Chapter V – Roads, sandpits and forest infrastructures
Division III – Bridge, culverts, removable structures and rudimentary structures
§4. General provisions applicable to bridges or culverts
Section 97
Every person carrying out a forest development activity that regularly uses a road crossing a watercourse must ensure that the bed of the watercourse is stabilized at the entrance and exit of the culvert and that the condition of the culvert allows free circulation of the water in order to ensure the durability of the road. The foregoing also applies to the manager of an outfitting operation, a controlled zone or a wildlife sanctuary within the meaning of sections 86, 104 and 111 of the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife 
(chapter C-61.1) or an enterprise carrying on mining activities or public utility works. 
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Objectives
- To avoid scouring of a watercourse
- To ensure the lifespan of a road, bridge or culvert
- To ensure the free flow of water
Explanations
As stated in this section, the following persons or organizations that regularly use a road crossing a watercourse must ensure that the bed of the watercourse is stabilized at the entrance and exit of culverts and that the condition of the culverts allows for free flow of water in order to ensure the durability of the road.
- Every person carrying out a forest development activity.
- Every manager of an outfitting operation, a controlled zone or a wildlife sanctuary within the meaning of sections 86, 104 and 111 of the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife (chapter C-61.1).
- Every enterprise carrying on mining activities or public utility works.
The notion of frequency of use is applied to determine whether or not a road is used regularly. Use is considered to be regular when the person or organization uses the road crossing a watercourse a certain number of times within a given period.
Below are three examples of individuals or organizations that must ensure that the culverts located on the road they use allow for the free circulation of water and that the bed of the watercourse is stabilized at the entrance and exit of the culverts for the full duration of their activities.
- A forestry company that harvesting or carrying out other forest development activities such as non-commercial sylvicultural work.
- A manager of a controlled zone, in respect of the stretches of road that provide users and visitors with access to the wildlife area in question, or to a campsite or lake with a boat launching ramp.
- An enterprise that carries out public utility work, including repair and maintenance of energy transmission lines.
Additional information
The materials used to stabilize the watercourse bed must be able to support the water flow speed so that they are not eroded and carried away by the current. A variety of materials similar to those that make up the natural bed of the watercourse should be used (rounded materials with a variety of particle sizes), and they should be arranged so as to overlap one another. This ensures that the reconstituted bed is watertight, and that water cannot filter through the materials. The addition of large stones (roughly 1.5 times the size of the largest stones in the natural watercourse), scattered across the bed, will improve stability and prevent scouring. The presence of large stones also helps to create a variety of flow conditions and also to create shelter for fish. When the stones are installed, it is important to ensure that they are nested and anchored in the underlying substrate, by partially burying them.
