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Carruthers Creek Flood Management and AnalysisMunicipal Class Environmental Assessment

Public Information Centre #1Town of Ajax Council Chambers

December 9, 2010

Welcome to the Public Information Centre

• We are here to discuss the Carruthers Creek Flood Management & Analysis – Municipal Class Environmental Assessment.

• Town of Ajax in partnership with the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority have retained Cole Engineering Group Ltd. to carry out the Municipal Class EA.

• Introduce the members of the Consulting/Project Team.

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The Project Team

• Edward Graham, Project Manager, Cole Engineering Group Ltd.

• Geoff Masotti, Project Engineer, Cole Engineering Group Ltd.

• Mike Bricks, Environmental Planner & Principal, Bricks Planning & Environmental Services Inc.

• Karen Wianecki, Planning Solutions Inc.

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Meeting Purpose and Objectives

• To provide an overview of the Carruthers Creek Municipal Class EA (scope, timing, deliverables, process).

• To present the issues and preliminary alternatives being considered.

• To provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and provide advice regarding the alternatives.

• To outline additional opportunities for you to become involved:

Your comments are welcome throughout the Class EA process.

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Why is this Meeting Important?

• This meeting is being held to honour the commitments made by the Town of Ajax to involve the community and to meet the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act.

• Tonight offers an opportunity for two-way information exchange:

We would like to present some information to you; and,We would like to hear from you – your ideas, your thoughts, your concerns, and your suggestions

• This is the start of the EA process:The only decision that has been made is that there is a need to find a solution; and,Information is still being collected.

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Some Important Logistics

• We are here until 9:00 P.M.

• We are committed to answering all of your questions.

• I run all meetings using Appreciative Inquiry.

• My role will be to listen to you; to learn from you and to accurately capture the key points of discussion.

• I am committed to ensuring that this meeting is productive and valuable for all. To this end, I am suggesting that Respectful Dialogue = Productive Meeting.

• Listen to learn (one person speaks at a time).• Share our ideas and our concerns constructively and

respectfully.

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Handouts

• We have prepared several important documents that we will be referring to throughout the course of the evening:

Agenda;Handbook (Follow along with the slide presentation; take notes; take this home with you); and,Comment Template – Please complete and leave with us.

• Presentation will be uploaded to the Town of Ajax website.

• Any questions, comments, concerns of a general nature before we begin?

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Purpose of the Public Information Centre

• Follow-up to Public Open House and Information Session held in May 2010;

• Inform you of the study progress;• Discuss issues related to the project;• Review potential alternative solutions; and,• Receive feedback from you.

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Study Overview

• The Town of Ajax initiated a Municipal ClassEnvironmental Assessment (EA) study in July 2010.

• Objectives:Examine flooding risks; and, Develop plans to manage, reduce or eliminate risks.

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Problem/Opportunity Statement

Problem• Flood regulation limits include public and private properties.• Predicted flooding poses a risk to safety and property in the

study area.• Restrictive land-use policy initiatives limit development to

prevent increased risk in the area.• These policy initiatives do not remove the risk to existing

residents and properties.Opportunity

• Develop new strategies to eliminate, reduce, or manage flooding risks to existing flood vulnerable areas.

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Our Work To Date

• Started technical assessment including reviews, data collection and analysis, and looking at alternative solutions.

• Received emails and telephone calls and met with a number of individual landowners in the area.

• Generated preliminary alternative solutions.• We are here to present our progress and receive your

comments and thoughts.

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Alternative Solution Categories

• Do Nothing.

• Improve Stormwater Management.

• Increase Capacity.

• Planning and Policy Changes.

• Combinations of the above.

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Alternative Solutions

Do Nothing• Make no changes to the channel

or watershed (continue with current practice).

Anticipated Outcomes• Flood lines, spill area, and risks

remain.• Development restrictions within

floodplain remain.

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Alternative Solutions:Improve Stormwater Management

Retrofit Existing Stormwater Management Facilities

• Investigate upgrading facilities to further reduce storm water flows in the Creek.

Anticipated Outcomes• Reduced flow rates through the

affected area and lower water levels.

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Alternative Solutions:Improve Stormwater Management

Headwater Improvements• Improve upstream channel

conditions as well as some areas outside of the channel.

• For example, this can include planting of vegetation in the headwaters, wide implementation of Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s Natural Heritage System Guidelines.

Anticipated Outcomes• Reduced flow rates through the

affected area.

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Alternative Solutions:Increase Capacity

Upgrade Shoal Point Road Bridge • The existing structure creates an obstruction.• Increase the hydraulic opening at the crossing and/or reduce

restrictions.

Anticipated Outcomes• Increased capacity at the

bridge.• Lower water levels upstream

of bridge and reduced spill.

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Dredge at Shoal Point Road Bridge• Remove sediments at bottom of creek

under the bridge to increase flow area.• Environmental effects will be considered.

Anticipated Outcomes• Increased capacity at the bridge.• Lower water levels upstream of bridge

and reduce flooding.

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Channel Improvements Downstream of Shoal Point Road Bridge

• Remove sediments from the bottom of the river downstream of the bridge to increase flow area.

• Environmental effects will be considered.

Anticipated Outcomes• Increased conveyance capacity

through the Carruthers Creek Wetland Complex.

• Lower water levels downstream and upstream of bridge and reduce flooding.

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Construct a New Conveyance Channel/Structure• Surface flow route and/or sewer.• Land requirements must be

considered.

Anticipated Outcomes• Safely convey the spill through the

Pickering Beach Neighbourhood.

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Construction of Overflow Protection Works to Prevent Flooding

• A permanent landform created to prevent spill through the Pickering Beach Neighbourhood.

• Impacts upstream must be verified.• Land requirements will be a

consideration.

Anticipated Outcomes• Flow to follow the existing path of

Carruthers Creek.

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Reach Management Plan• Could include vegetation removal, re-grading valley slopes, and

channel lowering through and downstream of the existing spill location.

• May need to be considered in conjunction with Shoal Point Road bridge improvements to avoid constriction at bridge.

Anticipated Outcomes• Reduced water levels and

reduced flooding.

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Alternative Solutions:Planning and Policy Changes

Land Use Changes and Design Criteria• Assess impact of land use changes beyond the current

settlement boundaries.• Stormwater management design criteria to ‘over-control’ existing

flows upstream and reduce downstream flows.

Anticipated Outcomes• Reduced flow rates through the affected area.

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Pickering Beach Area Development Management Strategy

• Considered if flooding area cannot be reduced or eliminated.

• Re-examine Special Study Area requirements.

Anticipated Outcomes• Refined management of flood

risks.

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Evaluate Feasibility of Alternative Flood Management Policies and Practices

• Current floodplain management practices and policies do not allow for flow routing for flood management.

• Requires the Highway 401 crossing to be managed as an engineered facility.

• This would limit the ability to make future improvements to the valley corridor at the crossing.

Anticipated Outcomes• Reduced flows through the affected area.

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Two Stage Alternative Evaluation

Stage 1 Screening Criteria (Individual):• Technical• Natural Environment• Social Environment• Economic Environment

Stage 2 Detailed Criteria (Grouped Alternatives):• Technical• Natural Environment• Social Environment• Economic Environment

Alt 1 Alt 2 Alt 3 Alt 12…

Combo 1 Combo 2 Combo 3

Preferred Solution

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Next Steps

• Review and consider public comments.• Evaluate individual alternatives and begin grouping

alternatives for evaluation.• Evaluate grouped alternatives.• Determine preferred alternative solution.• Develop design concepts for preferred solution and

evaluate.

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Further Public Contact

• Comments can be made at any time during the study to [email protected] .

• Public Information Centre #2 in the spring of 2011. At PIC #2 will discuss the impacts of the alternatives on the flood lines.

• Projected project completion is June 2011.

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ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

Thank You…

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