SEEDS is a collaborative initiative reimagining sediment as a regenerative resource to support ecological resilience, flood protection, and infrastructure adaptation in the Fraser River Delta. Led by the University of British Columbia Coastal Adaptation Lab and Ducks Unlimited Canada, with design leadership from H+N+S Landscape Architects (Netherlands), SEEDS seeks to bring together Indigenous knowledge, regional expertise, and international precedents to co-develop a roadmap for the beneficial reuse of dredged sediments.

Historically, sediment carried by the Fraser River helped build and sustain the delta’s rich intertidal ecosystems. Today, however, a range of infrastructure and flood management practices—including dredging for navigation and shoreline protection—have altered natural sediment flows, reducing the material available to nourish marshes and mudflats. As sea levels rise and ecological pressures grow, sediment reuse presents a timely opportunity to reinforce natural flood defenses, restore habitat, and align infrastructure development with long-term resilience goals.

To support this shift, SEEDS is developing visual tools, spatial scenarios, and planning frameworks that can guide restoration and adaptation efforts across the region. Through a series of co-designed workshops with Indigenous Nations, technical experts, planners, and infrastructure partners—including the port sector—SEEDS seeks to identify shared priorities and pathways for collaborative action. The project will draw on lessons from successful local and international examples to illustrate scalable, nature-inclusive solutions. By offering applied guidance, accessible design materials, and a regionally grounded roadmap, SEEDS aims to move sediment reuse from pilot efforts toward coordinated, long-term strategies that benefit communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure alike.