

Current challenges in B.C. 

British Columbia has not had a standardized, province-wide approach to wetland delineation, although several guides are available. This has caused several challenges: 

• Inconsistent methods: Professionals have used varying criteria and tools, sometimes leading to inconsistent results 
• Unclear expectations: Applicants often don’t know what is required. This can lead to delays, rework or numerous information requests 
• Possible regulatory uncertainty: Without clear boundaries, it may be harder for decision-makers to assess impacts, understand mitigation outcomes or enforce conditions 
• Risk of disputes and delays: Lack of clarity can sometimes lead to disagreements between applicants, professionals, and regulators 

These issues can reduce permitting efficiency and create uncertainty. 

A new solution: B.C. Wetland Identification and Delineation Manual 

To address these challenges, the Province has developed a Wetland Identification and Delineation Manual based on the 1987 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual and relevant regional supplements. This new manual is tailored to B.C.’s diverse ecological regions and is designed to: 

• Standardize wetland delineation practices across the province 
• Provide clear expectations for applicants, professionals, and regulators 
• Improve consistency and transparency in permitting decisions 
• Support better environmental outcomes through accurate wetland delineation and improved data 

The manual includes field indicators, decision tools, and documentation standards to help professionals identify wetland boundaries using a science-based, repeatable approach. It also creates a foundation for training, certification, and quality assurance programs to support consistent application and understanding of wetlands. 

The new B.C. Wetlands Identification and Delineation Manual will be available starting the week of September 15, 2025 on the Resource Information Standards Committee website for public review, comment and use. The manual will be updated mid-2026 following feedback received.  

We want to hear from you

Your feedback is invited on how to implement the Wetland Identification and Delineation Manual effectively and inclusively.

Please consider these questions when filling out the survey: 

1. Have you previously used any wetland identification and delineation methods in B.C.?
2. What types of support would help you or your organization apply the new identification and delineation manual effectively?
3. What role should professional associations or certifying bodies play in supporting the rollout and use of the manual?
4. Should the manual be mandatory for all WSA and RAPR-related applications, or promoted as a best practice?
5. Are there barriers that might prevent smaller organizations, communities, or First Nations from using the manual effectively?
6. Should the Province require the submission of wetland identification and delineation results? 
7. If the Province manages wetland identification and delineation data, are there any privacy or data sensitivity concerns that should be considered when sharing the data publicly or across agencies? 

If you have feedback on these topics, please let us know by completing this survey: British Columbia Wetland Identification and Delineation Manual 

The survey closes December 12, 2025. 

Learn more about our other identified opportunities to improve natural resource permitting on the govTogetherBC website.