Notice of Intent to Make a Determination

Big River First Nation Reserve Drainage Re-Establishment - Public Comments invited

April 16, 2024 - Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Big River First Nation Reserve Drainage Re-Establishment, to be located on Big River First Nation, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination.

Written comments must be submitted by May 15, 2024 to:

Indigenous Services Canada
Alvin Hamilton Building, 1783 Hamilton Street

Regina, SK  S4P 2B6

Telephone: 306-581-3134
Email: isc-skenv@sac-isc.gc.ca

Proposed Project

Big River First Nation is proposing a new clear span bridge over the Big River to replace the three existing 2.3 meter diameter culverts. The project will consist of removing existing culverts, excavating for a new channel bed to match existing upstream and downstream channel bed, installing 3:1 sloped embankments at the bridge armored with rip rap in and near the water to prevent erosion during high flows. Construction of the new bridge abutments and wing walls will occur at the top of the embankment. A new concrete superstructure will be erected over the water. The road elevation will be increased by approximately 1 meter. The bridge opening will be sized to pass the 1:100 year design flows without over-topping the roadway.

Work is planned to be completed in the summer/fall of 2024 when flow is at its lowest elevation. Excavation will occur to remove the existing culverts and to extend the channel through the road and to build the new abutments. The abutments will be constructed from driven steel pipe pile foundations. The expectation is that the river will continue to flow during construction, either by keeping the culverts in place and/or berming/dewatering the abutment portion only. The embankments on both sides will be re-graded to improve the existing hydraulic conditions and armoured with rip rap. This work will be completed with an excavator. Turbidity curtains will be placed in the stream as required during the embankment work. A new prefabricated concrete superstructure will be erected over the water on the new abutments. The abutment backing wall and wing walls will then be placed. The last items to be constructed will be the bridge rails and roadway tie-ins, followed by adjusting the road elevation to new grades with adjusted embankment grading, seeding and installation of erosion control blankets on all new and disturbed surfaces. The work is anticipated to be performed using heavy equipment such as tracked excavators, cranes, and skid steers.