Rocky View County (RVC) council unanimously approved a budget adjustment on July 29, to allow a $500,000 grant, received through the Province’s Flood Recovery Erosion Control Program (FRECP), to complete an erosion control project at a ranch northeast of Bragg Creek.
RVC Manager of Infrastructure and Operations Byron Riemann said the Moose Hill Ranch will be the last of 10 projects the County has secured funding to complete and work is expected to take place in 2015.
The County hired a river engineering consultant to investigate, evaluate and identify bank armouring erosion control projects along the Elbow River, within the county. About $1.1 million of the total funding was allocated to bank armouring projects for several locations within the Hamlet of Bragg Creek on Nov. 8, 2013.
“Anytime you replace armoury, you’re protecting more than just the landowner that fronts the river, you’re protecting everyone else that is a neighbour to that project as well,” said Riemann.
A County report indicated the next steps will include discussing the scope of the project with the landowner, engineering designs, regulatory approvals and, construction.
Work is expected to begin immediately to replace a bridge culvert crossing Range Road 252 between Township Road 280 and Township Road 273A, which collapsed in April due to high water levels during spring runoff.
RVC council approved a budget adjustment of $406,000 for the project. The total includes engineering and construction costs.
Local Councillor Greg Boehlke expressed the urgency and importance of getting the project completed as soon as possible.
According to a County report, the culvert failure and roadway collapse forced Range Road 252 to be closed since April. A 13.5-kilometre detour is currently in effect, impacting five homesteads, the Hutterian Brethren Church Colony and two oil/gas well sites.
