Merritt - Coldwater River Flood Mitigation Pine Street Area

pre-construction

The Merritt - Coldwater River Flood Mitigation Pine Street Area project (the Project) consists of the purchase, remediation, and restoration of approximately 5 hectares of riparian and riverbed habitat to increase capacity to adapt to climate change impacts, natural disasters, and/or extreme weather events. The project includes restoration of floodplain on the water side of the setback dike to allow more room for the river, essentially widening the mouth of the Coldwater River where it meets the Nicola River. A section of the project includes bedload removal for conveyance improvements in this area as well. Acquisition of four private properties on the water side of the proposed diking structure will be required to accomplish this habitat restoration. The November 2021 Coldwater River Flood caused significant damage and failure of the water and wastewater utilities necessitating the evacuation of the entire City of Merritt. This project plus the rebuilding and extension of the existing dikes will serve to protect vital infrastructure in this corridor. The Project works include: - Bedload removal where sediment deposits from the November 2021 flood have inhibited water flow; - Property acquisition - 4 properties (600, 800, 801, and 1330 Pine Street), voluntary buyout at market value; - Hazardous building assessments, home demolition, and removal of materials; - Restoration of the land; - Relocation of the overhead utility pole; and, - Replacement of the FortisBC Gas Main that was damaged in the November 2021 flood.