Nita Lake Lodge Development
Project Introduction:
The Nita Lake Lodge Boutique Hotel is a
waterfront development in the Whistler Creek area of Whistler, BC.
The development includes a train station, 77-suite boutique hotel
and spa, restaurant, lounge, café, general store and meeting
rooms. The development is bounded by Nita Lake to the north and
Jordan Creek to the south. The close proximity of the lodge development
to Nita Lake and Jordan Creek presented problems during construction
of the lodge in 2004 and 2005. Specifically, continuous and permanent
pumping of groundwater from below the underground parking garage
into Jordan Creek was the initial solution to building below the
water table..
Problem Statement:
High levels of dissolved and total iron
are commonly found in the groundwater in the Whistler area. When
high levels of dissolved iron (found in groundwater) are exposed
to oxygen (found in Jordan Creek) the iron precipitates and causes
staining in downstream reaches of Jordan Creek. Long term exposure
to high levels of iron and iron precipitate has been shown to cause
cementing of creek beds and infilling of spawning gravel, thereby
reducing spawning habitat. High iron levels also promote blooms
of iron related bacteria in the creek..
Solution Description:
Cascade Environmental Resource Group Ltd.
provides environmental consulting and monitoring services to the
Nita Lake Lodge development. Water quality testing of the groundwater
discharge showed that high levels of iron were being pumped into
Jordan Creek. Cooperation between Nita Lake Lodge and the Resort
Municipality resulted in the temporary diversion of the groundwater
discharge from Jordan Creek into a Municipal storm ditch where it
could bypass the creek. Cascade Environmental is conducting ongoing
water quality monitoring of Jordan Creek, the groundwater discharge,
and the storm ditch to document iron levels. Cascade Environmental
is working with the developer and the Municipality to ensure that
a permanent solution is found to ensure that high iron levels are
not introduced into Jordan Creek.
Conclusion:
This project is currently underway.
 Nita Lake Lodge Site preparation September 2003 |
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 Nita Lake Lodge Site Foundations October 2004 |
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