Flooding averted at First Nations community

Press Releases

October 26, 2015

Kashechewan First Nation sole-sourced Hatch to undertake a fast-track design and construction project at the Kashechewan reserve in Northern Ontario, Canada. For seven years Hatch has delivered projects on time and under budget to this community. The project eliminated a significant flood risk to the community of 2,000-plus residents, thus avoiding what could have been significant health and safety problems.

In just three weeks, Hatch repaired broken drainage culverts, de-iced drainage facilities, repaired a broken sewage lift station, cleared and pumped blocked ditches, and closed drainage culverts that had jammed in an open position. Had they not been sealed, these drainage culverts would have allowed water from the Albany River to flood the community when the river staged during the spring thaw as a result of ice jamming.

The scope of work included design, preparation of tender documents, procurement, and EPCM construction management. Flooding of critical infrastructure such as the water plant and lift stations would have greatly increased evacuation times. As a result of Hatch’s work, residences, schools, and medical facilities within the community remained undamaged.

“This project exemplifies the best of Hatch. Our client, the community of Kashechewan, faced a real threat. With only three weeks before serious flooding could have devastated this remote First Nations community, the Hatch team devised a fast-track solution that mitigated the problems,” says Richard (Rick) Donnelly, principal consultant for water power and project manager. “The project was completed in the winter, under challenging conditions. Our team and the contractor met and exceeded the challenge, completing the work on budget, just in advance of the rising water levels.”

The Hatch team has gained the trust of the client over many years on the issues facing the dyke.  Project manager Rick Donnelly has been invited to speak to the chief and council of Kashechewan on several occasions to explain the fundamental issues. Chief and council continues to have full confidence in the Hatch team to analyze, recommend, and communicate the issues of flooding and dyke protection to them and the community.

Following project completion, the Kashechewan First Nation awarded Hatch a major study to undertake an assessment of how ice jam flooding can be eliminated or the risks significantly reduced.

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