INNOVATION May-June 2017

2016 | ❖

2017 Project Highlights

Balancing erosion control and vegetation restoration along coastal road Erosion from wave action along Lazo Road, Comox, BC, was undermining

utility poles and had the potential to undermine the road. Wedler Engineering LLP was originally retained in 2011 to complete preliminary design and cost estimating, and then retained in 2015 to complete the design and provide tender services. The project balances the need for erosion protection and vegetation restoration by incorporating rip rap at lower elevations with a very shallow slope angle on the ocean side, anchored large woody debris at mid elevations, and vegetation only at higher elevations along the beach. Rip rap was largely buried with existing beach sand to minimize the project’s aesthetic and environmental footprint. A multi-use trail was built alongside Lazo Road, with beach access points provided along the length of the work. APEGBC members, Wedler Engineering: Andrew Gower, P.Eng.; Ryzuk Geotechnical: Christian Flanagan, EIT, Shane Moore, P.Geo.; Northwest Hydraulic Consultants: Dr. Dave McLean, P.Eng.; Town of Comox: Shelley Ashfield, P.Eng.

Designing and building fish habitat at Mount Milligan mine

Mountain Station Consultants Inc. was contracted to design and construct a rainbow trout rearing and spawning channel at Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.’s Mount Milligan mine. The environmentally sensitive project required low-impact hand removal of nine fish-passage barriers, hand construction of fish-passable channels, and creation of an upstream spawning channel. Field observations of natural meander frequency, run length, curvature and channel bankfull width aided design computations. Instream features were designed and placed to scour and clean

spawning gravels. Small Caterpillar 308E and 287B machines were used to place streambed and spawning gravels, logs, salvaged tree stumps and cobble. Native species revegetation is now underway. In total, 283 square metres of rainbow trout rearing and spawning habitat were created. The project was part of the ongoing fish habitat compensation program operating at the Mount Milligan Mine in north– central BC.

APEGBC member, Mountain Station Consultants: Alan Thomson, P.Eng.

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