Fir Bank Stabilization and Coldwater Realignment

The Ministry of Environment has retained the services of Associated Engineering to design this project and administer the construction. Associated Engineering has a history of work in the valley, especially on the Coldwater River projects.

The Ministry of Environment, through the experienced Environmental Disaster Operations Team (EDOT), has led the engineering, procurement, and construction of this project. The Ministry’s capacity and delivery support complement the City’s ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts following the 2021 Atmospheric River Event.

The City of Merritt, Flood Mitigation Department supports the project through community and Indigenous engagement, program reporting, and other project-management functions. The City of Merritt will assume responsibility of the completed infrastructure once the construction is complete, and it will form part of the flood mitigative works on the Coldwater River.

Funding for these works come through transfers from the federal government under Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements in response to the 2021 Atmospheric River Event.

The project has been designed to minimize impacts within the active river channel wherever possible. Early in the construction season, during low-flow conditions prior to freshet, the river channel was widened, and four engineered log habitat structures were installed to provide fish habitat. This widened channel was utilized during the spring freshet as river levels rose.

During the least-risk timing window for fish, river flows were gradually redirected away from the left bank into the widened channel. During this phase, a qualified environmental professional oversaw fish salvage activities to safely capture and relocate any fish remaining within the isolated section back into the flowing river.

With the left bank isolated from the active river channel, construction of the Fir Avenue bank stabilization works is now underway. This isolation allows the work to be completed in dry conditions, minimizing sediment release and reducing potential impacts to fish and fish habitat.

Environmental protection is a primary consideration throughout the Fir Avenue Bank Stabilization Project. The project follows the mitigation hierarchy, a widely accepted environmental management framework that focuses on avoiding impacts wherever possible and minimizing impacts that cannot be avoided.

Avoid – Environmental protection begins during the planning and design phase of the project. Environmental assessments were completed to identify sensitive resources, including fish and fish habitat, and the project was designed to avoid or reduce impacts wherever practical. This included selecting construction methods, sequencing the work, and scheduling in-river activities during the least-risk timing window for fish.

Minimize – Where impacts cannot be completely avoided, a range of best management practices are implemented to reduce their extent and duration. Examples include isolating work areas from the flowing river, installing erosion and sediment control measures, relocating fish from isolated areas before construction begins, limiting the construction footprint, preventing equipment leaks through regular inspections, and continuously monitoring water quality and environmental

A full-time Environmental Monitor is on site whenever work is occurring in or near the water to ensure all required measures and plans are followed and to respond immediately should an incident occur.

Construction of the Fir Avenue Bank Stabilization Project requires several federal, provincial, and municipal permits and approvals to ensure the work is completed in a manner that protects the environment and complies with applicable legislation.

The primary approvals include:

Federal Fisheries Act Authorization – Issued by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), this authorization allows the project to proceed under specific conditions designed to protect fish and fish habitat. It includes detailed requirements for construction methods, environmental monitoring, fish protection measures, and habitat restoration. DFO also issued a Fish Collection Permit authorizing qualified professionals to safely capture and relocate fish from isolated work areas before construction begins.

Water Sustainability Act Approval – Issued by the Province of British Columbia, this approval authorizes works in and about a stream and includes conditions to protect water quality, aquatic habitat, and downstream users throughout construction.

Fish and Wildlife Permits – The Province also issued permits authorizing qualified environmental professionals to handle fish and wildlife where necessary to safely relocate animals from active construction areas.

Additional Approvals – Other project approvals include provincial Crown land authorizations, municipal permits, and other regulatory requirements necessary to complete the work.

The project has an established least-risk timing window for in-stream work to protect fish during sensitive life stages such as spawning, egg incubation, and juvenile rearing. For the Coldwater River, activities that have the potential to disturb fish or fish habitat are generally restricted to this approved timing window unless additional regulatory authorization is obtained.

By scheduling the most sensitive in-stream activities during the least-risk timing window and following the environmental protection measures required under the project permits, the project minimizes potential impacts to fish and fish habitat while allowing critical riverbank stabilization work to be completed safely.

The least risk timing window for this project was July 22 to August 1, 2026. We obtained authorisation to extend this window from July 15th to August 15th. We anticipate that we will complete instream works by Aug 10, 2026.

Yes, an environmental monitor is on site during all instream activities.

Protecting water quality is a key priority during construction. The contractor, RSI, has developed a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) that outlines the procedures and requirements for monitoring water quality, controlling sediment, and preventing and responding to spills throughout the project.

RSI is required to comply with provincial water quality guidelines and the conditions of the project's regulatory approvals. A qualified Environmental Monitor conducts regular water quality monitoring at frequencies specified in the CEMP and permit conditions, with additional monitoring undertaken during higher-risk construction activities or following events that could affect water quality. If monitoring indicates that thresholds are being approached or exceeded, construction activities are modified or suspended until appropriate corrective measures have been implemented.

Preventing spills is the first priority. Measures implemented on the project to minimize the risk of spills include:

• Daily inspection and maintenance of construction equipment to identify leaks before equipment is put into service.
• Use of environmentally acceptable hydraulic fluids in equipment operating within environmentally sensitive areas.
• Refuelling and servicing of equipment away from the river whenever practical, with a minimum setback of 30 metres from the watercourse.
• Storage of fuels and other hazardous materials in designated, protected areas.

RSI has also developed a comprehensive Spill Response Plan as part of the CEMP. Spill response kits are located throughout the project site and carried on construction equipment. All personnel are trained in spill response procedures, which include immediately stopping the source of the spill, containing the affected area, cleaning up contaminated materials, notifying the appropriate project personnel and regulatory agencies as required, and documenting the incident.

Before construction began, a series of environmental studies were completed to identify sensitive fish, wildlife, and habitat features within and adjacent to the project area. These studies included an Environmental Overview Assessment, a Fish and Fish Habitat Assessment, and a Tree Cavity Assessment. The findings from these assessments were incorporated into the project's Environmental Management Plan (EMP), which guides environmental protection measures throughout construction.

The assessments documented 15 fish species and 25 wildlife species of conservation concern that have been observed or are known to occur within the project area. The studies also identified important habitat features, including fish spawning and rearing habitat, riparian vegetation, large woody debris, wildlife trees, and other environmentally sensitive areas that required protection during construction.

The information gathered through these assessments was used to develop the project design, establish environmental protection measures, determine appropriate construction timing, and identify areas requiring monitoring or avoidance.

There are a number of features incorporated into the design that will enhance fish habitat while also helping to protect the riverbank. These include:

• Large wood structures: Four large wood structures have been constructed to provide cover and refuge for fish during different life stages and flow conditions. Since construction, fish have been observed using these structures extensively.
• Additional large woody debris: Woody debris has been placed at various locations throughout the channel to provide additional cover and habitat for fish while also helping to slow and redirect water flows.
• Vegetation: Riparian vegetation will be planted as part of the project. Once established, the vegetation will provide shade, cover and additional habitat for fish, particularly along the south side of the river. Plant roots will also help stabilize the riverbank.
• Spawning gravel: Spawning gravel will be placed within the low-flow channel to provide suitable areas for fish to spawn.
• Riprap flow deflectors: The bank protection has been designed with features that redirect and spread water flows toward the constructed fish habitat. This helps ensure that the habitat remains connected to the river under a range of flow conditions, while the riprap provides protection against erosion and further bank damage.

Together, these features are intended to create a more diverse and stable river channel that provides fish with areas for cover, feeding and spawning, while also reducing the risk of future erosion and damage to the riverbank.

Vegetation removal was minimised wherever possible. Vegetation within the project footprint, or vegetation that presented a safety hazard during construction, was removed. There was an access trail at the downstream portion of the project that had to be developed that saw the removal of 10-12 trees.

The project includes the restoration of the riverbank using native riparian vegetation that is well suited to the Coldwater River environment. Species to be planted include black cottonwood, sandbar willow, and red-osier dogwood, which provide important benefits such as bank stabilization, shade for the river, habitat for fish and wildlife, and long-term ecological resilience.

The contractor, RSI, is responsible for establishing the vegetation and is required to provide a two-year plant warranty. During this period, the planted areas will be inspected regularly, and any plants that do not survive will be replaced to achieve the required establishment targets. Watering and other maintenance activities will be undertaken as necessary to promote successful establishment, particularly during the initial growing seasons.

In addition to the contractor's warranty obligations, the project is subject to a long-term environmental monitoring program required under the project's regulatory authorizations. Monitoring will continue for 10 years following construction to assess the performance of the restoration works, including the survival and establishment of the riparian vegetation. The project has a target plant survival rate of at least 80%, and if monitoring identifies deficiencies, adaptive management measures such as supplemental planting or maintenance may be implemented to help achieve the project's restoration objectives.

The project will continue to be monitored for 10 years after construction to make sure the riverbank stabilization and habitat enhancements are working as intended. This long-term monitoring is a requirement of the project's environmental approvals and helps ensure the investment continues to provide benefits for both the river and the surrounding community.

Monitoring will include regular inspections of the stabilized riverbank, the health and survival of the native plants, and the condition of the fish habitat features that were constructed as part of the project. The results will be reviewed and shared with the regulatory agencies.

The Coldwater River is a naturally changing river. High flows and floods can move gravel, shift the river channel, and relocate logs and other natural habitat features over time. Because of this, some habitat features may change position or become less active as the river naturally evolves. These natural processes are expected and have been considered in the design of the project.

Construction works are expected to be wrapping up at the end of August, but the planting works will occur in the fall when the live plant stakes are dormant.

Protecting archaeological and cultural heritage resources is an important part of the project. Before construction began, an Archaeological Overview Assessment was completed to identify the potential for archaeological resources within the project area and to inform construction planning.

During excavation activities, a qualified Cultural Monitor is present on site to observe the work and help ensure that any archaeological or culturally significant features are identified and protected. If anything of archaeological significance is encountered, work in the immediate area will stop and the appropriate procedures will be followed to protect the site and notify the relevant authorities before work resumes.

These measures help ensure that the project's environmental and cultural responsibilities are met while construction proceeds safely and respectfully.