Boundary Bay

This article is about the bay on the Washington-British Columbia border. For the brewery named after the bay, see Boundary Bay Brewing Company.
Looking west across Boundary Bay, from Peace Arch Park toward Point Roberts (the peninsula on the horizon)

Boundary Bay is situated on the Pacific coast of North America on the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington.

To the north and west, Boundary Bay is bounded by the municipality of Delta.

Aerial view of Boundary Bay as seen from above its western shore

Point Roberts, Washington, lies to the southwest. The communities of Beach Grove and Boundary Bay (both situated within Delta) are to the west, while rural East Delta is to the north. Along the eastern shore are Crescent Beach and Ocean Park in the City of Surrey; further south-east, White Rock and the Semiahmoo First Nation's reserve in BC and Blaine in Washington State.

The eastern section of Boundary Bay, straddling the US/Canada border and adjacent to White Rock and Blaine is known as Semiahmoo Bay; Blaine's Drayton Harbor opens into it. The northern tip of Boundary Bay is known as Mud Bay.

The main rivers flowing into the bay are the Nicomekl and Serpentine Rivers falling into Mud Bay, the Campbell River falling into Semiahmoo Bay, and California Creek and Dakota Creek falling into Drayton Harbor.

A heron wading in Boundary Bay near the mouth of the Campbell River (just south of White Rock)

It is an important stop for birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway, particularly for western sandpiper and dunlin, and has been designated a Hemisphere Reserve by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network and a Canadian Important Bird Area. The mudflats, extensive eel grass beds and salt marshes support a rich population of marine invertebrates which are an important source of energy for migrating shorebirds. During migration times the bird count in the bay may exceed 100,000.

The area is also used for recreational boating and includes park area and beaches. Pollution and industrial activity in the area pose potential threats to wildlife. The Boundary Bay Airport, on its north flank, is used by small aircraft and has been the setting for various film shoots.

See also

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boundary Bay.

Coordinates: 49°N 123°W / 49°N 123°W / 49; -123

Surrounding geography

Delta, British Columbia Delta, British Columbia Surrey, British Columbia
Tsawwassen South Surrey, White Rock
   BOUNDARY BAY  
Point Roberts, Washington Strait of Georgia & Washington (state) Semiahmoo Bay, Blaine, Washington
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