418664

A series of side channels were disconnected from the Kleanza Creek mainstem as part of berming and rerouting efforts for Highway 16 bridge construction in the 1960’s. As part of the Kleanza Creek Salmon Enhancement Project, Kitselas Land & Resources Department (Kitselas) plans to reconnect one of the historic river-left side channels along lower Kleanza Creek to provide access to spawning and rearing habitat, which would principally benefit Coho Salmon (spawning and rearing), Chinook Salmon (rearing), and steelhead (rearing). The side channel will be excavated to intercept groundwater, allowing for consistent water supply into the channel without requiring a surface water connection to Kleanza Creek. This application is for a test pit monitoring program is proposed to collect data on sub-surface hydrogeological conditions. Test pits will be dug at three locations within the historic side channel with an excavator to a depth of at least 0.5 m below the existing water table. No in-stream works (i.e., works below the ordinary high water mark of any existing watercourse or surface water feature) will occur. The following test pits are proposed: TP-1: Located at decimal coordinates 54.598250, -128.396185, excavated to a diameter of between 5 and 10 m and depth of 3.15 m. TP-2: Located at decimal coordinates 54.597656, -128.398108, excavated to a diameter of between 3 and 5 m and depth of 1.5 m TP-3: Located at decimal coordinates 54.597472, -128.399998, excavated to a diameter of between 2 and 3 m and depth of 0.6 m After excavation, bail testing will occur by scooping water by the excavator to test each TP's recharge rate. Pump testing will also be completed following excavation. After testing, one level logger will be installed within each test pit. Level loggers will be installed into 4”-diameter perforated PVC “stand pipe” within each test pit. Staff gauges will be used for initial observations/measurements and will be removed. Test pits will be backfilled around the stand pipe, leaving access to the top of the stand pipe to allow for level logger maintenance and future water quality testing. The stand pipes and level loggers will be left in place for approximately 3 to 12 months, depending on the results of the data collected. Periodic inspection will occur every 2 or 3 months to inspect the level loggers, to download collected data, and to measure the dissolved oxygen content of the ground water. Decommissioning of the test pit stand pipes will occur at the end of the monitoring program (3 to 12 months after initial installation). Monitoring equipment will be retrieved and the test pits will be backfilled with native material initially removed to construct the test pit by manual methods (i.e., no machinery). The surface will be manually graded to surrounding grade and restored by seeding with a native grass mix.