Peace Project Water Use Plan
Williston Debris Removal Physical Works
Implementation Year 7
Reference: GMS WORKS 22
2015 Debris Removal Annual Report
Study Period: June 2015-October 2015
Chu Cho Industries L.P.
1877 Queensway
Prince George, BC V2L 1L9
Dan Wiebe
General Manager
(250) 613-6566
January 12, 2016
WILLISTION RESERVOIR DEBRIS REMOVAL
2015 FINAL REPORT
Prepared for: BC Hydro
Prepared by: Chu Cho Industries L.P.
Worked Preformed:
June 14, 2015 - October 1, 2015
Beaches Worked:
Lafferty North & Lafferty South
Collins South, Moody
Hydro Creek, TKD Beach
Overview:
On June 4, 2015 Chu Cho Industries L.P. (Chu Cho) began preparations for the
2015 Williston Reservoir Debris Removal Program (Debris Program). Chu Cho
and BC Hydro representatives completed an aerial reconnaissance of the Williston
Reservoir to prioritize treatment areas. While selecting the treatment areas the
factors for consideration were: accessibility, operational feasibility and priority
debris accumulation areas. Upon agreement to specific treatment areas Chu Cho
began preliminary work. This work comprised of: data collection sheets for
environmental and archeology assessments (“Field Monitor Forms”), Site Specific
Safety Management Plans (SSSMP), EMP, budgets and cost tracking programs,
along with other logistical considerations. Real time costing allowed work to be
completed on budget.
The proposed work for the 2015 Debris Program focused on creating large debris
piles at predetermined locations. For future operations the debris piles were
located in areas that may be accessible by barge. Chu Cho also ensured that moves
between sites were planned and executed in the most logistical and cost effective
manner.
Prior to machine access all sites were assessed by an Environmental and
Archeology Monitor to determine any environmental and or archeological
significance. Millennia also reviewed these sites for high potential and AOA.The
monitors marked out any areas deemed significant as machine free zones. To
reduce the environmental impact haul roads were minimized and, where
operationally feasible, equipment operators traveled back and forth on the same
tracks. These proactive approaches ensured minimal disturbance to soil and
wildlife habitat.
Work commenced on June 15th, 2015 when Chu Cho began mobilizing equipment
at Moody Beach. Work wrapped up at Moody Beach on June 22nd, 2015 and
transportation of the equipment to Lafferty Beach began. A sizable amount of
debris along Lafferty was removed from the shoreline resulting in three large piles
being created at this site. On July 21st, 2015, the debris crew began moving
equipment to Collins Bay and worked south of the camp until August 5th, 2015.
After completing the planned Debris Program at Collins Bay Beach equipment was
moved to Hydro Creek and Tsay Keh Dene Beaches. Moving forward weather
played a key role in the daily work plan at the Hydro Creek site and on occasion
the debris flow was impacted by extreme winds. During this time crews worked
both areas, taking advantage of days where the weather would permit them to
work primarily in the Hydro Creek site. Demobilization for the Debris Program
began on October 1st, 2015.
This year a new application for debris removal in creeks was attempted by Chu
Cho. Large three-pronged hooks with a tow rope attached were custom fabricated.
Due to shallow water around creeks the tug was not operationally feasible to use in
conjunction with these hooks. Therefore an alternative was attempted. The hooks
were tossed into the debris flow and slowly pulled out with an excavator. The
process was somewhat slower but minimal impact around any creek banks was
achieved as the equipment was able to remain outside of the machine free zones.
Although this method was not as productive as we originally planned, additional
modifications and further trials is recommended to determine actual effectiveness.
Pile Locations:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Moody
Lafferty
Lafferty
Lafferty
Collins Bay
Pelly Dump
56 20' 4.92"N
56 20' 38.58"N
56 20' 34.26"N
56 22' 1.26"N
56 25' 56.86"N
56 51' 47.60" N
124 20' 3.42"W
124 20' 8.04"W
124 21' 12.00"W
124 20' 42.96"W
124 24' 8.90"W
124 58' 15.30"W
Debris Pile - Lafferty Beach
Equipment Utilized:
30-Tonne Rock Truck (2)
20-Tonne Rock Truck (2)
330 Excavator
320 Excavator
D4 Dozer
Pick-ups (2-4)
Barge & Tug Boat
Yamaha side by side
ETV
Production:
Production was steady throughout the duration of the project. To ensure this Chu
Cho implemented a new shift schedule this year and, as in past years, had a
mechanic make regular site visits. The schedule consisted of five days on five days
off. There were two crews of an average of 10 workers per shift.
allowing for the work to continue every day. The new schedule also employed
more workers and allowed for the training of new workers.
As encountered in previous seasons the volume of debris was dependent on
weather. Down time was minimal as Chu Cho’s mechanic was on site regularly.
Load counts varied from day to day, as this was dependent on the distance
between debris and the pile location.
The volume of debris was calculated differently this year. Load counts were tallied
on a daily basis and Chu Cho brought in a local log scaler and several rock truck
loads were scaled in order to determine a more accurate amount of debris volume
being removed from the beaches. The average scaled debris truck load was 6m3
which was performed during a total of 90 working days.
Date
June 15 - 22
June 22 - July 21
July 21 - Aug 5
Aug 5 - Oct 1
Location
Loads
Moody
193
Lafferty
899
Collins Bay
465
TKD Beach /Hydro Creek
300
TOTAL 1,857
Cubic Meters
1,158
5,394
2,790
1,800
11,142
Lafferty North - before Debris Removal Program
Lafferty South - after Debris Removal Program
Safety:
Building on previous years safety initiatives the Chu Cho debris crew conducted
themselves with a proactive approach towards safety. Through the duration of the
Debris Program the crew actively participated in daily tail gate meetings and Chu
Cho’s preventative maintenance program. This ensured that all safety concerns
were communicated with the crew, as well as equipment being properly maintained
to minimize the chances of any malfunctions. Along with a Notice of Project being
submitted prior to project start, reegular site and equipment safety inspections
were also completed by the Site Safety Coordinator.
The primary safety concerns faced during the operations were similar to those
encountered in prior years, which gave experienced crew members an advantage as
they were able to foresee and mitigate hazards before they became an issue. These
concerns include, but are not limited to: weather conditions, wildlife, and new and
young workers.
Weather conditions that caused safety concerns during operations included risk of
thermal exposure and/or fire during the dry hot spell encountered in late June and
into July. During this time workers were encouraged to take micro-breaks and
drink plenty of water. They were also instructed to smoke in designated areas and
ensure cigarette butts were disposed of in a safe manner to avoid any risk of
igniting a fire. Spark watch was also initiated as needed during this time.
As the operations progressed the weather turned to rain, causing the piles that rock
truck operators reversed onto to become slippery, and also caused access roads to
deteriorate. Workers were encouraged to periodically reassess their work area and
to communicate any concerns. At times the rock truck operators used alternate
areas of the debris piles to dump their loads to avoid the slippery conditions
encountered when reversing onto the pile. Drivers and operators used extreme
caution to ensure the safety of themselves and their coworkers while these
conditions were present.
As the operations were conducted during calving season the risk of encountering
aggressive wildlife was also a concern. To mitigate this hazard the buddy system
was used and workers communicated all wildlife sighting either through the
morning tail gate meeting or by radio during the work day.
This season four new workers joined the debris crew. Chu Cho supervision
ensured that a comprehensive site safety orientation was completed and new
workers were partnered with an experienced employee until supervisors deemed
them ready to work on their own.
During 2015 Debris Program there were no loss time injuries, and any incidents
were reported to BC Hydro. Workers submitted approximately 23 hazard ID cards
throughout the project, identifying daily hazards on the work site. These hazards
were discussed at the daily tail gate meetings.
Safety and Maintenance Inspections
Environmental:
Prior to commencing debris removal at the selected sites Chu Cho’s environmental
monitors reviewed the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) prepared by
DWB Consulting Services Ltd. Reference material from similar projects was also
reviewed. This material was provided by BC Hydro and included: Draft Guidelines
for Machine Operators Removing and Burning Debris from BC Hydro Reservoirs
prepared by Golder and Associates Ltd., correspondence between Department of
Fisheries- Jayson Kurtz and BC Hydro- Gordon Boyd in regards to 2005 Arrow
Reservoir Debris Management and the BC Hydro Reservoir Debris Removal
Guidebook.
The environmental monitors also attended training with DWB’s QEP, Mark
Thompson in Prince George, which covered blue listed amphibians known to
inhabit the general area in which debris removal was scheduled. Following training
Chu Cho environmental monitors requested a follow up site visit to review
environmental practices. DWB QEP was able to accommodate this request and
came for a site visit while the crew was working at Collins Bay beach.
To ensure consistency of the information being recorded and shared, Chu Cho
worked closely with DWB Consulting and Millennia Research to develop “Field
Monitors Forms”. This effort improved the accuracy and consistency of the
information being gathered from the field. This newly implemented process will
require additional and on-going training to maximize accuracy and consistency. A
copy of this form is attached at the end of this report.
Throughout the course of the project Chu Cho’s environmental monitors walked
each work site and marked out areas of environmental significance as no work
zone buffers. Vegetated areas, piles with advanced stages of decay with vegetation
growing throughout the pile and wildlife corridors were some of the criteria for no
work zones. These buffered areas were marked out to ensure all piles with
advanced decomposition were not disturbed, along with areas of shoreline that
were at risk of further erosion. Areas with high amounts of vegetation and
drainages into the reservoir were also marked out as machine free zones.
Chu Cho’s environmental monitors recorded a variety of species as using the
shoreline in which debris removal was slated for, this activity was identified
through tracks, feces and visual sighting. Some areas were frequented more than
others, most notably Lafferty beach. Although these areas were often utilized by a
number of species they were of a transient nature and no dens or nests were
observed in or near the immediate worksites.
Dash areas were also strategically established in high traffic areas so wildlife could
utilize the cover of piles when accessing the shoreline. Some piles were also left in
their original location due to advanced decomposition and/or advanced vegetation
present around it; all piles that were proposed for relocation were inspected and no
signs of dens or nest were observed.
Throughout the course of the debris removal two non-reportable spills occurred
on the Moody Beach and one reported spill into the Williston Reservoir at Collins
Bay Beach. All spills were contained and cleaned by qualified spill responders.
Chu Cho environmental monitors noted that the area on Lafferty Beach where a
barrier of large woody debris had been placed in previous years to mitigate small
woody debris from floating out into the reservoir during the high water, had been
somewhat effective. Although the barrier showed obvious signs of erosion, the
immediate area behind the barrier still had a fair amount of small woody debris
behind it along with vegetation, primarily grass and small willows further back
towards the tree line. This area was just outside of the work area and created
desirable wetland habitat for wildlife such as Sandhill Cranes.
It is important to note the reservoirs highest level in years prior, as this year the
reservoir was extremely high resulting in the barrier not providing the same
protective result as observed early in the season.
Archeology:
As in prior years of the debris program, no equipment operations were permitted
until Chu Cho’s archeology assistant evaluated the work site. This year’s
archeology assistant underwent an intensive one-on-one training with Millennia
Research Archeologists. This was a comprehensive hands on training covering
both the theory, which consisted of a variety of background data of the project and
all applicable legislation, as well as the field work portion, which covered
identification of artifacts and data collection.
Chu Cho’s archeology assistant was also provided with maps and a Garmin GPS
showing previously documented sites along with areas that had a high potential to
contain undocumented sites. These areas were avoided to ensure no disturbance of
any existing or potential artifacts.
Chu Cho’s archeology assistant walked each site prior to machine access checking
for any artifacts. An egress survey for each site was also completed to ensure that
any artifacts that may have been brought to the surface due to equipment
operations would be captured.
It is important to note that the concentration of recent artifact discoveries
documented around the Williston Reservoir are on the exposed beaches that are
most accessible when the reservoir is low. The high water levels experienced
during the debris program this year did not leave these areas accessible. The
machines worked in the exposed areas that were in close proximity to the tree line.
Each proposed haul road was surveyed by the archeology monitor prior to access
by the machines as stated above.
While completing an egress survey on Collins Bay beach the Archeology Monitor
identified a flake. Upon the discovery an informal tail gate meeting was held
communicating the discovery to the machine operators as an area to avoid and a
thirty meter buffer area was established as a machine free zone. Coordinates of the
discovery were taken and the discovery reported to Millennia Research.
Haul Road and Vegetated Leave Areas
Clean Up in Front of Collins Bay
Conclusion/Recommendations:
An initial aerial survey is required to assess operational working areas and
locations for 2016 work plan. A mid project aerial survey is also
recommended to determine where the moving debris flows are located. This
would assist in determining if modification to the present work plan is
necessary. For example, changing from land to water based operations or
vice versa.
Explore the possibility of increased access to beaches that have not
previously been treated. For example, Manson Arm. This could potentially
minimize some of the large debris flows because this appears to be where a
substantial amount of debris originates from.
As each beach has unique characteristics a flexible work plan is required for
effective debris operations. Characteristics influencing the specific approach
include: terrain, water depth and accessibility. The aerial survey will identify
potential work sites, however a detailed physical assessment at ground level
is necessary to determine which approach would be most effective.
The option of focusing on stream inlet debris removal needs further
exploration. This has been an area of concern for a variety of reasons such
as; fish habitat, recreational use, wildlife and overall bio-diversity of streams.
Further discussion and review is suggested in regard to future disposal of
existing debris piles.
BC HYDRO
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN
WILLISTON RESERVOIR DEBRIS REMOVAL
Project Name:
QEP:
QEP Contact:
May 29, 2015
Action Taken/Recommended
Description of Event
Environmental Incident Review
Issue Description
Date
Completed
Causal Factors
Target
Completion
Date
Mitigation Measures
[email protected] O: 250.562.5541, C: 250.961.9520
Mark Thompson
WILLISTON RESERVOIR DEBRIS REMOVAL
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SUBMISSION REPORT
Location
Location
Environmental Issue
Report Period:
Environmental Monitors on Site:
Responsible
Date
Identified
Environmental Tracking
Date
Status
Issue Tracking
ID No.
Event #
Weather
Weather Conditions
Other
WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES (Including names of contractors on site)
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND ISSUES
DWB CONSULTING SERVICES LTD.
PLANNED FUTURE ACTIVITIES FOR NEXT REPORTING PERIOD
File: 15142-025
07/07/2015
BC HYDRO
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN
WILLISTON RESERVOIR DEBRIS REMOVAL
INCIDENT REPORT SUMMARY
SITE PHOTO LOG (Identify with ID No. and/or Event # above)
Photo 2:
Site Photo Log
Photo 1:.
Photo 4:
DWB CONSULTING SERVICES LTD.
Photo 3:
File: 15142-025
07/07/2015