Beginning Monday, October 28, 2024, crews will start work to rehabilitate the advanced erosion in Lower Springhill Creek adjacent to Xget’tem’ Trail within the Sahali Terrace Nature Park. As a result, Xget’tem’ Trail will be closed to trail users Monday through Friday from October 28, 2024, until spring 2025.

The popular trail will reopen for trail users on Friday evenings for weekend use. Trail closure information will be posted at trailheads. As the trail is considered an all ages and abilities facility, there are no suitable equivalent routes as alternatives.

The full scope of work will include upgrading the drainage pipework that supplies the creek, armouring portions of the creek with rip-rap (large rocks) that slows the water flow rate and prevents future erosion, and restorative planting.

Springhill Creek serves as the major drainage corridor for Upper Sahali and a significant portion of Aberdeen. A substantial rain event in 2014 induced massive erosion in the Springhill Creek corridor. Spot repairs of the major erosion sites were completed, and the remaining sections of the channel now require erosion protection works to support adequate conveyance of existing flows and those resulting from future development.

“This project is funded by the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, with the intention of protecting the channel from erosion from existing and future development flows and integrating the design into the natural setting,” said Matt Kachel, the City’s Infrastructure Delivery Divisional Manager.

Upon request from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, no mature trees will be removed during the project. All mature conifers will be retained; however, some smaller trees and large shrubs will need to be removed to locally reshape the creek and preserve the integrity of Xget’tem' Trail. Non-invasive and regionally sourced trees will be replanted in their place, improving the ground cover long-term beyond what it currently is.

The City has comprehensive in-house staff working on this project with specialization in engineering, environmental services, landscaping, and park maintenance. The City has also engaged a team of qualified professionals in service agreements to assist with various stormwater projects on an as-required basis within the community. This includes engineers (water resource, geotechnical, electrical, civil, and structural), a landscape architect, biologists, an agrologist, archaeologists, certified technicians, and experienced contractors.

Authorities, including Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Provincial Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, are also being consulted throughout the project, as the City is deeply committed to ensuring full compliance with their recommendations during work.

When complete, Xget’tem’ Trail will return to full operation and will not be notably modified by the works.