Bilijk - Stormwater Enhancements for Community Pow Wow Grounds

pre-construction

This project consist of rehabilitating a deteriorating culvert crossing and upgrading the access road to Bilijk First Nation Pow Wow grounds. The culvert is in need of repair due to age and is sensitive to high river levels. It is recommended for upgrades based on a 2021 Community Drainage Assessment. The project scope includes using a trenchless method to slip line the existing culvert with a smaller diameter HDPE pipe. Although the barrel capacity is expected to be reduced slightly, the culvert crossing operates under inlet control during intense rainfall events. A beveled pipe inlet will also improve culvert performance slightly under extreme rainfall and average river level conditions. The project will also upgrade and widen the road to decrease risk of washout and ensure safer access to the community’s Pow Wow grounds and well house. Additionally, the culvert is supporting a critical pipeline to the fish hatchery. Culvert upgrades will include features that support fish passage in the Indian Brook and Murray Brook watercourses, and will decrease the risk of flooding upstream. Failure of the road or culvert could be catastrophic to certain fish species supported at the hatchery. Risk mitigations have been considered to help ensure hatchery operations are unaffected. This project will increase the structural capacity to adapt to climate change impacts and extreme weather.