A methodology for integrating materials balance and land reclamation

A methodology is proposed to integrate a large scale excavation with a reclamation strategy over a six-year period. The Keenleyside Powerplant project in southern British Columbia requires an estimated 1.9 million cubic meters of material to be excavated to facilitate the development of a powerhouse and intake structures adjacent to the Keenleyside dam near Castlegar. The excavated material is to be used for both construction purposes and for spoil. A 65 hectare area on the north bank of the Arrow Reservoir, upstream of the Keenleyside Dam, has been designated as the spoil site. A progressive, staged reclamation strategy is proposed by B.C. Hydro that identifies opportunity landscapes for recreation and wildlife enhancement along the Arrow Reservoir. The spoil material from the powerhouse excavation is sequenced with nine potential areas in which new landscapes can be created. Proposed landscapes include wetland habitat with nature trails, a day-use recreation area, and a beach area. The challenge of the strategy is to coordinate the removal of materials from the construction site, separate and stockpile the usable aggregates, and sequence the material for the reclamation landscapes.