2. 1. Upper Little Bow Restoration
Plan Purpose & Objectives
2. Study Area and Reach
Descriptions
3. Restoration Plan Scope of
Work
4. Work Completed to Date
5. Reach Descriptions, Concerns
and Restoration Options
Reach 1
Reach 2
Reach 3
Reach 4
6. Future Work

3. o Improve the ecological function of the river segment
o Improve the river water quality towards meeting federal and
provincial guideline values
o Provide preliminary treatment for collected stormwater discharging
to the river
o Address citizen’s concerns regarding nuisance issues (i.e.
odour, garbage)

4. Facts about the Upper Little Bow
(ULB) Study Area:
o 1660 m headwater segment of Little
Bow River
o Located entirely within the Town
o Divided into 4 reaches for planning:
Reach 1
o Originates at 5th Ave SE, ends at 8th
Ave SE
o Flows south to Reach 2
Reach 2
o Originates at 8th Ave SE, ends at 10th
Ave SE
o Flows south, as a tributary of Reach 3

5. o Divided into 4 reaches for
planning:
Reach 3
o Originates at 9th Ave SE, ends
at 12th Ave SE
o Flows southeast into Reach 4
Reach 4
o Originates at 12th Ave SE, ends
at 5th St. SE
o Flows southeast

6. o Phase 1. Hydrologic
Assessment
o Phase 2. Remedial Option
Analysis
o Phase 3. Conceptual
Restoration Action Plan and
Public Consultation
o Phase 4. Detailed Design
(phased approach)
o Phase 5. Construction and
Clean-up (phased approach)

7. o Phase 1. Hydrologic Assessment – Initial Reports Complete
• Assessed hydrologic (groundwater and surface) influences, potential
impacts and water quality
• Work is ongoing to answer questions related to hydrology and related
impacts
• REPORT: June 2010 – Upper Little Bow River Hydrologic Assessment
• REPORT: December 2010 – Little Bow River Water Quality Monitoring

8. o Phase 2 – Remedial Option Analysis – Complete
• Developed high-level restoration options and assessed potential
impacts for regulatory review
• Met with Alberta Environment and Water (AEW) to review options &
determine next actions
• Reviewed options with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
• REPORT: September, 2010 – Upper Little Bow River Restoration
Options and Impact Assessment (Draft for Discussion)
• REPORT: February, 2011 – Conceptual Remedial Action Plan for Upper
Little Bow River (Draft)

9. o Phase 3 – Conceptual Restoration Action Plan & Stakeholder
Consultation – Current
• Prepared preliminary conceptual designs and best management
practices proposed for restoration
• Undertook work to refine restoration designs
• Performed high-level risk review (in review)
• Presenting design options to public for review and feedback at open
house
• Finalizing plan and conceptual designs based on stakeholder feedback
• REPORT: September, 2011 – Upper Little Bow Sediment Survey (Draft
Report). This report present results from the sediment survey carried
out in Reach 1 and Reach 3
• REPORT: March, 2012 – Risk Review for the Upper Little Bow
River, High River Alberta

10. o Reach 1 is located between 5th Ave SE and 8th Ave SE
o Concerns Include:
• Odour and aesthetics
• Sedimentation & channel morphology impacts due to dredging
• Poor sediment and water quality
• Garbage and debris
Looking downstream from start of Reach 1 Reach 1 outlet culvert

11. o Clean-up debris
o Remove sediment
o Install forebay at main upstream inlet
o Trap sediments
o Applied for all options (see below)
o Treat other stormwater inflows
• Grassed swales, bioswales
o Channel restoration options
• Options 1a: Maintains existing channel features
including open water areas and morphology
• Option 1b: Maintains existing channel
morphology but use imported fill to limit depth
of pools
• Option 2: Channelizes “pool” areas using
imported fill, establishes riparian areas and re-
grades/fills channel to improve flow and
reduces stagnation

12. o Option 1a Maintains existing structure, removes sediment
• Treats incoming stormwater and reduces sediment in channel
• Maintains open water areas for waterfowl
• Does not addresses stagnation or odour issues
o Option 1b Maintains pools but minimizes pool depth by replacing
channel bottom with clean sand/gravel fill
• Treats incoming stormwater and reduces sediment in channel
• Decreases pool depths and storage resulting in a slight increase in flow velocity
• Provides “clean” channel bottom habitat for aquatic species

13. o Option 2 Channelizes pool areas and re-grades
• Treats incoming stormwater and reduced sediment in channel
• Increases flow and decrease stagnation, minimizing odour
• Loss of open water habitat
• Gain of riparian and flowing water habitat

14. o Reach 2 is located between 8th Ave SE and 10th Ave SE
o Concerns Include:
• Sedimentation
• Garbage and debris
o Restoration:
• Remove garbage and debris
Looking downstream into Reach 2 Reach 2 inlet culvert

15. o Reach 3 is located between 9th Ave SE and 12th Ave SE
o Concerns Include:
• Sedimentation
• Garbage and debris
• Decrease of Fall and Winter baseflow
Looking upstream from 12th Ave SE Looking east Reach 3

16. o Clean-up debris and garbage
o Undertake trials to remove sediments using low impact
methods
o Treats all stormwater inflows
• Grassed swales, bioswales, oil-grit separators

17. o Treatment of stormwater inflows will:
• Improve stormwater quality
• Minimize suspended sediment entering the system
o Removal of debris and sediment improves channel water
quality and channel bottom habitat

18. o Reach 4 is located south of 12th Ave SE & northwest of 5th St
SE
o Concerns Include:
• Odour
• Sedimentation and debris
• Limited riparian vegetation
Looking downstream to end of Reach 4 Looking west from 5th St SE

19. o Debris and sediment removal will help reduce odours
o Riparian vegetation will:
• Provide habitat for wildlife
• Reduce water temperature, increasing oxygen levels and
encouraging use by fish
• Reduce odour
• Reduce occurrence of algal mats
Looking west from Visitor Information Centre

20. o Finalize conceptual design based on stakeholder feedback
o Prepare detailed designs and construction plans
• Phased approach with high-priority items addressed first
o Submit plans for regulatory review and obtain approval
o Perform works and execute plan using a phased approach