Big Valley village council heard an engineer’s infrastructure update at their regular meeting Sept. 16 and the top priority for repair is, to nobody’s surprise, the municipal lagoon.
MPE Engineering representatives Taylor Sunderman and Trevor Curtis attended the council meeting in person to present the results of their geotechnical investigation of the municipal lagoon. The pair noted Big Valley council previously recruited MPE to conduct an infrastructure study for the municipality but after some shortcomings were noticed at the lagoon, a geotechnical investigation was added to the study.
It was noted at the beginning of the presentation Big Valley’s lagoon meets the qualifications to be considered a dam.
During the presentation the MPE staff noted during an on-site visit an engineer observed a crack in the lagoon’s berm in June of 2023; as the berm is part of the containment facility this was cause for concern.
It was further noted that by Jan. 2024 village staff observed some seepage. Engineers visited the lagoon that very day and observed a build-up of ice.
MPE staff stated the engineers conducted three subsequent visits to the lagoon and concluded the seepage occurred after an extreme cold snap.
It was mentioned at the current meeting and previous ones that the fact the dam had not been discharged may have played a role in the berm’s crack. Engineers also observed a small surface hole on top of the berm.
The geotechnical report stated that evidence suggests seepage has been an ongoing problem. The condition of the lagoon itself is considered “very poor” and engineers recommend ongoing monitoring plus the preparation of an emergency response plan in the event of a failure.
The report noted the lagoon was in need of substantial work and MPE recommended beginning the search for grant money for that project as the cost of repair would be beyond the village’s ability to pay.
Engineers noted the geotechnical report submitted to councillors was now complete, including boreholes drilled, and confirmed the Big Valley lagoon doesn’t meet Canadian Dam Association standards for safety; hence, engineers recommended a reduced capacity at the dam of 2.2 metres depth until repairs are completed.
Engineers observed normal depth would be three metres.
It was further noted in the geotechnical report that engineers saw a hole in the upper level of the berm that had a noticeable amount of water flowing through and therefore recommended an immediate discharge.
Other issues observed at the lagoon included erosion on the bank walls and a sinkhole.
The engineers summarized the report by noting the lagoon’s condition requires an emergency repair.
As discussion moved to total repair costs, the figure of $1 million was mentioned.
The MPE representatives noted their company has already started looking at possible grant programs that would help Big Valley pay this figure, with the provincial government typically covering 75 per cent of the cost of such projects. Therefore, Big Valley would be expected to pay $250,000 if in fact the repairs cost $1 million.
The MPE representatives stated one of the grant programs they’re looking at which Big Valley could be eligible for opens for application this fall and added that having the geotechnical report ready to include in such an application would probably be helpful.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Colleen Mayne noted councillors previously passed a resolution that the lagoon will be discharged regularly and remain at reduced capacity to address its deficiencies, as the village doesn’t have the money to repair it.
MPE representatives stated that their company actually has grant writing experts on-staff to help clients find money for projects such as this.
When councillors asked about the rest of the infrastructure study it was confirmed that the study was emailed to councillors on Sept. 13, but the lagoon was paramount. “It is a high priority, above all other infrastructure improvements,” said Sunderman.
It was further noted that monitoring wells have been installed so the village can ensure no lagoon leakage occurs.
Councillors unanimously accepted the lagoon geotechnical report as information.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
