Pierce Creek flowing again after being blocked with debris due to heavy rain in Chilliwack

Pierce Creek is flowing properly again after a section of its path was completely clogged with debris last week following heavy rain.

The creek is located about 24 kilometres up Chilliwack Lake Road. It runs off Pierce Lake and is supposed to flow underneath a bridge and into the Chilliwack River. But on Thursday, Nov. 18, about 350 metres of the channel was cut off and Pierce Creek was flowing across Chilliwack Lake Road.

READ MORE: Pierce Creek completely blocked, water flows across Chilliwack Lake Road after heavy rainfall

“We got the creek back in its channel and also did some stream restoration work by pulling large boulders and cobble sized stones into the creek to restore bed structure,” said Barry Jonat, Emil Anderson project lead for the repair.

Crews from Metric Civil Contractors and others were on scene for two days digging out rocks and debris from the creek’s path and from underneath the Pierce Creek Bridge which goes across Chilliwack Lake Road.

Jonat is also a professional forester and he worked with an environmental monitor to figure out the best way to stabilize and protect the creek.

Trees were placed overtop of the creek and root balls were put into the creek to provide structure and shading. They also protect fish habitat.

Crews originally thought they’d have to remove an aluminum footbridge along Pierce Creek Trail to complete the work, but they were able to work around it. The footbridge was purchased and installed by volunteers about two years ago and was recently renamed during a special ceremony.

READ MORE: Chilliwack hiking bridge named after ‘tireless champion’ of Trans Canada Trail

Boulders were also added to the base of the bridge to add more protection.

By the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 20, the project was complete.

“It looks great,” Jonat said.