Hammersley Pump Upgrade Proposal Phase I: Assessment and Conceptual Design | |
Location: Fraser Valley,
Project Summary
Purpose: The ultimate goal of the project is to replace the pumping station and improve the watershed’s drainage, water quality, and fish access. We are proposing the first phase towards achieving this goal, including generating preliminary conceptual designs for upgrading the pumping station to allow for greater drainage capacity and improved access for fish and other aquatic biota within Mountain Slough and acquiring important environmental data and knowledge about the ecology and hydrology of the local watershed.
Methods: (for Phase 1)
1. A steering committee will be formed comprising of representatives from DFO, District of Kent, the Fraser Valley Regional Watersheds Coalition, and other interested stakeholders including First Nations and provincial Ministries. This committee will assess project needs and details, will derive a Terms of Reference for expected works, and will help select an appropriate consultant to perform the agreed-upon works.
2. Consultants will collect existing data and will collect required field data in order to develop a hydraulic model of the watershed and the pumping station. Data will be made available to Community Mapping Network if interested.
3. Based on the available and collected information and modeling, preliminary conceptual designs of various pump options and upgrades will be created including the respective pumping capacity, environmental impact, and estimated construction costs associated with each option.
4. Based on these preliminary results, a short-list of suitable design options will be identified by the Steering Committee.
Expected Outcomes:
* Greater understanding of the hydrological conditions and requirements of the Mountain Slough drainage area
* Preliminary conceptual designs of various options and upgrades that will address current issues, and a short-list of preferred design options
* Improved relationships between project partners, relevant government agencies, and local First Nations and landowners
* Database and survey results of interested local landowners, issues, and stewardship potential
* Continued advancements towards the knowledge and capability required for informed and collaborative decision-making that will help eventually achieve the desired fish-friendly upgrade to the Hammersley Pumping Station.
Final Results
The Mountain Slough, near Agassiz, BC, has been identified as a priority slough by many different levels of government: the Ministry of Environment for its breeding colony of Oregon Spotted Frog; by DFO for the detrimental affects of the existing pumping station (Hammersley Pump); and, by the District of Kent for the inadequate pumping capacity offered by the Hammersley Pumping Station to local residents and farmers. It is an old pumping station that is in need of a substantial upgrade in the near future; however, past conflicts, distrust, and sensitivities are still very much a part of the landscape. The goal of our project was to initiate discussions and partnerships needed for an
eventual upgrade of this site, so that when the time is right to pursue upgrades, the local community and stakeholders are more informed, more aware of all of the issues, more trusting of each other, and more willing to work together for a common solution.
To achieve these goals, a collaborative project steering community was formed that included representation from the District of Kent (staff and councillors), Fisheries and Oceans Canada, BC Ministry of Environment, the Fraser Valley Regional Watersheds Coalition, the South Coast Conservation Program, the local drainage committee, and local residents. This group met on a number of occasions to discuss the project, the slough, issues and concerns, and how to
move forward. A consultant was hired to do an initial feasibility study on flow volumes and options. These results will be presented to the committee once completed (the meeting has been rescheduled twice already and is currently planned for March 31), after which the committee will be able to identify the most preferred option for this site.
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The perfect solution! I think now would be enough fish, so as provide a more favorable environment.))
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