Alberta Environment and Parks

Kananaskis Region River Bank Reconstruction

Following the extensive flooding in 2013, significant erosion occurred along the riverbanks in the Kananaskis area, resulting in redirected and altered river courses. The changes caused severe flooding and damage to the adjacent golf course. Devcon was contracted to restore the affected area by repairing and armoring the eroded banks and reestablishing the original river channels.

To armour the eroded banks and restore the original river channel, Devcon’s scope required closing pathways, building temporary haul roads, accommodating traffic flow, stripping and grading, removing unstable materials, importing and placing rock armouring, installing river isolations, constructing fish-habitat features with woody-debris clusters, harvesting, transporting, and installing native vegetation (primarily willows). Along with removing and reinstating a force sanitary line and a force water main. We installed erosion and sediment control measures to prevent further damage.

8.5

M
Contract Value

22

Pieces of Heavy Equipment Used

10

Months to Complete

40,000

m3
Riprap Sorted, Loaded, Hauled & Placed

Devcon process

1

Site training and worker readiness

Provided site-specific training, including bear awareness and swift-water rescue, for all affected staff.
2

Environmental management and protection

Delivered intensive environmental management, including ongoing in-stream diversions and water-quality monitoring, to protect aquatic life and maintain regulatory compliance.
3

Mass excavation and material management

Executed mass excavation, material management, and coordinated hauling of various earthen materials, including importing 80,000 tonnes of heavy rock.
4

Utility maintenance and replacement

Riverbank re-vegetation and restoration
5

Riverbank revegetation and restoration

Re-vegetated thousands of square metres of the Kananaskis and Evan Thomas riverbanks using native seed, topsoil, and willow plantings. Native seeds, topsoil and willow plants.