(2005-2007) Grindstone Creek Tributary Realignment

In 2005, the Canadian National Railway (CN) and GO Transit commenced the track expansion at Halton Ceramics 1, Burlington, Ontario, which included a culvert extension north and south of the existing track line. Construction of the culvert extension began and was completed in November 2005.

A 15.5 m long CSP extension was installed on the south side of the culvert. The existing culvert outlet faced south at a 90 degree angle to the watercourse, which may have contributed to severe bank erosion at the culvert outlet. The culvert extension included a 90° elbow, and thus the outlet of the culvert was in line with the watercourse. The existing culvert was perched by approximately 1.5 m and a 1 m perch in the channel was located approximately 100 m downstream of the culvert. The resulting channel realignment was designed in order to eliminate these perches, thereby facilitating upstream fish passage.

In order to compensate for the loss of fish habitat associated with the culvert extension, a new channel of approximately 150 m in length was constructed and incorporated natural channel features, consisting of pools, cascades, and riparian plantings. Channel construction began in February 2006 and was completed in April 2006.

During this project, EcoTec worked with an engineering firm to design the channel, and with Conservation Halton to design the landscaping plan. EcoTec also created a compensation package and liaised with DFO in order to get approvals for the channel construction. Once the approvals were in place, EcoTec supervised the construction of the channel.