Marshall Creek Habitat Offsetting Project
Marshall Creek Habitat Offsetting Project
Location
Abbotsford, BC
Key Services
- Habitat offsetting and ecological restoration to support highway expansion impacts.
- Removal of invasive species, including reed canary grass and Himalayan blackberry.
- Construction of off-channel aquatic habitat, including a side channel rearing pond.
- Channel restoration and enhancement to improve habitat complexity and floodplain connectivity.
- Installation of large woody debris and in-stream habitat features.
- Augmentation of existing water control weir to support fish passage and flow regulation.
- Riparian planting, revegetation, and bank stabilization using native species.
- Delivery in partnership with Sema:th (Sumas) First Nation through the Wochmel Milestone Joint Venture.
Description
The Marshall Creek Habitat Offsetting Project in Abbotsford, BC was delivered as part of the Ministry of Transportation and Transit’s highway expansion program. The project focused on restoring and enhancing aquatic habitat to offset impacts associated with highway widening.
Milestone Environmental Contracting, in partnership with Sema:th (Sumas) First Nation through the Wochmel Milestone Joint Venture, completed restoration works across three sites along Marshall Creek. The project included invasive species removal, channel restoration, and riparian rehabilitation to improve fish habitat, bank stability, and ecological function.
Key works included the construction of a new off-channel habitat pond, enhancement of existing creek sections, and installation of large woody debris and in-stream features to increase habitat complexity. The project also included upgrades to an existing control weir to support fish passage and long-term hydrological performance.
Key Challenges
- Overgrown vegetation, saturated soils, and unstable channel conditions impacting excavation and channel shaping.
- Working within active public spaces, including park areas and adjacent community infrastructure, requiring controlled access and safety measures.
- Work completed within the regulatory least risk window for work around water, limiting the timing of in-stream activities.
- Restrictions on vegetation clearing outside of bird nesting periods, requiring careful scheduling of site preparation.
- Adverse weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and flooding, impacting site access and completed works.
Key Solutions
- Utilized long-reach excavators and controlled equipment positioning to safely complete channel shaping in constrained and unstable conditions.
- Implemented traffic control, spotter-assisted operations, and site-specific safety measures to manage work within public areas.
- Carefully sequenced construction activities and mobilized additional crews to complete critical work within regulatory windows.
- Coordinated vegetation clearing and in-stream works to align with environmental timing restrictions.
- Adjusted construction sequencing and implemented dewatering and temporary drainage measures to manage flooding and maintain safe working conditions.
Project Scope
The scope of work included site survey, layout, and preparation across three project areas (Sites 10, 11, and 12), along with clearing and grubbing to remove invasive vegetation and root systems. Channel excavation and restoration works were completed to improve habitat complexity and establish functional riparian interfaces. The project also included construction of an off-channel rearing habitat pond and associated berms, installation of large woody debris and in-stream habitat features, and implementation of a temporary creek bypass system during construction. Additional works involved augmentation of an existing control weir to support fish passage and flow management, followed by riparian planting, topsoil placement, and revegetation using native species to restore long-term ecological function.
Indigenous Engagement
Milestone partnered with Sema:th (Sumas) First Nation through the Wochmel Milestone Joint Venture to deliver the project. Sema:th First Nation played an active role in securing the work and supporting project delivery.
Throughout construction, Sema:th First Nation provided on-site cultural monitoring to ensure the project aligned with Indigenous values, protocols, and the cultural significance of Sema:th Lands. Their involvement also included labour participation, supporting communication, knowledge sharing, and collaboration throughout the project.