Residents and businesses will see more construction to Fairmont Creek come early 2017 for the next two phases of theFairmont Creek Debris Flow Mitigation project. Phase 2 and 3 of the Fairmont Creek Debris Flow Mitigation engineering contract have been awarded to Northwest Hydraulic Consultants.

The next stages of the project are in the early preliminary stages with the first step of the project being a detailed design.This design is not expected to be completed until the end of 2016. The Regional District of East Kootenay is hoping to see construction commence in early 2017 with a timeline dependent of the design concept.

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants (NHC) has been operating since 1972 as a water resource management, hydraulics and development company. With a corporate head office in Edmonton, Alta., NHC provides flood protection, water yield assessment and habitat restoration. The company will assess Fairmont Creek and begin the early stages of planning a design for the next phases of the project.

Both phases 2 and 3 of the project will be completed together, with a budget of $1.47 million funded by Emergency BC’sFlood Protection Program. The project includes debris flow barriers upstream in the canyon, modifications to the culvert crossing on the campground road and a rainfall monitoring gauge which will be placed at the Fairmont Ski Hill.

The Fairmont Creek Debris Flow Mitigation project follows debris flow in 2012 and 2013 that left significant damages to the area. Phase 1 of the project widened Fairmont Creek Channel and placed containment berms on both sides of the creek. Thep roject is aimed at reducing the risk of future debris to the community.