Mill Creek could become a natural waterway again, if council follows through a suggestion to reunite the southside ravine with the North Saskatchewan River.
The creek was redirected in the 1960s and now flows underground near Connors Road though a storm water pipe.
Nancy Rempel, president of Keepers of the Mill Creek Ravine, asked council to restore the natural above-ground connection to the river.
“My hope is that by connecting the creek we will have more of a chance of creating an economically sound and stable area,” she said.
Rempel hopes that restoring the natural watershed environment will encourage whitefish and other animals to spawn in the area.
“This is a chance to reconnect it and, in theory, restore an ecological system,” she said.
She suggested doing the work while the Valley LRT Line is under construction, since crews will already be digging in the area.
“I’m guessing on costs, that it would just make sense.”
LRT construction manager Wayne Mandryk said it’s too late to include the restoration of the ravine in the Valley Line construction without causing major delays to the project.
He said the city had not studied the cost of Mill Creek proposal, but thinks it would be quite expensive.
“It’s a fairly complicated effort in order to do that,” he said. “I would hate to try to make an estimate, but I think we’re talking six figures plus.”
Mandryk said LRT construction won’t interfere with the possibility of restoring the creek in the future as a separate project.
Councillors were intrigued by the idea and directed staff to look into whether or not it would be feasible.
“There is a big move to restore creek beds and waterways like this,” Mayor Don Iveson said.
“I think it’s consistent with our approach to the river valley and biodiversity and doing the right thing for the environment.”
Coun. Michael Oshry, who made the motion, said he’s not holding out much hope, but thinks the idea is still worth investigating.
“It could potentially be very expensive or not feasible at all,” he said.
City staff will report back the city’s community services committee.
