Responsible for the rich agricultural lands and productive aquatic habitats throughout the estuary, these sediments can also constrict navigation channels. Each year, therefore, navigation channels are dredged to prevent them from becoming too narrow and too shallow for vessel traffic. Dredging also occurs to reduce the flood risk along the river and, in a process called "borrow dredging," sediments are taken from the River for construction and other commercial uses.

• develop and maintain a functional navigation system that supports water-dependent development in a manner that protects environmental quality; and,
  
• manage sediment removal within the limits of the river's ability to replenish itself.

1. Dredge Management Guidelines produced
Developed in 2001, and revised in 2005, the Dredge Management Guidelines reflect a consensus among the regulatory agencies regarding the general approach to dredging within the estuary. These agencies are Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Environment Canada; the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection; Land and Water BC; the Fraser River Port Authority; and the North Fraser Port Authority.

2. Sediment Budget used to control the amount of sediment dredged from the estuary each year
FREMP's former Dredge Management Advisory Committee developed a tool, called a Sediment Budget, to ensure that the average amount of sediment removed over a five to ten year period will not change the shape of the river bed. In addition to coordinating the calculation of the Sediment Budget, FREMP produces an annual dredging report that compares the amount of sediment actually dredged from the navigation channel with the Sediment Budget. These reports are available as follows:

2006-2007 Dredging Annual Report

2005 - 2006 Dredging Annual Report
2004-2005 Dredging Annual Report
2003-2004 Dredging Annual Report
2001 - 2002 Dredging Annual Report
2000 - 2001 Dredging Annual Report
1999 - 2000 Dredging Annual report
Dredging Map Legend 2000 - 2001

A dredging database has also been developed to track the location and amount of sand removal, and where it is disposed; the database is used primarily by Port Metro Vancouver.