Board and Information Services, Legal and Legislative Service Tel. 604-432-6250 Fax. 604-451-6686 Rise and Report (Items Released from Closed Meeting) On April 28, 2017 the attached report was authorized by the Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD) Board of Directors to be released to the public: Metro Vancouver Utilities within the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel CLOSED MEETING To: Finance and Intergovernment Committee From: Andrew Wood, Director, Interagency Projects and Quality Control, Water Services Paul Lam, Division Manager, Major Projects and Programs, Liquid Waste Services Date: April 3, 2017 Meeting Date: April 19, 2017 Subject: Metro Vancouver Utilities within the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel RECOMMENDATION That the Finance and Intergovernment Committee receive for information the report dated April 3, 2017, titled “Metro Vancouver Utilities within the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel”. PURPOSE The purpose of this report is to identify existing GVWD and GVS&DD marine crossings and outfalls located within the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel and summarize the potential impact of deep-sea shipping channel dredging on these utilities. This matter is being presented at a closed meeting pursuant to Community Charter provisions, Section 90 (2) (b): “90(2) A part of a meeting must be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to one or more of the following: (b) the consideration of information received and held in confidence relating to negotiations between the regional district and a provincial government or the federal government or both and a third party.” BACKGROUND Over the past decade, a number of major transportation infrastructure projects have been completed along or crossing the Fraser River (e.g., Golden Ears Bridge, Port Mann Bridge/Highway 1 Project, South Fraser Perimeter Road). There are also a number of approved and proposed projects along the Fraser River such as the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project, Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery Project, WesPac LNG Marine Jetty, Fraser Grain Terminal Export Facility and the Pattullo Bridge Replacement. These projects are shown on Attachment 1. Capital projects that are planned or underway along the Fraser River have the potential to impact Metro Vancouver utility infrastructure and MVRD lands (such as parkland). In addition, dredging activities may also have an impact to utilities located in the Fraser River shipping channel. This report provides the Committee with an update on the utilities in the Fraser River shipping corridor and considers the potential impact of dredging on these utilities. 17106385 Metro Vancouver Utilities Within the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel Finance and Intergovernment Closed Committee Meeting Date: April 19, 2017 Page 2 of 6 Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel Most of the approved and proposed projects are adjacent to a portion of the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel, located in the south arm of the Fraser River, extending from the mouth of the river at Sand Heads to the Pattullo Bridge in New Westminster. This navigation channel provides access for ocean-going vessels to current marine terminals such as Fraser Surrey Docks. To support shipping activities, the Fraser River is currently dredged on a regular basis to maintain a navigational depth of 11.5 m. While the navigation channel is intended to allow two vessels to pass simultaneously, width restrictions at bends such as Steveston and Tilbury allow only single vessel passage. Two way traffic is possible on straight reaches of the river. The maintenance dredging program is managed by the Port of Vancouver. The Port of Vancouver has indicated they have no plans to dredge the Fraser River shipping channel deeper than the current depth sustained through annual maintenance dredging. However, with the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project and increasing development along the Fraser River, there has been expressed interest in deepening the channel for increased marine traffic movement. GVWD and GVS&DD Infrastructure within the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel As shown on Attachment 2, the Water and Liquid Waste utilities currently have a total of six crossings and one marine outfall within the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel. GVWD’s Annacis Main No. 3 and GVS&DD’s North Surrey Interceptor are bundled together in a single combined crossing. These crossings are buried in relatively shallow trenches underneath the riverbed and have scour protection blankets in some areas. Metro Vancouver surveys these crossings annually to ensure that there is sufficient protection over the crossings. Select crossings, with high potential for scour, are surveyed twice each year. The individual crossings, together with their size and date of construction, are shown in Table 1. Table 1 – Existing GVWD and GVS&DD Infrastructure within the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel Pipe Age Anticipated Construction Facility Name Diameter Utility (Years) Replacement Date (mm) Date2 Lulu Island - Delta Main 800 GVWD 1963 54 2060 - 2070 Tilbury Main 1200 GVWD 1980 37 2075 - 2085 Annacis Main No. 2 650 GVWD 1961 56 2055 - 2065 1Annacis Main No. 3 1200 GVWD 1963 54 2040 - 2050 1 - 1200 1North Surrey Interceptor GVS&DD 1 - 650 2 - 1200 South Surrey Interceptor GVS&DD 1974 43 2050 - 2060 1 - 900 Metro Vancouver Utilities Within the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel Finance and Intergovernment Closed Committee Meeting Date: April 19, 2017 Page 3 of 6 Pipe Age Anticipated Construction Facility Name Diameter Utility (Years) Replacement Date (mm) Date2 Annacis Island WWTP 2 - 1650 GVS&DD 1974 43 2050 - 2060 Outfall 1 - 1200 1 Combined Crossing 2 Replacement dates are based on estimated life spans of 80 years and 100 years for GVS&DD and GVWD facilities, respectively. As part of its growth and resiliency programs, GVWD is replacing several key crossings with deep, seismically secure, scour resistant crossings, sized for long term growth. For example, within this section of the Fraser River, plans are underway to construct the Annacis Water Supply Tunnel between New Westminster and Surrey, downstream of the Pattullo Bridge. Infrastructure Upstream of the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel In addition to the infrastructure listed in Table 1, the Water and Liquid Waste utilities have an additional four crossings and two marine outfalls upstream or outside of the Deep-Sea Shipping Channel. These crossings, together with their size and date of construction, are shown in Table 2. Staff did not analyze crossings outside of the deep-sea channel because of the lower potential for deeper dredging. Table 2 – Existing GVWD and GVS&DD Infrastructure Upstream or Outside of the Fraser River Deep- Sea Shipping Channel Pipe Age Anticipated Construction Facility Name Diameter Utility (Years) Replacement Date (mm) Date3 Port Mann Main 1 1200 GVWD 1975 42 N/A Port Mann Water Supply 2100 GVWD 2017 New 2210 - 2220 Tunnel Barnston Island Main 1350 GVWD 1990 27 2090 - 2100 Maple Ridge Forcemain 2 – 750 GVS&DD 1983 34 2060 - 2070 Lulu Island WWTP Outfall2 1700 GVS&DD 1992 25 2070 - 2080 Northwest Langley WWTP 900 GVS&DD 1978 39 2055 - 2065 Outfall 1 To be removed after the new Port Mann Water Supply Tunnel is in service. 2 Not situated within the deep-sea shipping channel. 3 Replacement dates are based on estimated life spans of 80 years and 100 years for GVS&DD and GVWD facilities, respectively. Metro Vancouver Utilities Within the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel Finance and Intergovernment Closed Committee Meeting Date: April 19, 2017 Page 4 of 6 DREDGING SCENARIOS With increasing development along the Fraser River Deep-Sea Shipping Channel, it is likely that there will be increased pressure to dredge and deepen/widen the channel to allow larger vessels and increase goods and materials movement. The deeper the dredge cuts are to the river bed, the greater potential for impact to Metro Vancouver’s utilities. Staff have analyzed the potential impact of various dredging options on the marine crossings, specifically, impacts based on 12.8 m and 13.5 m Vessel Drafts. The impacts on three GVWD crossings (Annacis Mains No. 2 and 3 and Lulu Island - Delta Main) and three GVS&DD facilities (South Surrey Interceptor, North Surrey Interceptor and Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall) are summarized as follows: 12.8 m Vessel Draft For a 12.8 m Vessel Draft, both the Annacis Main No. 3 and Lulu Island – Delta Main will require modifications to the existing scour protection. While the Annacis Main No. 2 is not directly impacted by the dredge cut, its cover is reduced to the point where there is insufficient clearance to install adequate scour protection. The affected section of Annacis Main No. 2 is currently out of service and pending the recommendations of the GVWD’s Comprehensive Regional Water System Plan, may be removed and not be reinstated. There is marginal clearance to install scour protection at the South Surrey Interceptor and the existing scour protection will need to be modified. Low profile scour protection may be used at this location, however, this is best determined when a dredge profile at this location can be confirmed based on a detailed design. The North Surrey Interceptor (bundled with the Annacis Main No. 3 crossing) will require modifications to the existing scour protection. The existing Annacis Island WWTP Outfall will require extra protection. MV staff have started the preliminary design for a new outfall as part of the Annacis Island WWTP expansion and further assessment of the impact is required when the conceptual design is complete. 13.5 m Vessel Draft Impacts to Metro Vancouver infrastructure for a 13.5 m Vessel Draft would be similar to those for the 12.8 m Vessel Draft; however, the Lulu Island-Delta Main would need to be replaced with a new crossing as the dredging would expose the pipe and the South Surrey Interceptor would need to be replaced as there is also insufficient clearance to install scour protection.