Slesse Park Clay Slide Stabilization Project

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Slesse Park Clay Slide Stabilization Project Chilliwack River Valley SLESSE PARK CLAY SLIDE STABILIZATION PROJECT Final As-Built Report Prepared for: Chilliwack River Action Committee 48665 Chilliwack Lake Road Chilliwack, B.C. V4Z 1A6 Prepared by: CEJ Mussel1 Enterprises Inc P.O. Box 45 1 Chilliwack, B.C. V2P 657 April, 2000 TABLE OF' CONTENTS 1.0 Objectives 2.0 Project Organization 2.1 Proponent 2.2 Funding Partners 2.3 Watershed 2.4 Locations 2.5 Administration 3.0 Partnerships, Donations and In-Kind Contributions 4.0 Background 5.0 Plan 6.0 STAGE I Preparation of Engineered Drawings 6.1 Report Summary 6.2 Cost Overview 6.3 Stage 1 Photograph 7.0 STAGE 2 Upgrading the Slesse Park Clay Slide Berm 7.1 Work Summary 7.2 Cost Overview 7.3 Berm Plan View 7.4 Berm Cross Section 7.5 Stage 2 Photographs 8.0 STAGE 3 Bioengineering 8.1 Work Summary 8.2 Cost Overview 8.3 Stage 3 Map 8.4 Stage 3 Photographs 9.0 Summary of Contributions 10.0 Evaluation 10.1 Steelhead Angler Survey Summary 10.2 Comments and Modifications 10.3 Sumnary of Results 11.0 Acknowledgements 12.0 Review of Literature and Reports 12.1 Studies of Reports pertaining to the Slesse Park Clay Slide 12.2 Other Pertinent Reports and Literature Chilliwack River Valley SLESSE PARK CLAY SLIDE STABILIZATION 1.0 Objectives To do stabilization work on the Slesse Park Clay Slide -to reduce siltation of the downstream ChilliwackNedder River -to reduce degradation of fish spawning and rearing habitat -to improve sports fishing opportunity -to reduce hazards from the clay slide slumps 2.0 Project Organization Stage 1 The Preparation of Engneered Working Drawings and Reports Stage 2 Upgrading the Slesse Park Clay Slide Berm Stage 3 Further Stabilization Using Bioengineering Techniques 2.1 Proponent Chilliwack River Action Committee 48665 Chilliwack Lake Road Chilliwack, B.C. V4Z 1A6 2.2 Funding Partners Fisheries Renewal B.C. B.C. Hydro Fraser Valley Regional Watershed Coalition Community Futures Development Corporation of the North Fraser 2.3 Watershed MELP Region! MOF Region Pacific1 Region 2, Lower Mainland, Chilliwack Chilliwack River (Watershed Code: 100-0657-097-000) 2.4 Location This project is located on the north side of the Chilliwack River 1 km east of Slesse Park. Geodetic map 092h001 Chilliwack River 5437500 mN, 587300mE. 2.5 Administration Project Chairman: David F. Lamson Chilliwack River Action Committee 48853 Chilliwack Lake Road Chilliwack, B.C. V4Z 1A6 Phone / Fax: (604) 858-3257 Project Manager: CEJ Mussell CEJ Mussell Enterprises Inc. Chilliwack, B.C. V2P 657 Phone: (604) 792-8984 3.0 Partnerships, Donations, and in-kind Contributions The Chilliwack River Action Committee is a community umbrella organization that has received broad support from organisations and individuals making this project possible. Donations of in-kind labour, technical work, material, and supplies listed here are those over $100.00 in cash value that have been recorded in the project records. Clay Slide Committee of the Chilliwack River Action Committee Directors and the organisations they represent Project Chainnan: David Lamson, Chilliwack River Valley Ratepayers Assoc. Tom Carscadden, Baker Trails Strata Corp. Jerry Desjarlais, Concerned Citizens of Chilliwack River Valley Gerry Dewar, BC Federations of Driftfishers Chris Gadsden, Fraser Valley Salmon Society Fred Helmer Jr., Fred's Custom Tackle Gwyn Joiner, Chilliwack Fish and Game Protective Assoc. John Kupp, Vedder River Fish Habitat Committee Bill Proteau, member at large Bev Sobkowich, Citizens Advisory Board to Correction Camps Wayne Snerle, Chilliwack River Valley Ratepayers' Assoc. Fraser Valley Salmon Society Chris Gadsden, Pete Sellmer Time for preliminary lobbying, video production, displays, media coverage, public awareness, field trips, technical work, and angler survey Chilliwack River Valley Ratepayers Association Wayne Snerle, Klara Hills, David Lamson, B11l Proteau Revlew of literature, consultation, "Challenge to Opportunzty" report, Preparat~onof proposals, public awareness BC Federation of Driftfishers Gerry Dewar Research, field trips, proposal writing Chiliiwack Fish and Game Protective Association Gwyn Jo~ner,Ernie McDuff Meeting rooms, field trips, public awareness, angler survey Concerned Citizens of the Chilliwack River Valley Susan Pelletier, Jerry Desjarlais Public awareness, field trips, secretarial work, supervision help at site Citizens Advisory Board to Corrections Bev Sobkowich Research of literature, public awareness, field trips, and political contracts Fraser Valley Broadcasters Ltd. C/OChris Gadsden Cash donation to CRAC Fred's Custom Tackle Fred Helmer Contracts, public awareness, field trips to slide Baker Trails Strata Corporation Tom Carscadden Cash donztion to C?&C, pub!ic awareness CEJ Mussell Enterprises Inc. CEJ Mussell, Jack Mussel1 Work and travel expenses Adjacent property owner Alvin Nickerson Site for clay disposal, access to gravel site Steelhead Habitat Restoration Corporation Mike Engelsjord Gravel from other WRP projects Pacific Initiatives Jackie Campbell, Ross Wetzel Bioengineering concepts, cedar trees, labourers Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Dr. Vic Galay Discount on Engineering Mount Thurston Correctional Centre Inmate work crew Cutting willow whips for bioengineering Fraser Valley Regional District, Electoral Area E. Director, Frank Sobkowich Grant in aid to CRAC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (MELP) Mike Younie, Bruce Usher Bioengineering concepts and consultation Abby Contracting Daryll Janzen Hydroseeding Canadian Forest Products Ltd. CANFOR Panel and F~breDivis~on Joe Haggart, Product Manager, Fibre Products Wood mulch for hydroseedlng (EcoAegs Bonded F~berMatrix) 4.0 Background The clay slides of the Chilliwack River have deposited tons of silt into the river during each rainy season from November to march since the floods of 1989 and 1990. As of January 1999 three slides continued to be an annual problem dumping sediment into the river and causing a degradation of downstream fish habitat. Public safety and property protection have also been a concern. The Slesse Park Clay Slide has been partially stabilized with a benn built in 1991 to protect the toe of the slide from the undercutting river. However, over the years clay has slumped in behind the berm and filled the catchment area to the top of the berm. In January 27, 1997, large slumps at the East End of the berm overtopped the berm and dumped many tons of clay Into the river, temporarily blocking it. Since then, smaller slumps and mud flows have continued to overtop the berm and pour tons of clay silt into the river and the surface water and creeks passing through the slide area continued to pour large quantities of silt into the river. 5.0 Plan The plan was to start with the Slesse Park Clay Slide stabilization as the work for the first project. This work would reduce the clay siltation of approximately 30 kilometers of downstream fish habitat, reduce the hazard to public safety and private property, and improve sports angling opportunity. This project was divided into three stages: Stage 1 Preparation of engineered working drawings and reports Fisheries Renewal BC Grant Stage 2 The physical work of upgrading The Slesse Park Clay Slide Berm Fisheries Renewal BC Grant Stage 3 Further stabilization of the slide area using bioengineering techniques BC Hydro Grant 6.0 Stage 1 The Preparation of Engineered Working Drawings 6.1 Report Summary A review of previous engineering reports and literature on clay slide stabilization methods was done by community organisations and by members of the Chilliwack River Action Committee. A proposal was prepared and applications were made for funding to fish habitat funding agencies. Funding for the preparations of engineered working drawings was secured through the Fraser Valley Regional Watershed Coalition from Fisheries Renewal B.C. Northwest Hydraulic Consultants was chosen and commissioned as the lead engineering firm. The engineers' report and drawings were completed between January 1,1999 and March 30, 1999 by Dr. Vic Galay of Northwest Hydraulic Consultants along with Neil Singh from Klohn-Crippen, Geo-environmental Group, and Michael A. Whelen, Fisheries Biologist. The engineers produced a very comprehensive report with working drawings for the upgrading of the Slesse Park Clay Slide berm. These drawings which call for a 2.5 meters to 3.5 meters raising of the berm for the best cost effective method of stabilizing this clay slide. An overview of the Upper Tolmie Clay Slide Area was also prepared which gave three possible options for stabilization and complimentary information for the Slesse Park Clay Slide. Dave Schaepe, Archaeologist, Sto:lo Nation, located sensitive areas and prepared an archaeological report with recommendations. Display boards, a brochure and a video was produced for increasing public awareness These have been used at meeting and public events. 6.2 Cost Overview TASK COST Engineers Report and Drawings for Slesse Park Clay Slide Berm Upgrading 11,000.00 Engineers Overview of Upper Tolmie Clay Slide Area 1000.00 Test Holes 417.30 Archeology Study 400.00 Office Costs and Supplies 100.27 Project Insurance 500.00 Subsection 9.1 Application 130.00 TOTAL $13,547.57 6.3 Stage 1 Photograph Aria1 View of Slesse park Clay Slide by Northwest Hydraulic consultants, March 1999, before this stabilization work began. 7.0 Stage 2 SLesse Park Clay Slide Berm Upgrading 7.1 Work Summary The project was constructed between June 1, 1999 and October 3 1, 1999. The scope of the work included the following: -The area adjacent to the existing berm was cleared of vegetation and clay was pushed to the side with a dozer in order to make room for the new berm. -3056 m3 of bony gravel material was donated to the project from the Steelhead Society of BC. This was trucked to the site in gravel trucks over a seven-day period (Photo 2). This work is above the 200yr-flood level so nprap was not necessary. -The gravel was spread with a dozer on the existing benn in 1-54 ft lifts in order to compact the material with the dozer and the loaded gravel trucks (Photo 3 ).
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