Chapter V – Roads, sandpits and forest infrastructures
Division III – Bridge, culverts, removable structures and rudimentary structures
§6. Special provisions applicable to removable structures and rudimentary structures

Section 111

The installation of a removable structure whose supports are located outside the upper limit of a bank is allowed all year long. However, that type of structure must not be in contact with the watercourse.

1

Objectives

To avoid disturbing the bed of a lake or watercourse
To ensure the free flow of water
To ensure the free flow of fish

Additional information

Removable structures must be stabilized immediately during the construction, improvement or repair of a road crossing a watercourse, so as to avoid all risk of erosion in the future (see section 86).

The risk of erosion may be reduced by carrying out the different phases of construction, improvement or repair work and stabilization as part of an ongoing sequence. The granular materials used and the soils exposed to erosion must therefore be stabilized as the work is being carried out.

Figure 111A Supports for a removable structure outside the upper limit of the banks

From 15 December to 31 March, the following types of removable structures may also be installed:

a structure composed of 1 or more conduits at least 600 mm in diameter installed on the bed of a watercourse and whose fill is constituted of tree trunks or snow and covered if needed with a geotextile membrane and granular materials;
a structure composed of compacted snow or frozen water, covered if needed by a geotextile membrane and granular materials, in particular where there is a risk of carrying sediments into the watercourse;
an ice bridge, that is a structure composed only of frozen water and reinforced if needed by log mats that are interconnected.

Any type of removable structure other than those described in the second paragraph is prohibited from 15 December to 31 March.

2

Objective

To avoid carrying sediment into an aquatic, wetland or riparian environment

Additional information

Considering the varying climatic realities that can change from one year to another and from one region to another, any person who installs a removable structure may file a request for an exemption to the Regulation under section 40 of the Sustainable Forest Development Act must be filed with the management unit in charge (in French) to agree on a different period than the one from 15 December to 31 March to install and remove removable structures.

Figure 111B Removable structure composed of one or more conduits of at least 600 mm

Figure 111C Removable structure composed of compacted snow or frozen water

Figure 111D Ice bridge

Where a removable structure is installed from 15 December to 31 March, the banks must be stabilized over the whole width of the trail regardless of the type of removable structure installed. The removable structure installed must be appropriate for the crossing site in order to minimize the disruptions of the bed of the watercourse when it is used and removed.