Victoria Airport Authority Receives British Columbia Aviation Council (BCAC) Environmental Award for TenTen Creek Remediation

Victoria Airport Authority Receives British Columbia Aviation Council (BCAC) Environmental Award for TenTen Creek Remediation

British Columbia Aviation Council (BCAC) has announced winners of the Environmental Achievement Award. Each year BCAC recognizes an outstanding environmental initiative, program or accomplishment in one or more areas of protection, rejuvenation and awareness. 

Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) was selected as this year’s recipient of the BCAC Environmental Achievement Award for the TenTen Creek Sediment Reduction Project. The official presentation was made to VAA at the Annual Silver Wings Awards celebration held yesterday evening in Vancouver.

About the TenTen Creek Remediation Project:

Historic activities on Airport lands had reduced the aquatic ecosystems in TenTen Creek to the point that fish and other aquatic life were rarely observed.  Lands adjacent to the stream contain a federal dump site which contributed to poor water quality in the steam.  Near TenTen Creek, VAA constructed a wetlands complex to provide much needed treatment for nutrient-heavy water from nearby farming operations.  In 2012, discovery of juvenile sea-run cutthroat trout and three-spined stickleback fish highlighted the importance to continue to reduce harmful pollutants and revitalize creek habitat. In 2013, a two-phase project was completed to enhance existing facilities and create a diversion channel to direct pond overflow into a retention area, reducing sediment and limiting nutrient-rich stormwater from entering TenTen Creek. 

This most-recent phase of work completed in 2017 was a self-funded $540,000 capital project. It included re-profiling and armouring two large over-steepened banks, constructing two large sediment traps to reduce sediment load into Patricia Bay, improving creek plantings, removing visible garbage and modifying the water flow in sections to reduce future erosion. All efforts to encourage future aquatic life and reduce the downstream impacts into Patricia Bay.

“We are very pleased to receive recognition for this important environmental project.  Our mandate is to lead the way in environmental management. Our operations are supported and guided by a strong environmental management plan and we are committed to being exemplary stewards of local watersheds and airport lands,” said Geoff Dickson, President and CEO.

The TenTen Creek Remediation project included the involvement and support of a number of stakeholders including Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Peninsula Streams, Shore Keepers, Transport Canada, Tseycum First Nation and environmental consultants Kerr Wood Liedel and SLR Environmental.

About Victoria International Airport

Victoria International Airport (Airport Code: YYJ) is the 10^th busiest airport in Canada with over 1.93 million passengers per year.  Victoria is well served with more than 100 daily flights throughout North America.  YYJ was rated among one of the top ten most-loved airports in the world by CNN Travel and was twice named ‘Best Regional Airport in North America’ by Airports Council International (ACI).

Victoria Airport Authority is a not-for-profit authority that has managed the safe and secure operations of the Victoria International Airport on behalf of the surrounding communities since April 1, 1997.

Geoff Dickson
President and CEO
Executive Offices:  (250) 953-7501