The document outlines a restoration plan for the Upper Little Bow River in four reaches within the Town of High River, Alberta. Key issues include odour, sedimentation, and garbage. The plan involves assessing options to improve water quality and ecological function through stormwater treatment, sediment and debris removal, and channel modifications. Public consultation will help finalize designs to be implemented in phases while meeting regulatory requirements.

2. 1. Upper Little Bow Restoration
Plan Purpose & Objectives
2. Study Area and Reach
Descriptions
3. Restoration Plan Scope of
Work
4. Work Completed to Date
5. Reach Descriptions, Concerns
and Restoration Options
Reach 1
Reach 2
Reach 3
Reach 4
6. Future Work

3. o Improve the ecological function of the river segment
o Improve the river water quality towards meeting federal and
provincial guideline values
o Provide preliminary treatment for collected stormwater discharging
to the river
o Address citizen’s concerns regarding nuisance issues (i.e.
odour, garbage)

4. Facts about the Upper Little Bow
(ULB) Study Area:
o 1660 m headwater segment of Little
Bow River
o Located entirely within the Town
o Divided into 4 reaches for planning:
Reach 1
o Originates at 5th Ave SE, ends at 8th
Ave SE
o Flows south to Reach 2
Reach 2
o Originates at 8th Ave SE, ends at 10th
Ave SE
o Flows south, as a tributary of Reach 3

5. o Divided into 4 reaches for
planning:
Reach 3
o Originates at 9th Ave SE, ends
at 12th Ave SE
o Flows southeast into Reach 4
Reach 4
o Originates at 12th Ave SE, ends
at 5th St. SE
o Flows southeast

6. o Phase 1. Hydrologic
Assessment
o Phase 2. Remedial Option
Analysis
o Phase 3. Conceptual
Restoration Action Plan and
Public Consultation
o Phase 4. Detailed Design
(phased approach)
o Phase 5. Construction and
Clean-up (phased approach)

7. o Phase 1. Hydrologic Assessment – Initial Reports Complete
• Assessed hydrologic (groundwater and surface) influences, potential
impacts and water quality
• Work is ongoing to answer questions related to hydrology and related
impacts
• REPORT: June 2010 – Upper Little Bow River Hydrologic Assessment
• REPORT: December 2010 – Little Bow River Water Quality Monitoring

8. o Phase 2 – Remedial Option Analysis – Complete
• Developed high-level restoration options and assessed potential
impacts for regulatory review
• Met with Alberta Environment and Water (AEW) to review options &
determine next actions
• Reviewed options with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
• REPORT: September, 2010 – Upper Little Bow River Restoration
Options and Impact Assessment (Draft for Discussion)
• REPORT: February, 2011 – Conceptual Remedial Action Plan for Upper
Little Bow River (Draft)

9. o Phase 3 – Conceptual Restoration Action Plan & Stakeholder
Consultation – Current
• Prepared preliminary conceptual designs and best management
practices proposed for restoration
• Undertook work to refine restoration designs
• Performed high-level risk review (in review)
• Presenting design options to public for review and feedback at open
house
• Finalizing plan and conceptual designs based on stakeholder feedback
• REPORT: September, 2011 – Upper Little Bow Sediment Survey (Draft
Report). This report present results from the sediment survey carried
out in Reach 1 and Reach 3
• REPORT: March, 2012 – Risk Review for the Upper Little Bow
River, High River Alberta

10. o Reach 1 is located between 5th Ave SE and 8th Ave SE
o Concerns Include:
• Odour and aesthetics
• Sedimentation & channel morphology impacts due to dredging
• Poor sediment and water quality
• Garbage and debris
Looking downstream from start of Reach 1 Reach 1 outlet culvert

11. o Clean-up debris
o Remove sediment
o Install forebay at main upstream inlet
o Trap sediments
o Applied for all options (see below)
o Treat other stormwater inflows
• Grassed swales, bioswales
o Channel restoration options
• Options 1a: Maintains existing channel features
including open water areas and morphology
• Option 1b: Maintains existing channel
morphology but use imported fill to limit depth
of pools
• Option 2: Channelizes “pool” areas using
imported fill, establishes riparian areas and re-
grades/fills channel to improve flow and
reduces stagnation

12. o Option 1a Maintains existing structure, removes sediment
• Treats incoming stormwater and reduces sediment in channel
• Maintains open water areas for waterfowl
• Does not addresses stagnation or odour issues
o Option 1b Maintains pools but minimizes pool depth by replacing
channel bottom with clean sand/gravel fill
• Treats incoming stormwater and reduces sediment in channel
• Decreases pool depths and storage resulting in a slight increase in flow velocity
• Provides “clean” channel bottom habitat for aquatic species

13. o Option 2 Channelizes pool areas and re-grades
• Treats incoming stormwater and reduced sediment in channel
• Increases flow and decrease stagnation, minimizing odour
• Loss of open water habitat
• Gain of riparian and flowing water habitat

14. o Reach 2 is located between 8th Ave SE and 10th Ave SE
o Concerns Include:
• Sedimentation
• Garbage and debris
o Restoration:
• Remove garbage and debris
Looking downstream into Reach 2 Reach 2 inlet culvert

15. o Reach 3 is located between 9th Ave SE and 12th Ave SE
o Concerns Include:
• Sedimentation
• Garbage and debris
• Decrease of Fall and Winter baseflow
Looking upstream from 12th Ave SE Looking east Reach 3

16. o Clean-up debris and garbage
o Undertake trials to remove sediments using low impact
methods
o Treats all stormwater inflows
• Grassed swales, bioswales, oil-grit separators

17. o Treatment of stormwater inflows will:
• Improve stormwater quality
• Minimize suspended sediment entering the system
o Removal of debris and sediment improves channel water
quality and channel bottom habitat

18. o Reach 4 is located south of 12th Ave SE & northwest of 5th St
SE
o Concerns Include:
• Odour
• Sedimentation and debris
• Limited riparian vegetation
Looking downstream to end of Reach 4 Looking west from 5th St SE

19. o Debris and sediment removal will help reduce odours
o Riparian vegetation will:
• Provide habitat for wildlife
• Reduce water temperature, increasing oxygen levels and
encouraging use by fish
• Reduce odour
• Reduce occurrence of algal mats
Looking west from Visitor Information Centre

20. o Finalize conceptual design based on stakeholder feedback
o Prepare detailed designs and construction plans
• Phased approach with high-priority items addressed first
o Submit plans for regulatory review and obtain approval
o Perform works and execute plan using a phased approach