.... Specialising in reducing accelerated erosion

Establishment of vegetation to control surface erosion and stabilize slope failure on Pipeline Right-of-Way

BEAVER CREEK RECLAMATION PROJECT PHASE I, II and III

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Phase II

Phase III

Location:  Aurora Inter-Site pipeline right-of-way at Beaver Creek, near Fort McMurray, Alberta

Client: Syncrude Canada Limited

Phase I:

Location: South side of Beaver Creek (tributary to the Athabasca River) within pipeline right-of-way.

Objective:  To control surface erosion, re-direct seepage water flow away from the right-of-way and stabilize areas of mass wasting within the pipeline right-of way through installation of soil bioengineering structures.

In the spring of 2004 three shallow slope failures (Site 1, 2 and 3) were noticed on the Aurora Inter-Site pipeline right-of-way at the Beaver Creek crossing. The failures appeared to have been initiated by previous upslope disturbance due to pipeline repair, resulting in a concentration of seepage water during spring runoff . In the summer of 2004 Terra Erosion Control Limited, in association with Fort McKay Environmental LP, was retained to carry out a field assessment and develop an erosion control prescription to mitigate the problem.

Phase I treatment measures were implemented in October 2004. A combination of brush layers and contour fascines were installed on the slope failures. Live pole drains with drain fascines were also installed across the bench above these failures to provide drainage structures to direct water away from the right-of-way into the adjacent forest. Structures were constructed with locally collected live cuttings of Willow ( Salix bebbiana / exigua / scouleriana) , Black Cottonwood ( Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa ) and Red-Osier Dogwood ( Cornus stolonifera ) . Muskeg (locally obtained organic mulch) was also applied to the site after installation of these structures. All areas were broadcast seeded with native grasses and inoculated with endo mycorrhizae fungi.

These treatments successfully controlled soil erosion and mass wasting on the pipeline right-of way, until the spring of 2007 when they were partially destroyed due to repair of a pipeline rupture (see Phase III).

 
Pipeline right-of-way in 2004 before treatment
(Photo: Syncrude Canada Ltd)

Pipeline right-of-way in 2004 before treatment

 

Phase I and II preliminary site layout

Phase I and II preliminary site layout

 

Collection of live cuttings, October 2004

Collection of live cuttings, October 2004

 
 
Site 1 Site layout, October 2004

Site 1 Site layout, October 2004

 

Site 1 installed brush layers and contour fascines October 2004

Site 1 installed brush layers and contour fascines, October 2004

Site 1 showing one season of growth, October 2005

Site 1 showing one season of growth, October 2005

 
 
Site 1, June 2006

Site 1 in June 2006

Site 1, June 2006

Site 1 in June 2006

 
 
Site 2 before treatment, October 2004

Site 2 before treatment, October 2004

 
Site 2 installed brush layers and contour fascines October 2004

Site 2 installed brush layers and contour fascines, October 2004

 
Site 2 and 3, October 2005

Site 2 and 3 October 2005

Site 2, June 2006


Site 2 June 2006

Installed live pole drain system across right of way October 2004

Installed live pole drain system across right of way, October 2004

 
Growth on live pole drain system, October 2005

Growth on live pole drain system, October 2005

Phase II:

Location: South side of Beaver Creek adjacent to pipeline right-of-way.

 

Objective: To stabilize a small slope failure using a live pole drain system.

 

During snowmelt in the spring of 2005 a small slope failure occurred on a site adjacent to the Beaver Creek crossing. This is thought to have resulted from the concentration of redirected surface seepage water from Phase I remedial work. In October 2005 a live pole drain (LPD) system was installed on the slope failure in order to provide drainage capacity for the seepage water on the slope. This system consisted of a central live pole drain with lateral drain fascines and brush layers. The structures were constructed of the following willow species; Salix bebbiana , Salix scouleriana and Salix exigua , and Black Cottonwood (Populus balsamifera L) cuttings. Muskeg was applied to the site as mulch after installation of these structures, and the area was broadcast seeded with native grasses and inoculated with endo mycorrhizae fungi. To date this treatment has been successful at controlling soil erosion and further mass wasting in this area.

 
Phase II slope failure adjacent to Beaver Creek crossing, October 2005

Phase II slope failure adjacent to Beaver Creek crossing, October 2005

 
Phase II installed live pole drain system
October 2005

Phase II installed live pole drain system, October 2005

Phase II, June 2006

Phase II, June 2006

Phase II, June 2007

Phase II, June 2007

Phase II, June 2007

Phase II, June 2007

Phase III:

Location: Both north and south sides of Beaver Creek within pipeline right-of-way.

 

Objective:  Control surface erosion and seepage over areas disturbed during repair of pipeline rupture using soil bioengineering structures to establish vegetation and enhance riparian habitat.

 

Extensive areas, within Phase I, were disturbed as a result of repair work to a pipeline rupture that occurred in the spring of 2007. A narrow area was left undisturbed on either side of the creek to act as a buffer during the repair work. In the summer of 2007 Syncrude graded and re-contoured the site, according to TEC specifications. In order to re-vegetate and stabilize this area, the following treatments developed by TEC were installed in October 2007. In the fall of 2007 TEC was retained to carry out the field implementation, in association with Terracon Geotechnique Ltd., who provided the contract administration on behalf of Syncrude Canada Ltd.

  • South side of creek: Brush layers and contour fascines were installed on steeper slope areas. Damaged portions of LPD structures installed on a bench during Phase I were replaced. Muskeg and broadcast seeding of native seed mix inoculated with endo mycorrhizae fungi was applied. Planting of native shrubs (Rosa acicularis) was carried out over all disturbed areas. Structures were constructed of the following willow species; Salix bebbiana , Salix scouleriana and Salix exigua. A temporary access trail was constructed in order to transport materials such as muskeg to the lower portion of the site. The access trail was re-contoured and re-vegetated after completion of the work.
  • North side of creek: Brush layers and straw wattles were installed on slope areas. Muskeg spreading was done concurrently with brush layer planting (piles placed on slope before hand). Broadcast seeding of native seed mix inoculated with endo mycorrhizae fungi and planting of native shrubs (Rosa acicularis) was carried out over all the disturbed areas. Structures were constructed of the following willow species; Salix bebbiana , Salix scouleriana and Salix exigua, as well as a small proportion of Black Cottonwood (Populus balsamifera L) cuttings.

On both the north and south sides, straw-bale sediment barriers and silt fencing were installed between the disturbed areas and the creek buffer zone prior to treatments. Brush layer and LPD installation was machine-assisted using a walking excavator (Spyder Hoe). Contour fascines and straw wattles were installed manually.

 

Communication with Syncrude Canada Ltd informed us that the site was growing and draining well during the summer of 2008. The site will be monitored by a Terra Erosion Control representative during the spring of 2009.

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Monitoring Summer 2009

 
Beaver Creek Phase III, June 2007
(photo Syncrude Canada Ltd)

Beaver Creek Phase III, June 2007 (photo Syncrude Canada Ltd)

Graded and re-contoured slope south side of Beaver October 2007

Graded and re-contoured slope south side of Beaver, October 2007

Foreground – bench area top of slope south side; background – graded slope on north side of
Beaver Creek. Muskeg/mulch piles, October 2007

Foreground – bench area top of slope south side; background – graded slope on north side of Beaver Creek. Muskeg/mulch piles, October 2007

Machine-assisted installation of brush layers
south side, October 2007

Machine-assisted installation of brush layers south side, October 2007

Work in progress & material transport on
temporary access trail

Work in progress & material transport on temporary access trail

Installed brush layers and contour fascines on
south side, October 2007

Installed brush layers and contour fascines on south side, October 2007

Installation of Live Pole Drain system
on south side, October 2007

Installation of Live Pole Drain system on south side, October 2007

Completed work on south side, October 2007

 

Completed work on south side, October 2007

Completed work on south side, October 2007

 

Completed work on south side, October 2007

 
Re-contouring and vegetating of temporary
access trail, October 2007

Re-contouring and vegetating of temporary access trail, October 2007

 
Re-contouring and vegetating of temporary
access trail, October 2007

Re-contouring and vegetating of temporary access trail, October 2007

Machine-assisted planting north side
October 2007

Machine-assisted planting north side, October 2007

Machine-assisted planting north side
October 2007

Machine-assisted planting north side, October 2007

North side partially completed
October 2007

North side partially completed, October 2007

Straw wattle installation north side
October 2007

Straw wattle installation north side, October 2007

Straw wattle installation north side
October 2007

Straw wattle installation north side, October 2007

Completed work north side October 2007

Completed work north side October 2007

 

Monitoring 2009:

The growth and establishment of native vegetation through soil bioengineering structures was considered excellent overall during the site visit of July 2009.  There was no need for additional maintenance treatments on the north side at that time.  On the south side, the live pole drains areas were disturbed in the summer of 2008 as a result of additional repair work carried out to the pipeline up slope.  This repair work caused the concentration of water flowing over the re-habilitated area resulting in a small surface slope failure (see photo).

 
North side, July 2009

North side, July 2009

 
North side, July 2009

North side, July 2009

 
North side, July 2009

Brush layer growth and native grass establishment, July 2009

 
Planted Rosa acicularis growth, July 2009

Field visit, July 2009

 
South side, note small failure caused by pipeline repair up slope, July 2009

 

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Pipeline Right-of-Way Reclamation Project