?aqam Roads and Drainage Upgrades Project

The proposed ʔaq̓am croads and drainage upgrades project is located on Kootenay IR1, approximately 9 km north of the City of Cranbrook. 

 

The community is bordered by the St. Mary's River to the south, the Kootenay River to the east, and a steep embankment to the north; these constraints limit viable access routes to the community.  Primary access to the community is along the Mission Wasa Low Road, which connects to the Mission Wasa Upper Road in the west.  There is also a network of emergency access routes connecting the Mission Wasa Upper and Low Roads; however, these roads are only usable in a 4x4 or offroad vehicle in the summer and are inaccessible in the winter.

 

ʔaq̓am has identified the improvement of emergency access routes as a critical priority. Strengthening these routes will enhance the community's ability to respond to and recover from natural disasters, reinforcing resilience in the face of increasing climate-related threats. The condition of the roads, consisting of emergency access routes and Indigenous Capital Management System (ICMS) listed roads, was investigated for potential upgrades in a feasibility study conducted by WSP.

 

The feasibility report recommended Option 4: upgrades to the 5.5km Main Emergency Access Route (MEAR), the 2.7 km Tributary Emergency Access Route (TEAR 6), and 3.0 km of all ICMS roads, as the best alternative during the design phase of the project.  This option provides the necessary level of service, safety, and resiliency for the community of ʔaq̓am.  Although not all the ICMS listed roads are required for emergency access/egress, they are in need of repair.  WSP has proposed a combination of one land and two-lane configurations along the MEAR and TEAR roads.

 

 

 

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Latest update

Notice of intent to make a determination

 

ʔaq̓am Roads and Drainage Upgrades Project – Public Comments Invited

 

May 07, 2025 – Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed ʔaq̓am Roads and Drainage Upgrades Project, located in Kootenay IR1, 9 kilometres north of Cranbrook, BC is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination.

 

Written comments must be submitted by June 08, 2025 to the BC Environment Team.

Participate

Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
1 ?aqam Roads and Drainage Upgrades Project PDF (58 KB) May 7, 2025

Contacts

BC Environment Team
Indigenous Services Canada
600-1138 Melville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 4S3
Email: bcciarpubliccomments@sac-isc.gc.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Kootenay IR1, BC (British Columbia)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Highways and Roads

  • Assessment Status

    In progress

  • Start Date

    2025-05-07

  • Proponent

    ʔaq̓am

  • Authorities

    • Indigenous Services Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89516

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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