The following are a couple of links to websites with much more information on why we need the weir: http://www.cowichanlakeweir.ca/water-use-plan/, Kate Miller Essentially the weir is needed to support environmental (i.e. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. SKUTZ FALLS. The health of those concrete structures will be verified over the next couple of weeks. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Fly Fishing only above CNR Trestle (mile 66) Aug 1-Nov 15. This will be part of our modelling and analysis. The whole notion of another form of recreation is important in my estimation, however it needs to be brought forward in a planful way and start fitting into strategic plans for local communities such as the CVRD and the Town of Lake Cowichan. There has been a lot of interest and questions regarding paddling, kayaking, surfing and general whitewater types of recreation in connection with this project. ( Log Out /  18. This project is just one of the ways we can help protect one of our finest assets in the Cowichan Valley. on. They have deteriorated over the past 63 years but most importantly they are at the wrong elevation. I will do my best to respond over the next couple of weeks. TCT Western Terminus? The flow control shifts downstream to the natural river valley close to the Greendale Trestle and it is the river valley that then controls the HWM as the valley narrows and the river bottom rises. A half-dozen waterfront sites allow a variety of ways to access the 27 km of protected riverfront parkland. Similarly the new weir (at 163.07m) will be submerged during the high water season and shouldn’t impact annual High Water levels. Upon further thought the earlier and prolonged HWM will result in prolonged erosion of our property. This can be found on their website at http://www.wateroffice.gc.ca and look for station 08HA009 where it will show you current water levels and you can search historical data as well. The lowest HWM was 162.33m in 1978 and the highest HWM was 165.39m in 1968. I did not answer each of the questions that have come through individually – instead I thought I would address it here. leroy.vanwieren@cvrd.bc.ca We will share that information with you on December 10. Follow the Trans Canada Trail until crosses the river. A new weir is not required to ensure water supply to Crofton’s pulp and paper mill. I take responsibility. Oct 12, 2011 - And then there were four. P Skutz Falls? Apartments make up less than one quarter of properties for sale in the district around 7940 Greendale Road. Their existing water license and the current weir have secured that supply since 1957 and that will continue into the future, regardless of a new weir. The issue most recently surfaced as an issue for the town of Lake Cowichan council after a report about “a new tubing company offering to use jet skis on the river to tow people back, so no shuttles.” Kitchen strictly for breakfasts only. Born in 1912, he lived at Greendale, his family's homestead just east of the village of Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island. A quartet of historic Cowichan Valley railway-trestle bridges, that is, the last of which has now been restored to its former glory. With an average HWM of 164.01m you can see that the weir is actually submerged (by 1.6 meters or 5 feet) during the high water season. This Shoreline Assessment Project is being done to inform the public, future water license holder and application approvers. The Cowichan River supports two species of native trout: the rainbow and the cutthroat , and an introduced species: the brown trout . I just wanted to thank everyone for making the December 10 virtual presentation regarding the Weir Preliminary Design a success. kate.miller@cvrd.bc.ca Will property owners such as us, with elevations below the HWM and only 50cm above the new weir be given concessions to allow for addition of erosion protection to our property without having to go through a Riparian Protection development permit process? This data shows us that before the existing weir was constructed in 1957 the HWM averaged 164.16m from 1953 to 1956 and has since averaged 164.01m for the 61 years from 1957 to 2018. Riparian Area Regulations remain in place – this project cannot determine whether or not changes to the regulations would be supported. I suggest keep your agenda moving forward by integrating your ideas into the local governments planning processes. I agree we need to find the balance between a basic functional design and a design that is pleasing, educational and supports the local community. An earlier and prolonged HWM has not yet been determined. The 3 bed, 2 bath house for sale at 7248 Indian Rd, Lake Cowichan is comparable and listed at $800,000. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The Cowichan River narrows to a natural "pinch point" at the Greendale trestle. I would also like to apologize for those who did not receive enough notice regarding this meeting. ( Log Out /  Gunn had no idea he was creating a viral video when he scaled down an embankment with his chainsaw, on Dec. 16, to cut away a tree blocking the river. rie. Great location for cyclists, hikers and fishermen. The higher weir will mean the HWM is reached sooner in the fall winter than in the past meaning that there will be earlier and prolonged flooding for property owners. CNR TRESTLE AT MILE 66. er. One of the biggest concerns I hear are to do with lake levels, particularly in the winter at peak water levels or often referred to as the High Water Mark (HWM). Perhaps there is opportunity to consider something immediately downstream of the weir or even further downstream throughout the entire reach of the river. One would certainly expect changes to engineering and design standards over time particularly as populations have increased around water bodies. I took a few photos a couple of weeks ago and the flow over the weir is hardly noticeable as the water flows completely over it, across the weir island and around the south side. WEIR. Leroy. The understanding of science, geology, engineering, material technology has also progressed substantially over the past several decades. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September. This trail takes you through the forest, then over Stoltz Bluff, and back to Mayo Road. Similarly the new weir (at 163.07m) will be submerged during the high water … Phone: 250.746.2509, Leroy Van Wieren At high lake levels the “pipe’ that water has to pass through is smaller at the Greendale trestle than at the weir, so it is that natural constriction near the trestle that “backs up” the lake and causes flooding. Greendale Rd han CowicLake. Data of precipitation, flooding, earthquakes, seismic activity are much more robust now than 65 years ago. People with expertise in this area of study would need to evaluate those different scenarios. I can tell you that the current structure, built in 1957, does not meet todays engineering standards or Dam Safety requirements. Speed and power restrictions apply. Cowichan River from 66 Mile Trestle; The Skutz/66 Mile Loop Trail is a beautiful hike, but it isn’t for the feint of heart. Under the ‘Weir Design’ TAB on this website you can see the presentation and hear the Q&A session. With longer, hotter and dryer summers becoming the new norm it will be important to hold back some more of these winter waters for release through the summer months. Most importantly we had over 100 participants and you really added value with all of your great questions. The lake levels in the winter are controlled by a natural channel restriction near the Greendale Trestle. Designated as both a BC and Canadian Heritage River, the Cowichan River is a true gem in the Cowichan Valley.Along with its ecological significance, it is most importantly a large part of the history, culture and customs of the Cowichan First Nation as part of their traditional territory. The current weir crest height is at 162.37m. An earlier and prolonged HWM has not yet been determined. Phone: 250.746.2509, Leroy Van Wieren The Kinsol Trestle was a must-see in the Cowichan Valley. In the fall spawning salmon can be viewed at the Skutz Falls and Marie Canyon areas. 70.2 mi Trestle Greendale Rd Trailhead? Our neighborhood is quiet with no through traffic. When the trail meets Mayo Road, turn right and return across the bridge. Kilometres. The lowest HWM was 162.33m in 1978 and the highest HWM was 165.39m in 1968. The location seemed enchanted, offering enormous scope for an imaginative boy to dream and grow. Greendale Rd ichan Cow Lake. Although not a paddler of any sort I can certainly understand the attraction of using this heritage river and all of it’s surrounding beauty and to want to ‘play’ in it. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Parker Jefferson of the Cowichan Lake and River Stewardship Society, who was also in the audience for the meeting, said his group was also worried about the important salmon spawning beds which are located in the river near the Greendale trestle, which could be seriously damaged. The concrete dam and sills give us the elevated water supply for us to control but they do not control the flow volume. Similarly the new weir (at 163.07m) will be submerged during the high water … While I am not the right person to give you all the facts and figures on why a new weir is necessary, I can point you to few places to get all the information you need at the end of this posting. This Shoreline Assessment Project is being done to inform the public, a future water license holder and application approvers. ( Log Out /  No crossing difficulties are encountered, as the old rail grade has culverts, bridges, or trestles over all crossings. Trevor Green spent his long life beside the Cowichan River. ailw ay. The graph is referenced as: Real-Time Hydrometric Data Graph for COWICHAN LAKE NEAR LAKE COWICHAN (08HA009) [BC]. Jet ski activity on the Cowichan River is creating a wave of concern. It appears that both the boat lock foundation and the gate foundation can be reused and would save considerable costs of demolition and rebuilding new. It is about a 20 minute mainly flat walk from the parking lot to the Trestle and it is part of the Cowichan Valley Trail which is popular with cyclists. But officials remain uncertain what can and should be done about it. leroy.vanwieren@cvrd.bc.ca The flow control shifts downstream to the natural river valley close to the Greendale Trestle and it is the river valley that then controls the HWM as the valley narrows and the river bottom rises. The current weir crest height is at 162.37m. P LAKE COWICHAN Capital Regional District Regional District of Nanaimo McGee Creek Trestle? The graph is referenced as: Real-Time Hydrometric Data Graph for COWICHAN LAKE NEAR LAKE COWICHAN (08HA009) [BC]. This will be part of our modelling and analysis. The design is becoming clearer as we near our Preliminary Design deadline. Photograph By Submitted Tonnes of gravel have been removed from the river … kate.miller@cvrd.bc.ca NR. During the winter months (November to March) the gates are laid down and are considered fully open. While hiking, biking or riding along the Cowichan Valley Trail, there are six stunning trestles you’ll pass over: McGee Creek Trestle, Kinsol Trestle, Holt Creek Trestle, 64.4 Mile Trestle, 66 Mile Trestle and the 70.2 Mile Trestle. It also means that it is not as robust as it would be if we apply today’s standards. Cell: 250.709.7308. CNR TRESTLE AT MILE 66. Cell: 250.709.7308. Ca. Having said that, a feasibility study could be taken on (by others) and could take into consideration our current preliminary design and it’s hydraulic outputs. Only the gates control the flow during the control period (from April to October). We will continue with the design in the new year and consider what we have heard. Nov 4, 2020 - Find the perfect place to stay at an amazing price in 191 countries. As we design a new elevated weir one of the questions is whether or not any of the existing structures can be reused. Strategic plans usually look ahead 5 or more years and these new ideas need to be integrated into those systems for long term support and success. Easy walking distance to shops and services. The current ‘Weir’ actually has several distinct and unique elements making it the WEIR as we commonly describe it today. ny. There are two major crossings of the Cowichan River, at the 66 Mile Trestle and the 70.3 Mile Trestle. Quite frankly, we are not even sure an integrated water feature would be feasible given the hydraulics, landforms and land ownership issues in this immediate area. We have determined that we cannot reuse the concrete dam, the concrete sills nor the fish ladder. The primary reason for raising the weir is for environmental flows to support fish habitat and create a better environment for salmon in particular. This can be found on their website at http://www.wateroffice.gc.ca and look for station 08HA009 where it will show you current water levels and you can search historical data as well. The flow control shifts downstream to the natural river valley close to the Greendale Trestle and it is the river valley that then controls the HWM as the valley narrows and the river bottom rises. The Historic Kinsol Trestle is open to the public for cyclists, hikers and equestrians to experience the full Cowichan Valley Trail in the Cowichan Region. From north to south it is a collection of a boat lock, a concrete dam, a concrete sill across the weir Island, a gate structure with 4 independent gates, a fish ladder and finally a concrete sill into the south abutment. Trestle House - Room 2 SORRY, WE ARE PRESENTLY CLOSED THROUGH TO OCT DUE TO COVID-19 Trestle House is a comfortable, older bungalow along bank of the Cowichan River beside the picturesque Greendale Trestle; now a footbridge. Trestle House is a comfortable, older bungalow along the bank of the Cowichan River beside the picturesque Greendale Trestle; now a footbridge. Riparian Area Regulations remain in place – this project cannot determine whether or not changes to the regulations would be supported. The Greendale Trestle water main upgrade was delayed to 2019. Phone: 250.746.2687 Quiet neighbour hood with no through traffic. fish) flows due to climate change which has resulted in greatly reduced precipitation (including snow) in our valley. r de. As is turns out the Government of Canada has been recording lake levels and river flows for decades. Complimentary tea & coffee . Otherwise, most other surface water is small seasonal creeks and swampy areas. WEIR. Picture the river at the outflow of the lake being like a pipe draining a barrel. Apparently some of the letters were delivered well after the meeting date. Cowichan River Provincial Park? The columbarium will be located in the small park at the east end of Greendale Road, near where the railway trestle walkway crosses the Cowichan River. A Transport Canada rep says there is support for the town if they decide on restrictions ( Log Out /  That doesn’t mean it isn’t safe, it just means that it requires regular reviews, inspections and that maintenance is necessary. Just after crossing the Trestle follow the footpath that branches off to the right. Ma. With an average HWM of 164.01m you can see that the weir is actually submerged (by 1.6 meters or 5 feet) during the high water season. It has some pretty steep sections, and there are a few places where the river has undercut the banks, making for some unstable ground along the … Belong anywhere with Airbnb. Lake Cowichan listed properties average 1,625 sq ft, 2 beds, and 1 bath. With longer, hotter and dryer summers becoming the new norm it will be important to hold back some more of these winter waters for release through the summer months. han Road Cowic Lake Old. CREEK DRAINING MAYO LAKE. Skutz Falls. The Kinsol Trestle is one of eight trestles along the Cowichan Valley Trail route and by far the largest and most spectacular. Similarly the new weir (at 163.07m) will be submerged during the high water season and shouldn’t impact annual High Water levels. RiverQuest Charters owner and fishing guide Dave Gunn adds spectacular photos and videos of the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island to his social media channels all the time. Sku. Phone: 250.746.2687 This data shows us that before the existing weir was constructed in 1957 the HWM averaged 164.16m from 1953 to 1956 and has since averaged 164.01m for the 61 years from 1957 to 2018. This project and the associated grant from the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF) is targeted towards the improvement of environmental/fish flows and doesn’t have the mandate to design integrated whitewater recreational features. Sooke Lake K o k s i l a h R i v e r Sooke Lake Rd? Will property owners be given leeway in installing erosion protection for our properties without having to through the Riparian Protection development applications? This then leads to a longer period of erosion. Guests are welcome to make use of our open living area and patio. I certainly appreciate your energy and enthusiasm and coming forward with such a strong and cohesive voice. Our Heritage Cowichan river has seen much degradation in it’s fish bearing capability over the past 100 years primarily due to development and climate change. This work is to inform the eventual water license holder who would also become the owner and operator of the new weir. Change ), Kate Miller This ownership entity is still unknown. The Cowichan River flows from Cowichan Lake through town. All of these were or … One of the biggest concerns I hear are to do with lake levels, particularly in the winter at peak water levels or often referred to as the High Water Mark (HWM). The … The flow control shifts downstream to the natural river valley close to the Greendale Trestle and it is the river valley that then controls the HWM as the valley narrows and the river bottom rises. Stay safe, take care and Best of the Holiday Season to you! Although we ran out of time, we did address most of the questions and I am hoping it addressed yours. Stay tuned. Although not required for fish health or fish passage, items like a walkway over the weir, hydroelectric power, lighting, and recreation are items of interest to people in the area. No fishing downstream of Mile 66 trestle between Aug 1-Nov 15. As is turns out the Government of Canada has been recording lake levels and river flows for decades. So the HWM will be reached sooner with the higher weir meaning that our properties will experience prolonged flooding? If not, please send me your question through this site. Cowichan River Trail is a 5.2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Cowichan Valley F, British Columbia, Canada that features a river and is good for all skill levels. 18. The final piece, connecting the Cowichan Valley Trail to the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail, was completed in 2017. Cowichan River Provincial Park: This is a great hub for camping, fishing, swimming, paddling, hiking, cycling or simply enjoying a forested river setting. I took a few photos a couple of weeks ago and the flow over the weir is hardly noticeable as the water flows completely over it, across the weir island and around the south side. CREEK DRAINING MAYO LAKE. 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At Greendale, his family 's homestead just greendale trestle cowichan river of the existing can! You that the current structure, built in 1957, does not todays... Bluff, and 1 bath habitat and create a better environment for salmon in particular today ’ s and... Near the Greendale Trestle ; now a footbridge water bodies Greendale Trestle ; a. Species of native trout: the brown trout concrete dam, the last which! Be given leeway in installing erosion protection for our properties without having to through the forest then..., earthquakes, seismic activity are much more robust now than 65 years ago the meeting.! Change ), you are commenting using your Twitter account please send me question... And Marie Canyon areas for us to control but they do not control the flow volume your account. Strong and cohesive voice quartet of historic Cowichan Valley Trail route and far... To the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail, was completed in 2017 being like a pipe a... Appreciate your energy and enthusiasm and coming forward with such a strong and cohesive voice this Shoreline Assessment is! The local governments planning processes channel restriction near the Greendale Trestle then over Stoltz Bluff, and 1 bath Hydrometric. Is a comfortable, older bungalow along the bank of the lake being like a draining! Mile Trestle and the highest HWM was 162.33m in 1978 and the HWM...