Why Erosion Control Matters

Erosion control for the cities of Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission is critical.

Why erosion control matters specifically for these three cities, located in the heart of the Fraser Valley, is the safety and preservation of the Matsqui Dike.

Although the eroding land is part of Matsqui Trail Regional Park, under the jurisdiction of Metro Vancouver, and the Fraser River is a provincial responsibility, Abbotsford city council remains concerned and involved. The impact of a breach in the dike and the potential flooding in Abbotsford could compromise key infrastructure – including the water treatment plant, the railways, the Abbotsford-Mission bridge and highway, as well as 12,000 acres of farmland.

This is why in 2014 the city of Abbotsford spent more than $1 million to fix erosion on the banks of the Fraser River, and city council approved budget of $180,000 to fund a study of the ongoing issue occurring on the river’s Abbotsford banks.

“left unattended, we could see catastrophe.”

Coun. Henry Braun

Over One Millions Dollars Spent by the city of Abbotsford to Fix Erosion Issues in 2014

Rob Isaac, the city’s director of wastewater and drainage, said the study will be completed by Northwest Hydraulics Consultants, a group that has done consulting for the Fraser Basin Council, a non-profit organization that aims to advance sustainability in the Fraser River basin.  They will also work collaboratively with the provincial flood management group.

He states, “They are the technical experts that we want to be partners with to make sure that the results we get, they agree with and they vet along the way.”

The Abbotsford Council expressed optimism that the study would convince senior governments of the severity of the issue and the necessity of a long-term solution.

Coun. Henry Braun said he wasn’t thrilled to spend more money on the report, but he saw it as a good investment to leverage the provincial and federal governments. He understands that the city cannot afford to take on the whole project of fixing the river bank issues, but “left unattended, we could see catastrophe.”

Understanding the risk of flooding that can occur with having the mighty Fraser River in our backyard, and ensuring erosion control, is an important mitigating factor in preventative maintenance of flooding within the Fraser Valley.

Read more of the Erosion Control Article in the Abby News.

by  Alex Butler - Abbotsford News

posted Jul 13, 2014 at 1:00 PM