Highway 101 Alternate Route Planning Study Aquifer Review

Client:

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

Location:

Sunshine Coast, Gibsons

Dates:

November 2022 – April 2024

Background:

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) engaged Hatfield to conduct a desktop aquifer review to support MOTI’s Highway 101 Alternate Route Planning Study. MOTI is developing a long-term plan for the highway corridor between Langdale and Trout Lake (Halfmoon Bay) on the Sunshine Coast and assessing options for upgrading or altering the Highway route. Seven (7) potential routes of differing lengths and alignments were evaluated by Hatfield to provide an assessment of relative potential impact to groundwater resources and users within the study area.

Services Provided:

The alternate route options were assessed and ranked for their relative potential for impact on both shallow and deep groundwater resources and users by considering the following: the proximity, depth, and number of water wells and surface springs, the local geology, and the number of creek crossings (with creeks potentially connected to groundwater). A relatively detailed assessment was completed for the Gibsons-Langdale area where several larger groundwater supply systems are present, whereas a more high-level assessment was completed for the regional study area between Gibsons and Trout Lake.  Preliminary potential impact rankings and findings were summarized from the desktop-based assessment for use in the overall MOTI options analysis.