Bioengineering for Slope Stabilization in Mount Robson Provincial Park
Brinkman partnered with engineers, First Nations, and industry to stabilize failing slopes above a critical rail corridor in Mount Robson Provincial Park, the traditional unceded land of the Simpcw First Nation. Using soil bioengineering with native species, the project mitigated sediment transport and restored habitat resilience.
Project Details
Location: Mount Robson Provincial Park, BC
Client / Partners: BGC Engineering, Simpcw First Nation, TransMountain, CN Rail, Polster Environmental Services
Project Type: Soil bioengineering, slope stabilization, erosion control, habitat restoration
Scale: 2,500 m² stabilized; 18,000 live stakes installed at 7.2 stakes/m² density
Project Overview
Erosion and slope instability above a railway line in Mount Robson Provincial Park posed risks to transportation and resource infrastructure. To address this, a partnership team implemented soil bioengineering solutions, with Brinkman providing large-scale planting of native live stakes for stabilization.
The project combined geotechnical expertise with ecological restoration, ensuring both slope integrity and habitat recovery.
Impact at a Glance
- 2,500 m² of unstable slope stabilized
- 18,000 live stakes of balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) installed in Fall 2019
- High-density formation at 7.2 stakes/m² for maximum stabilization
- Sediment transport mitigated through adaptive, site-specific methods
- Restored early successional native vegetation for habitat resilience
Soil Bioengineering and Slope Stabilization
This project stabilized a failing headscarp through the installation of densely planted native live stakes, creating root systems that bind slope material, reduce erosion, and slow sediment transport. The work was carried out in collaboration with engineers and First Nations, using adaptive, site-specific bioengineering methods tailored to the steep and unstable conditions. Early successional vegetation was introduced to accelerate ecological recovery, while the use of locally sourced balsam poplar ensured ecological compatibility and long-term resilience. Beyond habitat restoration, the project also protected critical transportation and service corridors from geotechnical failure.
Outcomes
The project successfully stabilized vulnerable slopes while re-establishing vegetation that provides ecological function. It demonstrated how soil bioengineering solutions, implemented in partnership with First Nations and technical specialists, can achieve both geotechnical safety and habitat restoration in sensitive park environments.
