Columbia Valley Pioneer staff
The RDEK is urging people to stay out of the Cold Spring Creek area as the debris flow mitigation project reaches a significant milestone towards completion.
Electoral Area F director Susan Clovechok says there is still additional work required before full completion, but she expressed her excitement that a new barrier is now fully functional in the event of a debris flow incident.
The area remains an active construction zone and is closed to public access due to a number of unseen safety hazards.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of people staying out of the work area. It is signed and fenced, and we are asking people to respect the closure and stay out,” Clovechok said.
Once weather conditions improve in the spring, the insulation covering the structure during the cold winter months will be removed. Work will resume on railings, minor earthworks, seeding and site cleanup. Permanent fencing will also be installed on the barrier itself.
The project was undertaken to address risks and hazards caused by previous landslides and debris flow incidents in the area.
The issue was the topic of a public information session on January 28 when RDEK officials presented an update and answered questions.
Tom Smith, engineering services supervisor, explained how the concrete structure will work. Any amount of debris or rock will accumulate in the debris basin, which is upstream from the new barrier. This debris will subsequently be removed.
“We now have a way, a nice catchment area to collect all of the debris that comes in (which will be removed by heavy equipment over time),” Smith said.
During question period, one homeowner said she is now paying about $500 per $500,000 of assessed value and expressed worry that figure will double to $1,000 with future projects.
Chief Financial Officer Holly Ronnquist said last year homeowners paid $376, but her numbers don’t include the collection fee from the province, which is 5.25 per cent. So that brought the figure up to $396 for the average residential property.
“This year we are looking at $374 (for the average property).”
Ronnquist said it’s hard to tell what property owners will pay for future projects. “We have to know what the cost is . . . I don’t know if it (taxation) would double . . . I’m not quite sure.”
Ronnquist said the RDEK is building reserves in the next five years, so “that would help with the cost of the next project if we need to do one.”
It was noted that grant funding has covered more than 98 per cent of the $13.6 million Cold Spring Creek project, which is slated for final completion in early summer 2025.
To learn more about the project or get the latest updates, visit: https://engage.rdek.bc.ca/debris.
The concrete outlet structure
PHOTO RDEK
PHOTO RDEK
