Cougar Creek
The project is currently partially complete, with completion currently scheduled for early 2025, approximately two and a half years behind schedule. Contract deadlines for project substantial completion in the fall of 2021 were not met. As a result, the Town of Canmore issued a Notice of Default to the contractor, requiring remedy for the default and a plan for completion. The contractor disputed the Notice of Default, initiating the dispute resolution mechanisms of the contract. This process is ongoing. The dispute process and current project status has resulted in significant project uncertainty. This is a priority project, protecting lives, property, critical facilities, utilities, and national transportation infrastructure. The Town of Canmore is committed to using all tools available to remedy the situation, and complete the project.
This page contains information on the Debris Retention Structure and will be updated on a regular basis during construction - keeping you up to date on impacts in the area.
Construction Impacts - Updated November 9, 2022
- Work is now wrapped up for the winter season.
- The Lady MacDonald hiking trail remains closed. The closure is in place for the safety of the general public. The lower portion of the trail is within the construction zone and has been decommissioned.
- Cougar Creek Canyon remains closed for the duration of construction (tentatively early 2025).
- The following closures are currently in place:
Project Updates
November 15, 2022 Update: Council was provided with an update at their November 15, 2022 Committee of the Whole meeting on the Cougar Creek Debris Retention Structure. You can view a replay of the presentation here, it starts at 1:01:00.
The project is currently partially complete, with completion currently scheduled for early 2025, approximately two and a half years behind schedule. Contract deadlines for project substantial completion in the fall of 2021 were not met. As a result, the Town of Canmore issued a Notice of Default to the contractor, requiring remedy for the default and a plan for completion. The contractor disputed the Notice of Default, initiating the dispute resolution mechanisms of the contract. This process is ongoing. The dispute process and current project status has resulted in significant project uncertainty. This is a priority project, protecting lives, property, critical facilities, utilities, and national transportation infrastructure. The Town of Canmore is committed to using all tools available to remedy the situation, and complete the project.
September 2022 Update: You can view an update to Council on the impacts of the June 2022 rainfall event on the project here, the presentation starts at the 2:30:00 mark.
November 16, 2021 Update: An update on the Mountain Creek Hazard Mitigation (MCHM) Program and Cougar Creek was provided to Council on November 16, 2021. You can view a replay of the presentation here. The MCHM presentation starts at 2:02:30, the section specific to Cougar Creek starts at 2:29:00.
June 3, 2021 Project Update
Long-Term Mitigation: Debris Flood Retention Structure
What will it look like?
- 34m high rock-filled embankment dam (not constructed out of concrete)
- Upstream and downstream faces covered by soil and seeded
- 20m wide rock-cut spillway on the east abutment that includes wildlife egress areas
What will it do?
- Existing channel and downstream culverts can accommodate 50-60 m3/s, but a natural event on the creek could easily reach 80 m3/s peak flow with 20% debris (fine sediment to large boulders, including gravel and woody debris)
- The Structure reduces peak flow to 45 m3/s. It further reduces the quantity of debris and removes the larger debris
- The risk to downstream private and commercial properties, as well as infrastructure, is therefore reduced to an acceptable level
- There is no water retention during regular operation (dry dam) – water flows freely through a low-level outlet
- A high capacity spillway is required to ensure flows can bypass the structure during an extreme flood event
Contact Us
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Frequently Asked Questions
You can watch the November 15, 2022 update to Council here, the presentation starts at the 1:01:00 mark.
You can view an update to Council on the impacts of the June 2022 rainfall event on the project here, the presentation starts at the 2:30:00 mark.
Alberta Parks and the Town of Canmore considered constructing an alternative route around the closure to access Cougar Creek Canyon. Due to the challenging steep terrain on Lady MacDonald and Grotto Mountain, Alberta Parks determined that closing access is the best alternative for ensuring public safety.
RIDGE Environmental Planning will serve as a third-party Environmental Monitor during the construction of the Cougar Creek Structure. The contract was awarded at a value of $159,000.
NRCB Approval
Water Act Approval
Alberta Parks Disposition (land within the Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park that is being leased to the Town of Canmore for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Debris Flood Retention Structure).
1. The Construction Environmental Management Plan, that describes principles, best practices and specific requirements during the construction of the project; and
2. The Water Quality Management and Monitoring Environmental Protection Plan, that describes the water monitoring requirements during construction of the project.
Moreover, the contractor is required to submit to the Town and its consultants several work plans and environmental protection plans (EPPs) that need to follow the requirements of the guiding documents described above. Examples of plans required for the project: Care of Water work plan, Erosion and Sediment Control EPP, Wildlife and Human Conflict EPP, Invasive Species Control EPP, etc.
