Chilliwack's Great Blue Heron Reserve divided by crumbling bridge, nesting herons

People who want to access much of Chilliwack’s Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve will have to take the long way around the wetland park—at least until the herons finish having their babies or a bridge can be fixed.

Chilliwack’s Great Blue Heron Reserve is one of the region’s most popular natural attractions. Located on the north shore of the Vedder River, the 325-acre reserve is criss-crossed by walking trails, and has a viewing tower at its southern end. It is also home to one of the largest breeding colonies of great blue herons in BC.

Throughout most of the year, visitors can access trails that loop around and through the reserve’s large wetland. The centre trail crosses the wetland via a broad bridge that connects the interpretive centre and parking lot to the Vedder Rotary Trail along the river. A loop trail through the reserve’s western end is closed each spring so the local herons can nest and lay their eggs in peace.

In early March, Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve field staff noticed that several of the wooden beams that support the centre bridge were cracked and breaking apart.

They notified the City of Chilliwack, which assessed the bridge and closed it until repairs can be made.

Colette McDiarmid, Chilliwack’s supervisor of roads, transportation, drainage, and diking, told the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve Society members that the city planned to have a timber specialist review the bridge in early April, but that it would likely remain closed for most of the summer.

“Regrettably, the repair or replacement of the bridge will require a significant amount of time, effort and funding to address,” she wrote in an email to the society. “We understand the importance of this bridge in providing access to the Great Blue Heron Reserve, and we are committed to taking the necessary steps to address the situation.”

While the bridge is closed, visitors can access a short loop over a fish-bearing stream from the parking lot and interpretive centre, but won’t be able to get to the rest of the reserve through the parkland itself. People can take a long loop around the park by walking along the dike and returning to the reserve by the riverside path.

The city said they hoped to have more updates by the end of April on the trail, but the society had not heard anything new as of the start of May. The city said it will provide updates on its website.

Society executive director Camille Coray said she hoped the loop trail on the west side of the reserve would be re-opened by mid-July, depending on the needs of the heron colony that nest in the reserve. That would facilitate a much quicker detour around the closed bridge.