Riverbank stabilization work may soon get underway
15,000 TONNES OF ROCK BEING HAULED INTO TOWN
By Dan Singleton
Round Up staff
Pull quote: “I am very glad to see us moving ahead.” - Mayor Annette Clews
Long awaited riverbank stabilization and flood protection work along the west bank of the Red Deer River in Sundre will hopefully be completed before the runoff of the west country snowpack, says Mayor Annette Clews.
The project will see riprap spurs – which are jetties built about 30 to 40 metres out from the riverbank – constructed upstream from Greenwood Campground on the west side of the river.
The spurs will consist of so-called Class 3 riprap, which are large rocks about a metre square. In all, about 15,000 tonnes of rock will be used in the project.
“We are very hopeful that we can get the work done before spring runoff in May,” said Clews. “That's typically when the runoff starts. I am very glad to see us moving ahead. I am hopeful we can meet the timelines.”
Riverbank erosion along the west bank of the river has continued unabated since 2005, pushing the river closer and closer to the Riverside RV Park and other infrastructure.
Completing the riverbank stabilization and flood control project will help protect residents and infrastructure, she said.
Tenders for the $2.4 million project closed on Dec. 23 and now council will be reviewing the numerous tenders that were submitted, she said.
“We have not accepted a tender yet, but I do believe that will be happening in January. We have received a number of tenders,” she said.
On Dec. 23 project applications were submitted by the Town of Sundre to the federal Department of Oceans and Fisheries, Alberta Environment, Alberta Transportation, and Sustainable Resource Development.
“We should know fairly soon from the DFO if we are going to need more study,” said Ron Baker, director of operational services. “They've got to look at this now and decide if they can give us permission to roll ahead without any more steps.
“They may want to do an environmental assessment, and if they do that could delay the project. We are expecting to hear right away because all through this process we've been working with them. We've had them to all our meetings, they know all about it, and they are up to speed on it.”
Crews will soon start hauling the riprap rock to a storage site at the very south side of Riverside RV Park.
“We will probably start hauling the rock in the next couple weeks,” he said.
In February the provincial government announced that Sundre would receive $2.4 million to help with riverbank stabilization on the west bank of the Red Deer River in town.
The funding came after many months of lobbying by the Save our Sundre (SOS) group and other local and area stakeholders.
The SOS committee was formed under the auspices of the Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce to lobby the government for money to conduct riverbank stabilization and flood protection work in Sundre.
Just prior to the province announcing the $2.4 million funding for the Sundre project, the SOS officials said: “We cannot help but be concerned with the lack of progress in solving the problem of the erosion of the riverbank within the town of Sundre.
“The continued riverbank erosion damage being done within our town began with the disaster of the 2005 flood, which continued every year since. This is still an ongoing disaster.”
The currently proposed project will cost the entire $2.4 million, said Mayor Clews.
