Intermittent drains: Maintenance

On this page

• About this code of practice
• Conditions
• Measures to protect fish and fish habitat
• Glossary

1.0 About this code of practice

Intermittent drains flow only for a short period of time in spring or during wet weather and are dry for the remainder of the year. Drains and drainage systems are a way to remove excess water from the land’s surface through channels, ditches, or canals. These include, but are not limited to agricultural, irrigation, municipal, private, and roadside ditches.

Intermittent drain maintenance is required to restore drains to their original design cross-section to ensure proper drainage (for example, drainage for agricultural fields and municipal storm drains). This code of practice applies to maintenance activities including:

• work on the banks such as repair, stabilization and brushing (slope, and top of bank)
• isolated spot cleanout
• full cleanout or bottom cleanout (when dry or frozen to the bottom)
• repairs to, and maintenance of:
  • water control structures
  • pipes
  • junction boxes
  • catch basins, pump stations, dykes and pipe outlets
• removal of debris

When intermittent drains contain water, the above maintenance activities must adhere to timing windows. When drains are dry or frozen to the bottom, these activities can be completed at any time of year.

You can protect fish and fish habitat during the maintenance of intermittent drains by following the measures listed below. When implemented correctly, these measures can manage the risk of harmful impacts associated with drain maintenance activities, which can include:

• disturbance of watercourse bed and banks
• release of sediments or other deleterious substances
• changes to aquatic habitat

The purpose of this code of practice is to describe the conditions under which it can be applied to your project and the measures you are required to implement in order to prevent harmful impacts to fish and fish habitat and comply with the Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act. If you cannot meet all the conditions and implement all the applicable measures listed below, your project may result in a violation of the Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act and you could be subject to enforcement action.

DFO is responsible for the conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat across Canada. Under the Fisheries Act, no one may carry out works, undertakings and activities in or near water that result in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat, or the death of fish, unless it has been authorized by DFO. Prohibitions in the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations must be followed unless authorized under federal or provincial law. DFO’s approval under the Species at Risk Act is also required if an activity affects an aquatic species at risk, any part of its critical habitat or the residences of its individuals.

If you are uncertain about whether this code of practice is applicable to your project, consult a qualified environmental professional. You may need to use other codes of practice or submit a request for project review. For any remaining questions, please contact the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program office in your area. It is your responsibility to comply with the Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act.

It is your duty to notify DFO if you have caused, or are about to cause, the unauthorized death of fish by means other than fishing, or the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat. Such notifications should be directed to the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program office found in your area.

This code of practice does not remove nor replace the obligation to comply with the requirements of any other federal, territorial, provincial or municipal regulatory agency including guidance about species and habitats managed by these jurisdictions.

A project review by DFO is not needed when the:

• project activities meet the description in section 1 and the conditions in section 2
• measures to protect fish and fish habitat set out in section 3 of this code of practice are applied 

Request a project review if your project does not meet all of these requirements.

2.0 Conditions

The following conditions describe when this code of practice can be applied:

• you determine if there are aquatic species at risk within the affected area by consulting our aquatic species at risk map, and you confirm that the work will not take place within the:
  • entire distribution area, including critical habitat or residences, of any molluscs listed under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act, unless watercourse is frozen to the bottom or water is not present
  • critical habitat or residences of any other aquatic species at risk
• the work does not include:
  • use of explosives
• there is no increase to the original design footprint below the ordinary high water mark
• you implement the measures in section 3 to protect fish and fish habitat when carrying out the works, undertakings and activities

3.0 Measures to protect fish and fish habitat

3.1 Protection of fish

• Carry out the project in accordance with timing windows, unless drain is frozen to the bottom or water is not present.
  • Limit the duration of in-water works, undertakings and activities.

3.2 Protection of the riparian zone

• Use existing trails, roads, access points or cut lines.
  • Limit vegetation removal, pruning and grubbing to the area required for accessing the project site.
  • Limit access to banks or areas adjacent to the watercourse.
  • Construct roads, access points and approaches perpendicular to the watercourse.
• Use methods to reduce soil compaction (for example, swamp mats, pads).
• Reinstate stream banks and slopes of the affected riparian zone.

3.3 Protection of aquatic habitat

• Ensure that equipment and machinery are clean and free of aquatic invasive species prior to arriving on the project site.
• Limit disturbance of fish habitat features (for example, aquatic plants, rocks, woody material) to the area required to carry out the project.
  • Operate machinery on land, or on ice during all phases of the project.
  • Limit operation of vehicles and machinery to the area required to carry out the project.
  • Restore the bed and banks, gradient and contour affected by the project.
• Restore drain to its original design cross-section.

3.4 Protection of fish and fish habitat from sediment

• Manage sediment laden water flowing onto or through the site during all phases of the project.
  • Install erosion and sediment controls prior to beginning the project.
    • Develop and implement an erosion and sediment control plan for all phases of the project.
      • Regularly observe the watercourse for signs of suspended sediment during all phases of the project and take corrective action when and where required.
      • Inspect the erosion and sediment controls regularly during all phases of the project.
        • Repair the sediment controls during all phases of the project.
      • Operate machinery on land in stable areas.
      • Use biodegradable materials for erosion and sediment controls whenever possible.
      • Remove all non-biodegradable erosion and sediment controls once the site has been stabilized.
      • Dispose of, and stabilize all material on land in a designated area away from the ordinary high water mark or top of bank of a nearby watercourse.
      • Use only clean materials.
  • Keep the erosion and sediment controls in place until all disturbed ground has been stabilized and suspended sediments have settled.

3.5 Protection of fish and fish habitat from other deleterious substances

3.5.1 Develop a prevention plan

• Develop a plan to prevent deleterious substances from entering a watercourse or water body.
  • Maintain all machinery on site in a clean condition and free of fluid leaks.
  • Wash, refuel and service machinery in such a way as to prevent any deleterious substances from entering a watercourse or water body.
  • Store fuel and other materials for the machinery in such a way as to prevent any deleterious substances from entering a watercourse or water body.
  • Dispose of all waste materials on land in a designated area away from the ordinary high water mark of any watercourse or water body.
    • Remove debris with machinery operating from land.

3.5.2 Implement a response plan

• Implement a response plan immediately in the event of a spill of a deleterious substance (including sediment):
  • Stop all works, undertakings and activities.
  • Report spill immediately when a deleterious substance enters a watercourse or water body.
  • Contain water with deleterious substances.
  • Clean-up and dispose of water contaminated with deleterious substances.
    • Use an emergency spill kit.

4.0 Glossary

Affected area

The area within which all of the proposed project impacts are likely to occur either directly (meaning, project footprint) or indirectly (for example, downstream or other surrounding areas).

Aquatic invasive species

Fish, invertebrate or plant species that have been introduced into a new aquatic environment, outside of their natural range.

Aquatic species at risk

Any aquatic species listed under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act as endangered, threatened, or extirpated.

Bottom cleanout

Consists of removing accumulated sediment from a drain, spreading it on adjacent fields and, removing vegetation from the bottom of the channel only.

Brushing

The removal of vegetation along the slope of the bank. It does not disturb soil or remove the roots of any trees or shrubs. Woody vegetation is cut flush to the ground without disturbing the soil or removing the roots of trees and shrubs.

Deleterious substance

Any substance that, if added to water, would degrade, alter or form part of a process of degradation/alteration to the quality of that water so that it is rendered or possibly rendered deleterious to fish, fish habitat, or to the human use of fish that frequent that water. For example: fuel, lubricants, paints, primers, rust, solvents, degreasers, antifreeze, uncured concrete, foam, creosote, chlorinated water, herbicides, etc.

Drain

A system by which water is drained. Can also be referred to as canal, ditch, drainage channel, etc.

Full cleanout

Consists of removing accumulated sediment from a drain, spreading it on adjacent fields, and removing vegetation (including root removal) from the bottom of the drain and the slopes of both banks. It can also include the removal of trees and other vegetation from the top of a bank as required.

Harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat– Policy interpretation

Any temporary or permanent change to fish habitat that directly or indirectly impairs the habitat’s capacity to support one or more life processes of fish.

Ordinary high water mark

The usual or average level to which a body of water rises at its highest point and remains for sufficient time to change the characteristics of the land. In flowing waters (for example, rivers and streams) this refers to the 'active channel/bank-full level' which is often the 1:2 year flood flow return level. In inland lakes, wetlands or marine environments, it refers to those parts of the water body, bed and banks that are frequently flooded by water, leaving a mark on the land. It’s where the natural vegetation changes from mostly aquatic vegetation to terrestrial vegetation (excepting water tolerant species). For reservoirs this refers to normal high operating levels (i.e. full supply level).

Qualified environmental professional

A person experienced in identifying and analyzing risks to fish and fish habitat generated from various works, undertakings or activities conducted in or near water, and implementing management measures to avoid and mitigate those risks. They possess a post-secondary degree or diploma in biological, geophysical or environmental sciences and are referred to as:

• applied scientists
• aquatic biologists
• environmental consultants
• fisheries biologists
• fisheries technicians
• fluvial geomorphologists
• natural resource consultants

Riparian zone

Area located between a watercourse or water body’s ordinary high water mark and upland area. The width of the riparian zone may be further defined by provincial, territorial or municipal regulations or guidelines.

Spot cleanout

Cleanout of isolated areas of sediment or debris build-up that is significant enough to cause erosion or flow blockage/flooding concerns in the channel. A spot cleanout may be sufficient to get water moving again, eliminating the need to clean out the entire drain. (Note: Spot cleanouts are not continuous along the drain).