Big Bar landslide response information bulletin

March 13 2020

On this page

• Blasting and removal of in-river boulders well underway
• Meeting with High Bar and Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nations
• Spring Works planning underway
• Current images of work being done at the landslide site

Blasting and removal of in-river boulders well underway

The contractor, Peter Kiewit Sons ULC, continues its success with in-river work at the landslide site. Over the last week, crews blasted three of the boulders considered critical for removal that were blocking the centre and west side of the channel. Following the blasts, the broken rock was excavated from the river and larger pieces were used to reinforce the access road.

Environmental oversight, including in-river hydro-acoustic monitoring for fish presence, continues to be carried out ahead of each blast. Monitoring downstream of the slide did not detect any fish in the area before the blast and no dead or injured fish were observed.

Meeting with High Bar and Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nations

On March 4, 2020, senior executives from the Province of BC, DFO and PSPC met with the chiefs and councillors of the High Bar First Nation (HBFN) and the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (SXFN) at the HBFN office in Clinton, BC. The group reviewed the current progress and future plans, and BC, DFO and PSPC committed to greater future engagement.

Spring Works planning underway

Working with the Joint Executive Steering Committee (JESC), DFO moved forward on Spring Works planning with PSPC to ensure successful fish passage via alternative means, if needed.

Current images of work being done at the landslide site