Daylighting Mill Creek is technically feasible and would have major benefits for Edmonton’s fish population, according to a city review now out for public comment.

The new plan would redirect Mill Creek to flow above ground between the new Valley Line LRT and Scona Road, near the Muttart Conservatory. The river outlet would have wetlands and small walking trails; upstream, the area the area could be naturalized or made more like a district park, with a small canoeing lake and cafe attached to the new LRT station.

Either way, it would mean new spawning grounds for Edmonton’s pike and sucker populations, plus happy hunting for everything that eats them. 

“This project really enhances the North Saskatchewan River fishery. … It’s not just going to help things that are in the creek,” said biologist Lynn Maslen, a consultant on the project with Spencer Environmental.

The bulrushes and wetlands will create prime pike habitat, white sucker will spawn further upstream, and the small fry that wash down into the river will feed a whole food chain, she said. Provincial officials have estimated it will could double the amount of spawning habitat in Edmonton.

The city released three concept plans, available at edmonton.ca/millcreekstudy. When staff present to council this spring, they’ll also have cost estimates.

The Edmonton area used to several creeks connecting with the river, giving nursery habitat for walleye, northern pike and others. Now, it just has Whitemud Creek. Former creeks such as Groat, MacKinnon, Morin, Rat, Fulton and Goldbar run through culverts.

Mill Creek also runs into a culvert, then has a five metre drop into the river near the Old Timers Cabin, which makes it impossible for fish to enter the creek to lay their eggs. Provincial officials have said re-connecting Mill Creek to the river could double the city’s available spawning grounds.

Barry Raynard, an engineer with ISL Engineering, said the plan is not technically difficult. “It could be expensive though. … There could be a fair bit of excavation between Connors Road and 98 Avenue to lower the land,” he said, adding that the road would end up 15 metres above the creek is some places.

The plan needs large retaining walls and some bridges. It would be easier if roads were rerouted and given traffic lights instead of the current looping on-off ramps.

“We’re doing the cost estimates right now,” said Raynard. “It’s definitely more than $10 million. I don’t expect it to be over $100 million.”

The concept designs range from a natural ravine area and wetland with gravel walking paths to something more like a district park. None of the options close roads but several would re-route them, said Agnieszka Kotowska, the city’s ecological planner on the project.

“We wanted to think big and have a really well-thought out vision for the area,” she said, encouraging people to share feedback. “Right now it’s not a great place to walk. It’s just turf and big roads.”

All of the options include wetlands north of 98 Avenue to restore the flood plain and most critical fish habitat, she said. The existing culvert would be maintained for overflow to prevent flooding. The project runs beside the future LRT line but is not part of that budget because that contract is already awarded and under construction.