We know creeks and streams are an important part of our environment. That’s why Trans Mountain is committed to maintaining the highest standard of environmental protection for watercourses along the Project footprint and pipeline route.

As part of the Expansion Project, a lot of time and care went into determining construction methodology and potential environmental impacts to prescribe the best mitigation methods to minimize or avoid these impacts and protect waterways.

Early on in Project planning, we identified more than 1,000 watercourses and drainages between Edmonton and Burnaby. Our Environment team investigated these important water resources to collect data on fish and fish habitat potential and a variety of other environmental and technical assessments. The information gathered, along with regulatory requirements and industry best practices, helped us ensure appropriate construction methods, mitigation and timing were applied at each watercourse. The result is enhanced environmental stewardship that minimizes the Expansion Project’s impact on fish and their habitat.

Madd River in BC, September 2022. View upstream through a previously isolated section of channel after pipe install, showing native channel substrate returned to the riverbed following restoration of channel bed and banks.

To ensure our environmental protection measures are working as expected, qualified environmental professionals are on-site during construction to monitor the watercourses and activity taking place. Post-construction monitoring ensures reclamation measures remain effective and vegetation continues to establish.

View upstream showing isolated section of channel and further use of sheet piling to minimize disturbance to channel. The sheet piling is removed once pipe is installed. Sheet piling is used for safety and environmental protection during construction.

We have also provided $500,000 in funding to the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) to provide a third-party assessment of Trans Mountain’s construction activities across a selection of highly sensitive salmon-bearing watercourses in BC, in addition to other programs to conserve and protect wild Pacific salmon. Once watercourse crossings are complete, PSF will assess construction impacts and post-construction reclamation measures against commitments made to regulators, Indigenous groups and local stakeholders.

Committed to Effective Reclamation

Monitoring and protecting watercourses and the environment doesn’t stop after construction is over. We’re carrying out important reclamation activities according to our Reclamation Management Plan and have made a number of commitments to continue our monitoring. For up to five years, we’ll return to each watercourse to ensure restoration and reclamation measures have been effective.

The plan, which was filed with the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), ensures we’ll return the area to a condition similar, or better than pre-construction, and promotes the protection of rare plant species and the re-establishment of native plant communities.

Trail Creek in Alberta immediately following reclamation work in 2022. The channel bed and banks have been restored following construction. Willow or other shrub stakes were installed and coconut matting was used to help stabilize the upper banks and prevent erosion.