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Vedder River and Canal

Last updated on January 8, 2025

Image of the Veddar River

Area: Yarrow - Chilliwack 

The atmospheric river event (ARE) resulted in large accumulations of sediment deposition along the Vedder Canal and River. Recovery works involve the removal of this sediment to improve river flow and repair riverbanks from the ARE. 

The Vedder River is located about 80km east of Vancouver in the City of Chilliwack. This watercourse, generally referred to as the Chilliwack River, upstream of Vedder Crossing Bridge and the Vedder River between Vedder Canal and Vedder Crossing Bridge is a highly productive and diverse system that sustains wildlife populations and provides ecological and recreational value. 

The ARE of November 2021 resulted in significant flows in the Chilliwack/Vedder River that added 440,000 meters of sediment into the Vedder River between Vedder Crossing and the Highway 1 Bridge.

The emergency removal of 35,000 m3 was completed by City of Chilliwack in 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions

Project Details

Total Budget:

$13 Million

Projected Completion Date:

December 2024

Community & Taskforce Members

 

Vedder Canal Map

 

Sediment Bar Excavation 

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S45 Bar

Above Image: Prior to excavation 

Above Image: During excavation 

Above Image: After excavation 

 

Giesbrecht Bar

Above Image: Prior to excavation 

Above Image: During excavation 

Above Image: After excavation 

 

Peach Bars

Above Image: Prior to excavation 

Above Image: During excavation

  Above Image: Opening excavation site  Small openings are to enable a controlled release to maintain water flow at acceptable levels. The openings also enable fish not getting stranded inside the pit.

 Above Image: After excavation 

 

Lickman Bars

Above Image: Prior to excavation Above Image: Preparing bridge for accessAbove Image: During excavationAbove Image: After excavation 

 

Campground Bar

Above Image: Before excavationAbove Image: During excavationAbove Image: Installing filter clothAbove Image: After excavation 

 

Brown Bars

Above Image: Before excavationAbove Image: During excavationAbove Image: Before excavationAbove Image: During excavationAbove Image: After excavation 

 

Bergman Bars

Above Image: During excavationAbove Image: After excavation 

 

Railway Bars

Above Image: Prior to excavation Above Image: During excavation Above Image: Opening excavation siteAbove Image: After excavation 

 

Greendale Bars

Above Image: Prior to excavation Above Image: During excavationAbove Image: After excavation Above Image: Habitat area before excavationAbove Image: Habitat area during excavationAbove Image: Habitat area after excavation

 

Powerline Bar

Above Image: Prior to excavation Above Image: During excavationAbove Image: After excavation 

 

Chadsey Bar

Above Image: Prior to excavation Above Image: During excavation Above Image: Opening excavation siteAbove Image: After excavation 

 

Images 

Building a bridge crossing.  August 2024

Site marking showing environmental footprint of the site. August 2024

Dry bar excavation in upper reach. August 2024

Stock pile site of removed sediment to be hauled offsite. August 2024

Image above: Vedder River January 2024

Dry bar excavation being loaded and hauled to stockpile site. August 2024

Dry bar excavation in lower reach. August 2024

Temporary bridge installed to limit disruption of waterways. August 2024

Protective measures to limit spread of invasive knotweed. August 2024

Above image: Vedder River showing sediment bar. January 2024

 

Risk Evaluation

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Public Health and Safety

High water levels and inadequate dike freeboard could compromise the standard of protection offered by the dikes and could cause significant public and infrastructure hazard in the event of a dike breach or overtopping during high flow conditions in the river. 

 

River Capacity

The Veddar River and Canal flood flows are typically governed by fall/winter storm events rather than freshet flows. Flood conveyance capacity has been compromised by a significantly higher than average accumulation of sediment. Sediment needs to be removed or dikes raised to meet current standards. 

 

Environmental

No significant damage to riparian vegetation was noted. Damage to fish habitat is unknown but not expected to be high. 

 

Infrastructure

A significant amount of sediment has accumulated in multiple locations within the 12km between Veddar Crossing bridge and the Highway 1 bridge. The Highway 1 bridge, Keith Wilson bridge and SRBC bridge piers could be compromised by erosion from accumulation at the piers and on adjacent river banks. River banks could be exposed to erosion based on the location of the sediment accumulation in the main channel. 

 

Contact information

Information
sec.info.epd@gov.bc.ca