The Fairmont Flood & Landslide Service is in place within the community of Fairmont. Within the Service Area, the RDEK has debris flow mitigation infrastructure on both Fairmont Creek and Cold Spring Creek. This infrastructure is regularly inspected and maintained as needed.

After completing a multi-phase debris flow mitigation project on Fairmont Creek in 2018, debris flow mitigation on Cold Spring Creek was identified as a priority project by the RDEK Board in its 2019/2020 Strategic Plan.

The completion of the Cold Spring Creek Debris Flow Mitigation Project was officially celebrated in Fairmont Hot Springs on October 8.

The project will significantly reduce the debris flow risk in the community. One of the key components of the project was the construction of a large debris flow barrier that is designed to contain 84,000 cubic meters of debris flow material, which is roughly a 300-1000-year return period event.

The barrier is approximately 8m tall and 135m long above the existing Cold Spring Creek channel with a 3m wide vertical outlet opening at the channel. The outlet includes steel bars that will capture debris but allow water to pass through. Other components of the project included a creek diversion and basin excavation, relocation and reinforcement of water lines, and creation of an access road upstream of the barrier for construction and future maintenance access.

Securing 98.5% grant funding from multiple funding programs, including significant contributions from federal and provincial sources, was crucial to the realization of the $13.6 million project. This essential financial support enabled the Regional District to move forward with a project designed to enhance community safety and substantially mitigate the risk of debris flow, demonstrating the indispensable role of funding in achieving such critical infrastructure goals in small rural communities.

Funding for the project included:

Construction on the project began in September 2023.

We are building a large debris flow barrier that is designed to contain 84,000 cubic meters of debris flow material which is roughly a 300-1000 year return period event. This project will significantly reduce the debris flow risk in the community.

There are a few key construction components:

1. The Barrier and Outlet Structure: The barrier will be approximately 8m tall above the existing Cold Spring Creek channel with a 3m wide vertical outlet opening at the channel. The outlet will have steel bars that will capture debris but allow water to pass through. The barrier will be constructed of roller compacted concrete (RCC) which is a concrete mixture that is placed in lifts and compacted.
2. The Creek Diversion and Basin: There will be a basin excavated behind the barrier for debris storage and the creek will be diverted into the basin and will then flow out of the outlet structure which will be located at the existing Cold Spring Creek channel.
3. The Water Lines: The water lines that service the community are located in the project area. The lines will be reinforced and relocated as part of the project. There will be a brief interruption to the water service to the community later this fall when the new lines are tied in.
4. The Access Road: An access road will be constructed to upstream of the barrier for both construction and future maintenance.