QUALICUM BEACH — A major project to protect the community from erosion and ensure its primary drinking water remains intact is now complete.
The Little Qualicum River Erosion Protection project began work in July and recently wrapped up, adding several large rock piles to strategic locations on the riverbank near the Town’s river wellfield, south of Waters Rd.
Interim director of engineering infrastructure service for Qualicum Beach John Manson said “fairly severe” erosion in the area was starting to threaten nearby properties and wells along the river’s south bank.
“Our domestic water wells are in that area, and also there are our neighbours, landowners downstream that also are on that side of the river, and they were also being impacted by the natural erosion that was occurring in the river there. The purpose of the project was to provide a series of small berms out into the river to reduce the velocity of the river on that side.”
The wellfield supplies approximately 90 per cent of the community’s potable water and is one of two main sources of groundwater, the other being the Berwick wellfield.
Almost $1 million worth of funding was used for this project, with $843,700 through the provincial Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding, and $125,000 from the Union of BC Municipalities Disaster Risk Mitigation and Climate Adaptation program.
Using almost $1M in provided funding, the Town of Qualicum Beach recently completed an erosion protection project along the Little Qualicum River. (Image Credit: Town of Qualicum Beach)
The Town said in a release the work also included “habitat enhancement features to support fish and environmental health,” and it was completed on Oct. 23, on time and under budget, according to Manson.
“It was designed with the river hydrologists’ input, and provides just enough velocity to slow the flows down to protect that bank.”
Qualicum Beach operations manager Chris Stanger said they’re “incredibly fortunate” to have access to a high-quality water supply.
“Thinking ahead and protecting our critical infrastructure now is key to safeguarding the integrity of our water supply for this generation and generations to come.”
More information on the project is available here on their website.
The Town said about 1000 cubic meters worth of rock, known as riprap, was used to complete the project. (Image Credit: Town of Qualicum Beach)
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