STREAM IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BRUNETTE WATERSHED: TWO CASE STUDIES IN PARTNERING

The Brunette watershed is located in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. The watershed is highly urbanized and multi-jurisdictional. Based on an ongoing watershed planning process, two riffle weir projects were designed and implemented in 1999 to help reduce channel erosion and increase fish habitat. Both projects resulted from partnerships that were formed with the intention of combining the strengths of individual partners to create a more effective project. This paper presents two case studies that focus on the partnership process, design and implementation of the riffle weirs, and lessons learned. Key conclusions include that partnerships are an effective tool for implementing stream improvement projects in a cost-effective manner; and that riffle weirs can function effectively in an urban setting to mimic natural stream morphology, thereby improving fish habitat and channel stability.