Wetlands are essential parts of British Columbia’s landscapes. They support biodiversity, regulate water flow, and improve freshwater quality and sustainability. The Water Sustainability Act (WSA), introduced in 2016, provides the legal framework for managing water use and protecting aquatic ecosystems across the province.
A wetland is land that has been saturated with water for so long that it no longer drains easily and supports plants and animals that thrive in a wet environment.
Currently, the WSA specifies three wetland classes—fens, swamps, and marshes—in its regulatory and planning frameworks. However, the Act’s definition of wetlands does not clearly include bogs and shallow open water wetlands. As the Province pursues its water sustainability goals, we should consider whether the current definition accurately captures the diversity and importance of all wetland types in B.C.
Understanding the role of all wetland classes
Each wetland class contributes uniquely to watershed health:
- Bogs store water and carbon, regulate water flow, and filter nutrients through their acidic, primarily rain-fed systems.
- Fens support groundwater recharging and nutrient exchange.
- Swamps trap sediments, mitigate floods, and provide habitat connectivity.
- Marshes filter runoff, cycle nutrients, and buffer aquatic systems.
- Shallow-open water wetlands—such as ponds and small lakes—support aquatic species, regulate temperature, and stabilize water cycles
Together, these wetlands form a network of natural infrastructure that supports clean drinking water, flood control, and aquatic habitat health.
Why this matters
Not all wetland classes are fully regulated under the WSA, which has created challenges for landowners, developers, environmental professionals, and government staff:
- Inconsistent Interpretation of what qualifies as a wetland under the Act can create delays or uncertainty during permitting.
- Increased Costs and Delays: When it’s unclear whether a wetland is regulated, applicants often need to hire specialists mid-application to determine its classification, adding time and cost to projects.
- Misclassification Risks: In some cases, wetlands have been misclassified, avoiding regulatory requirements and undermining the integrity of the permitting process.
- Management Gaps: Wetlands not defined and managed under the WSA may be left unprotected despite their ecological importance. These wetland types can also, at times, be connected to regulated wetlands under the WSA adding delays and complexity to determining “where” the regulated wetland feature starts and ends.
- Unmet Expectations: Indigenous Peoples, environmental organizations, and other interested parties have called for the inclusion of all wetland types, especially bogs, under the WSA to reflect their cultural and ecological value
These challenges can affect the clarity, predictability, and efficiency of permitting processes, and may impact environmental outcomes.
Exploring opportunities for change
The Province is currently exploring whether to expand the WSA’s definition of wetlands to include all classes of wetlands (including bogs and shallow-open water wetlands) or designate certain prescribed features.
This exploration is part of a broader effort to simplify and streamline permitting, while ensuring that water management policies are guided by the best available science and continue to uphold B.C.’s commitments to sustainable freshwater resources and healthy and resilient aquatic ecosystems.
Potential benefits of expanding the definition may include:
- Improved water protection through recognition of all wetland functions.
- More inclusive restoration and conservation planning.
- Greater alignment with Indigenous knowledge systems and stewardship practices.
- Enhanced climate resilience through protection of natural water storage and filtration systems
We want to hear from you
Your feedback will help shape a more inclusive, effective, and transparent approach to wetland management in B.C. Below are three key questions to guide your input:
- How would including all wetland classes (such as bogs and shallow open waters) under the WSA affect your work or interests?
- What benefits or challenges do you foresee if all wetland classes were regulated consistently under the WSA?
- What tools or supports would help you adapt to a more inclusive wetland management framework under the WSA?
If you have feedback on these topics, please let us know by completing this survey: Managing all wetlands classes
The survey closes December 12, 2025.
Learn more about our other identified opportunities to improve natural resource permitting on the govTogetherBC website.