Watercourse Crossing
Source: PEI Ecosystem-Based Forest Management Standards Manual (October 2025), Appendix 1, pp. 49, 53
What it is
A watercourse crossing is a structure placed in or over a watercourse. Normally it is a plastic or metal culvert, or a wooden bridge.
Standards and assessment
Look for alternatives first. Before building a permanent crossing, consider:
- access from a neighbouring property that already has forest roads and crossings, or
- a temporary crossing, which has less long-term impact on the stream and is easier to deactivate later.
Get the permit. Any crossing, temporary or permanent, needs a watercourse alteration permit from the Environment Division of the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action.
Follow the guidelines. Construction must comply with the provincial Watercourse, Wetland and Buffer Zone Activity Guidelines (Government of PEI website).
Rules that apply at every crossing
| Rule | Standard |
|---|---|
| Timing | New crossing work normally June 1 – September 30, unless it fixes an existing erosion problem |
| Heavy equipment | Not within 15 m of a watercourse without a permit |
| Debris | Remove anything entering the stream immediately. Fallen trees lying in the watercourse within 5 m of the structure count as debris. |
| Older, unpermitted crossings | Have a PEI Forests, Fish and Wildlife professional check them before a road is re-established |
The general road rules near water are on Roads & Water Diversion.
Based on the PEI Ecosystem-Based Forest Management Standards Manual (October 2025), Appendix 1, pp. 49, 53; Definitions, p. 41. Where this guide and the manual differ, the manual governs.