Resource Roads and Wetlands. Challenges and Solutions? Mark Partington, R.P.F., M.Sc., EP. Location: Date:

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1 Resource Roads and Wetlands Challenges and Solutions? Mark Partington, R.P.F., M.Sc., EP Location: Date: CWF Fall Meeting Fredericton, NB October 19, 2011

2 Background Forest industry and governments expressed concerns with road performance in wetland environments. Operational Long-term infrastructure performance Bearing capacity and foundation improvement Efficient cross-drainage methods and products Beaver control Environmental Negative impact to natural hydrologic regimes Preservation of vegetation and wildlife habitat Tree dieback and loss 2

3 Operational challenges Sunken drainage culverts Culvert foundation improvement options 3

4 Operational challenges Sunken drainage culverts Culvert foundation improvement options Inadequate drainage Roadside ponding (saturated roadbed) 4

5 Environmental challenges Dieback in adjacent roadside stands Natural drainage patterns impeded, altering long-term vegetation and wildlife values 5

6 National issue Large variation in site types being addressed across the country Variation in site types provide both unique challenges and solutions 6

7 National issue Defined channel bridge crossing a large wetland Is the span of the bridge large enough? Should cross-drain pipes be installed in road approaches? How many? What are the long-term site impacts of this road? 7

8 National issue Should the road be ditched? Where should ditch turnouts be located? Is the road (and ditches) draining the area? Is this construction method bringing water to the road? 8

9 National issue Is the corduroy allowing the hydrologic function of the wetland to be maintained? Should cross-drains be installed? If so, how many and at what spacing? Will the cross-drains create artificial channels in the wetland? 9

10 What are the solutions? Initial literature review and scoping exercise completed in 2010 Numerous field visits conducted with forest and oil & gas industries 10

11 What were the initial findings? There is a current lack of understanding of road/wetland interactions and mitigation measures Ongoing research is primarily academic based; understanding of wetland and natural landscape interactions Ongoing research efforts and results are not widely available Very little information on applied practices to: 1. mitigate impacts of roads on wetland values 2. performance of low-volume roads in wetland areas 11

12 New research initiatives Partnership project with Ducks Unlimited Canada, Louisiana- Pacific, Weyerhaeuser, FPInnovations Applying Expert Knowledge and Research Results in the Development of Best Practices for Forestry Road Design and Construction Around Wetlands Partnership project with Dal U., UNB, Bowater-Mersey, Irving, L-P, Ducks Unlimited, NB and NS govts, FPInnovations Mitigating Impacts of Road Construction in Forested Wetlands: Best Management Practices for the Forest Industry FPInnovations initiatives 12

13 Manitoba project Completed state-of-the-art report Identify possible water management techniques for field trials Conduct field trials and document short-term performance Produce field guides of recommended BMP s 13

14 Atlantic project Establish study sites in NS and NB Measure changes in water table upstream and downstream of wetland crossing Determine the impacts of road construction on subsurface water flows Field work and study led by Kent Mader, M.Sc. candidate 14

15 FPInnovations initiatives Document current knowledge on water management and foundation improvement options View and discuss challenges across country Extend partnerships to those outside of the forest industry, i.e. oil and gas, mining Investigate collaboritive research opportunities with universities 15

16 FPInnovations initiatives Produce field notes on existing water mgmt practices: Corduroy Culvert and corduroy Embedded culvert and corduroy Link water mgmt practice with wetland type, i.e. fen, swamp Will eventually be a component of a complete wetland road BMP guide Draft documents have been produced in collaboration with Ducks Unlimited Canada and associated funding sources 16

17 FPInnovations initiatives Produce field notes on existing culvert (small diameter) foundation improvement options Many designs rely on varying field success; validation required in order to make recommendations Controlled field and lab testing to be planned Will eventually be a component of a complete wetland road BMP guide 17

18 FPInnovations initiatives Field studies to determine costs and short-term site responses Challenge: road had blocked natural drainage in a treed swamp, a low-cost drainage improvement required Solution: Log bundle covered in geotextile 18

19 FPInnovations initiatives Field studies to determine costs and short-term site responses Challenge: Minimize impact for surface and sub-surface movement across the river floodplain Solution: multiple cross-drain culverts with varying foundation improvement options 19

20 More questions than answers! What is the most efficient method to determine drainage culvert spacing? Will the corduroy degrade over time and have a reduced ability to provide drainage? Winter roads are believed to have a reduced impact on wetland values, is this true? If the cross-drain has sunk due to foundation problems, at what level is it still able to provide drainage? If corduroy is providing for drainage, what are the achievable flow rates? What is the cost, effectiveness and recommended installation methods for options X, Y, Z? 20

21 Short - Long term research focus Short-term actions: Review existing drainage and foundation improvement options Develop operational guides that reflect current knowledge Develop detailed installation and construction guidelines for drainage and foundation improvement options Identify and develop innovative drainage and foundation improvement options for possible field testing Long-term actions Evaluate effectiveness monitoring of existing drainage and foundation improvement options Establish field trials to evaluate innovative drainage and foundation improvement options In conjunction with operational trials, establish long-term effectiveness monitoring of hydrologic and ecologic mitigation measures 21

22 Mark Partington, R.P.F., M.Sc., EP fpinnovations.ca 2010 FPInnovations. All rights reserved. Copying and redistribution prohibited. FPInnovations, its marks and logos are registered trademarks of FPInnovations. 22