EDI Helps Nanaimo With Green Plans
Multi-use trails and transportation corridors in communities have many benefits, such as encouraging active lifestyles, fostering a deeper sense of community, minimizing traffic congestion, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Georgia Greenway is a project that brings these benefits together and is an important part of the City of Nanaimo’s long-term transportation and infrastructure plan. EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc. team member, Adam Compton, has been involved with the planning and implementation of Phase 1 of this project.
Phase 1 officially opened during Nanaimo’s Earth Day celebrations in April 2019 and includes:
- a new 1/2 kilometre multi-use trail
- a new cycling and pedestrian bridge over Chase River
- new LED lighting along the trail
- safety enhancements at intersection crossings
Adam, a senior biologist and project manager at EDI, first worked with Herold Engineering on the assessment, design and permitting of Phase 1 and then directly with the City of Nanaimo during construction. He explains that, “creating a safe and accessible multi-use pathway that encourages walking, wheelchair use, cycling and other forms of green transportation was the driving goal for the project and this was achieved through the involvement of multiple professionals and stakeholders”.
Restoration of the natural environment near the new Chase River bridge is another project to which Adam has recently contributed. The City of Nanaimo recognized that the riparian areas along the south side of the Chase River had been disturbed by urban development over the years, leaving little natural vegetation along this fish-bearing river. In conjunction with the Georgia Greenway project and other works in the area, the City asked EDI to identify opportunities for habitat enhancement along the riparian area that would improve the health of the river and the adjacent forest ecosystem. Adam states that helping the City in this way was particularly rewarding because it involved “restoration for the sake of restoration”.
(Above) Adam Compton was interviewed about this project
(Above) Volunteers working at restoration efforts
Many volunteers came together during the 2019 Earth Day event to remove invasive plants and replace them with several hundred native trees east of the new Chase River bridge. The next phase of restoration is scheduled for Fall 2019, when additional planting and enhancements will occur in the parkland area near and west of the bridge. To be successful over the long-term, the restoration plan includes maintenance, inspection and regular removal of invasive species.
For further details on EDI services relating to environmental assessment, management and restoration, please CLICK HERE