NorskeCanada operates a chip forwarding facility on the north bank of the Fraser River just east of Main Street in Vancouver, BC. The west perimeter ditch discharged into an existing water course which flowed diagonally southwest to the Fraser River. Norske required this ditch outlet to be realigned eastward. Working in conjunction with an outside environmental consultant, Ausenco Sandwell designed a proposed ditch outlet realignment. The design incorporated planting benches both along the ditch banks. As well, a bench was constructed using excavated native soil behind an engineered granular berm on the bank of the Fraser River. The contractor transplanted sedge grass that could be disturbed by excavation for the realigned ditch outlet. The Fraser River Estuary Management Program (FREMP) was able to quickly review and approve the combined submission. Ausenco Sandwell scheduled the work to take advantage of a series of unusually low tides during mid-day in July, which was also within the “Fisheries Window”, and the construction work was completed on time and under budget.

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