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WelcomeMunicipal Class Environmental Assessment for the Mud Creek Subwatershed

Public Information Centre #2April 23, 2015

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Your comments are important to us. Please complete one of the comment sheets and place it in the box provided, or send it to the address on the form prior to May 6, 2015.

Staff from the City and their consultants are available to answer any questions that you have.

City of London

Scott Mathers, MPA, P.Eng.Manager, Stormwater Management Unit

David Gough, P.Eng.Environmental Services Engineer

CH2M HILL

Tom Mahood, P.Eng.Project Manager

Adrienne Willoughby, E.I.T.Project Engineering Support

WBG111014013609KWO

Study Purpose and GoalsThe purpose of this Environmental Assessment (EA) is to determine the preferred drainage and stormwater management works within the Mud Creek Subwatershed to mitigate the issues associated with stormwater fl ows. The EA serves to develop environmentally sound recommendations that refl ect the current and future land use within the area, through a collaborative public and stakeholder consultation process.

Project Goals:

• Characterize the Mud Creek Subwatershed natural environment • Identify the stormwater management issues in the subwatershed• Develop alternatives to mitigate stormwater impacts• Develop issues-based evaluation criteria and select the

preferred alternative(s)• Engage

stakeholders to provide input throughout the study

Mud Creek Subwatershed Boundary

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Class Environmental Assessment Process

This is a Schedule B study which will be carried out under the Municipal Engineer’s Act (MEA) Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process, and will complete Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Phase 1Define the Problem or Opportunity

Phase 2Identify & Assess Alternative Solutions

Consult with Public, Agencies, First Nations, and otherstakeholders

Select a Preferred Solution(s) and Identify ProposedTiming for Implementing Preferred Solution(s)

Phase 3

Prepare alternative design concepts forthe Preferred Solution(s)

We AreHere

Sche

duleBProjects

Phase 4

Prepare Environmental Study Report(ESR) Documenting Phases 1 3 for publicreview

Phase 5

Project Implementation

Sche

duleCProjects

Schedule A / Schedule A+ ProjectsPre approved, typical, or emergency operationalinfrastructure improvement projects; proceed toimplementation

WBG111014013609KWO

Problem Statement

Phase 1 of the Class EA requires a Problem/Opportunity statement to be developed that outlines the need and objective for the study. The following specifi c goals and objectives have been developed to guide the EA and to form the Problem/Opportunity Statement:

• Establish stormwater management (SWM) criteria and environmental targets that are consistent with City and UTRCA policies and guidelines and which allow for planned development to proceed;

• Mitigate sedimentation and channel instability and enhance the morphology of Mud Creek through incorporation of fl uvial geomorphic design principals into Creek remediation;

• Reduce fl ooding along Oxford Street and Proudfoot Lane;

• Improve the Canadian National Railway (CNR) culvert performance and mitigate the impact of fl ooding upstream and downstream of this crossing;

• Conveyance of stormwater fl ow north of the Canadian Pacifi c Railway (CP) line;

• Mitigate sediment issues in culverts and connecting sewers tributary to Mud Creek;

• Restore and enhance the aquatic habitat in Mud Creek as well as the terrestrial habitat in the Creek corridor; and

• Enhance the visual character of the Mud Creek corridor and provide opportunities for the public to safely utilize the area for recreational purposes.

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Stud

y Ar

ea a

nd E

xist

ing

Subw

ater

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Cha

lleng

es

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ssue

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the

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ek S

ubw

ater

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hav

e be

en id

entifi

ed

whi

ch w

ill b

e ex

amin

ed a

s pa

rt of

this

stu

dy.

Thes

e is

sues

incl

ude:

OxfordStreet

WonderlandRoad

1

2

34

5 6

7 8

ProudfootLane

BeaverbrookAvenue

Mud

Creek

1.Ch

anne

linUpp

erRe

ach

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odingo

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ford

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donFree

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4.Cu

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ghOxfordStreet

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anne

lCulvertinUpp

erRe

ach

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anne

linLower

Reach

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nder

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ndRo

ad8.Outfallat

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esRiver

6.Cu

lvertthrou

ghCa

nadian

Nationa

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• S

edim

enta

tion,

ero

sion

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inst

abili

ty is

sues

in th

e cr

eek

and

culv

erts

• P

oor p

erfo

rman

ce o

f the

Can

adia

n N

atio

nal R

ailw

ay (C

NR

) cul

vert

• C

onve

yanc

e of

sto

rmw

ater

fl ow

s up

stre

am o

f Can

adia

n P

acifi

c R

ailw

ay (C

PR

) lin

e

• S

torm

wat

er m

anag

emen

t ser

vici

ng fo

r infi

ll d

evel

opm

ent

• Fr

eque

nt fl

oodi

ng o

n O

xfor

d S

treet

and

Pro

udfo

ot L

ane

• Fl

oodi

ng p

oten

tial i

n th

e vi

cini

ty o

f Won

derla

nd R

oad,

R

iver

side

Driv

e, a

nd H

utto

n P

lace

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History of Mud Creek Subwatershed

Previous Studies1995 Mud Creek Subwatershed Study The original study of the Mud Creek Subwatershed was completed in 1995. This study documented the environmental and aquatic resources within the subwatershed, and recommended strategies to maintain and enhance natural features as the surrounding lands were developed.

2008 Environmental Assessment An Environmental Assessment (EA) was undertaken to identify the preferred stormwater mitigation strategies in the area. The EA was deferred as it was determined that an update to the Subwatershed Study was required prior to evaluating implementation strategies.

2014 Mud Creek Subwatershed Study UpdateA Subwatershed Study Update was completed in 2014 and included an update of the environmental and technical conditions surrounding Mud Creek, planning policies and zoning within the area, and a climate change analysis. The study recommended several stormwater mitigation strategies which will be included in the alternative evaluation in this EA.

Future Land DevelopmentOver the past few decades, the land within the Mud Creek Subwatershed has been developed signifi cantly. 54 hectares of land within the Mud Creek Subwatershed remain subject to future land use change. The main roads in the Subwatershed may be impacted by future road expansions.

Areas subject to change in Land Use

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Building upon the previous studies, the EA process requires fi eld investigations to confi rm the limits of natural features in the study area and to determine the wildlife, vegetation, and species-at-risk in the area.

Key assessments include:

• Vegetation Assessment• Aquatic Assessment and Mapping• Breeding Bird Survey• Amphibian Calling Survey• Wildlife Habitat Survey• Species at Risk SurveyThe project team will consult with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. The results of these surveys will be used to develop environmental management and mitigation measures to protect key features and to enhance wildlife habitat.

Environmental Impact Study

Upper reach of Mud Creek

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Replacement or upgrading of culverts to include a natural channel design can restore sediment transport throughout the system and improve channel stability.

Stream Restoration

Culvert with natural channel bottom

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45235

235.5

236

236.5

237

237.5

238

238.5

239

239.5

240

240.5

235

235.5

236

236.5

237

237.5

238

238.5

239

239.5

240

240.5

Christie Lake Pond Restoration Conceptual Cross Section

Typical Natural Channel Conceptual Design Drawing

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am R

esto

ratio

nLa

ndsc

ape

Stre

am re

stor

atio

n ca

n al

so a

ddre

ss b

ank

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ion

by s

uppo

rting

the

bank

s us

ing

natu

ral m

etho

ds (s

uch

as

will

ow b

undl

es, r

oot w

ads,

etc

.).

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k er

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ong

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elan

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reek

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on, O

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io

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ural

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nnel

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ong

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reek

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Alte

rnat

ives

Dev

elop

men

t and

Eva

luat

ion

Bas

ed o

n th

e hy

drau

lic a

sses

smen

ts a

nd c

onsu

ltatio

n w

ith s

take

hold

ers

and

regu

latin

g ag

enci

es, a

list

of a

ltern

ativ

es w

ill

be d

evel

oped

that

mee

t the

goa

ls a

nd o

bjec

tives

of t

he s

tudy

.

Eva

luat

ion

crite

ria w

ill b

e de

velo

ped

whi

ch in

clud

e th

e fo

llow

ing

key

area

s:

•Impactso

nsensitive

terrestrialhabita

tsand

species

•Impactso

nsensitive

aquatic

habitatsand

species

•Impactso

nsurfa

ceand

grou

ndwater

system

s

Natural

•Impactso

nsensitive

terrestrialhabita

tsand

species

•Impactso

nsensitive

aquatic

habitatsand

species

•Impactso

nsurfa

ceand

grou

ndwater

system

s

Natural

Natural

•Meetsprojectg

oalsand

objectives

•Con

structability

•Lon

gevity

•Proventechno

logy

•Safety

Technical

•Meetsprojectg

oalsand

objectives

•Con

structability

•Lon

gevity

•Proventechno

logy

•Safety

Technical

Technical

•Localacceptability

•Com

pliancewith

fede

ral,provincial,

andlocalplans

&po

licies

•Impactso

nsurrou

ndingland

users

•Impactso

nparcels

subjecttochangesin

land

use

Social/Cu

ltural/

Legal

•Localacceptability

•Com

pliancewith

fede

ral,provincial,

andlocalplans

&po

licies

•Impactso

nsurrou

ndingland

users

•Impactso

nparcels

subjecttochangesin

land

use

Social/Cu

ltural/

Legal

Social/Cu

ltural/

Legal

•Capita

lcosts

•Ope

ratio

n&

Mainten

ance

costs

•Lifecyclecosts

Fina

ncial

•Capita

lcosts

•Ope

ratio

n&

Mainten

ance

costs

•Lifecyclecosts

Fina

ncial

Fina

ncial

WBG111014013609KWO

Category Criterion Description

Technical Flood Control The ability of the alternative to provide the required fl ooding control on Oxford Street and Proudfoot Lane Erosion Control - Upstream of CNR Crossing

The ability of the alternative to mitigate streambank erosion upstream of CNR crossing

Erosion Control - Downstream of CNR Crossing

The ability of the alternative to mitigate streambank erosion downstream of CNR crossing

Conveyance Control The ability of the alternative to convey stormwater fl ows and improve the capacity of the conveyance system Constructability, Implementation, and Work Scope

The ability of the alternative to be constructed and implemented on a technical, regulatory, and practical basis; within a reasonable scope of work

Operations & Maintenance The ability of the alternative to be operated and maintained with ease Compatibility with Development and Growth

The compatibility of the alternative with development planning

Compatibility with Transportation Master Plan

The compatibility of the alternative with the City's Transportation Master Plan (expansion of Oxford Street to provide rapid transit corridor)

Environmental Quality Control The potential of the alternative to maintain or improve water quality Geomorphology The potential of the alternative to result in a stable streambank condition with respect to slope stability and erosion Sedimentation The potential for the alternative to optimize sediment transportWildlife / Species at Risk The ability of the alternative to protect sensitive wildlife species / species at risk Vegetation / Invasive Species The ability of the alternative to protect high quality vegetation including native species Terrestrial Habitat The potential for the alternative to maintain or enhance terrestrial habitatAquatic Habitat The potential for the alternative to maintain or enhance aquatic habitatGroundwater The ability of the alternative to protect groundwater resources

Social Cultural Heritage The potential of the alternative to protect cultural/heritage resourcesPublic Health & Safety The potential of the alternative to minimize risk or liability to community health and safety resulting from fl ooding Occupational Health & Safety The potential of the alternative to minimize risk or liability to occupational health and safety resulting from fl ooding Recreation The ability of the alternative to provide or enhance recreational activities (existing trails and potential greenspace

development) Aesthetics The ability of the alternative to maintain or enhance the visual character of the area Stakeholder Acceptance The potential of the alternative to be accepted by stakeholders including landowners, First Nations, and the public

Planning Consistency with Planning Policy The ability of the alternative to adhere to the City's Offi cial Plan Agency Approvals The ability of the alternative to be meet required approvals from the City of London and regulating agencies

(UTRCA, MNRF, MOECC, DFO)Property Acquisitions The relative impact that the alternative has on property acquisition requirements

Economic

Capital Cost Estimated capital cost Operations and Maintenance Cost

Estimated ongoing operation and maintenance

Lifecycle Cost Total annual capital and O&M costs amortized over 20 years

Evaluation Criteria

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Opportunities andConstraints

Opportunity Constraint

CN Culvert

Expand capacity to improve stream hydraulics

Constructability and ease of access in the area may be limited

Potential for cost sharing from CNR Downstream fl ooding from the Thames River will not be addressed by expanding the culvert

Downstream of the culvert the creek is fl ush with the current culvert elevation; therefore, lowering the culvert elevation would require additional creek modifi cations downstream to the Thames River

Stream Longitudinal Profi les

Improve profi les throughout creek system Need to maintain pedestrian bridges and culverts

Oxford/Proudfoot Culverts

Expand capacity to improve hydraulics

Create new culvert through Oxford street (diagonally) to have a more natural stream fl ow

90 degree creek turn north of Oxford is not an ideal stream pattern

Development

Land trading The fi nal design needs to accommodate development

Opportunity at Proudfoot/Oxford development to plant behind the River setback

Overland Flow Drainage North of CP Rail

No major fl ow constraint as the fl ows go east towards the Thames River

Geomorphic/Natural Heritage

Stabilize banks on downstream end Local resident yards and properties

Localized improvements downstream of CN culvert (opportunity to create benfi cial meander patterns downstream of culvert), Bioengineering solutions will be used to improve hydraulic grade lines (HGLs), stream profi les, to add sinuosity and creek meanders

Possible wetland upstream of CN culvert (to be confi rmed through environmental surveys)

Improve riparian areas and fi sh transport in between Proudfoot and Oxford

Improve HGL to reduce future sedimentation

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List

of A

ltern

ative

sAl

tern

ativ

esA

ltern

ativ

e 1:

Do

Not

hing

Alte

rnat

ive

2: N

o im

prov

emen

ts to

the

CN

R c

ulve

rt w

ith

quan

tity

cont

rol u

pstre

am o

f CN

R c

ulve

rt.

Alte

rnat

ive

3: T

he C

NR

cul

vert

will

be lo

wer

ed a

nd e

nlar

ged.

Th

e Pr

oudf

oot L

ane

and

Oxf

ord

Stre

et c

ross

ings

will

be c

lean

ed

out/u

pgra

ded

in th

eir c

urre

nt lo

catio

n. T

he M

ud C

reek

Cha

nnel

w

ill be

wid

ened

and

dee

pene

d.

Alte

rnat

ive

4: T

he C

NR

cul

vert

will

be lo

wer

ed a

nd e

nlar

ged.

Th

e Pr

oudf

oot L

ane

cros

sing

will

be c

lean

ed o

ut/u

pgra

ded

in

the

curre

nt lo

catio

n. T

he O

xfor

d St

reet

cro

ssin

g w

ill be

relo

cate

d ea

st to

real

ign

Mud

Cre

ek fr

om O

xfor

d St

reet

to P

roud

foot

Lan

e.

The

Mud

Cre

ek C

hann

el w

ill be

wid

ened

and

dee

pene

d.

Alte

rnat

ives

1 a

nd 2

do

not a

ddre

ss th

e ke

y is

sues

iden

tifi e

d fo

r the

Mud

Cre

ek S

ubw

ater

shed

. The

refo

re, t

hey

have

bee

n el

imin

ated

from

furth

er e

valu

atio

n.

Elem

ents

Com

mon

to A

ltern

ativ

es 2

, 3, a

nd 4

Cha

nnel

s: N

atur

aliz

atio

n of

the

chan

nel i

nclu

ding

cl

eani

ng, b

ank

repa

ir, a

nd b

ank

stab

iliza

tion

upst

ream

of

the

CN

R c

ulve

rt

Rip

aria

n: R

ehab

ilita

tion

of ri

paria

n ve

geta

tion

buffe

r

Priv

ate

Perm

anen

t Sys

tem

s (P

PS) Q

ualit

y an

d Q

uant

ity: F

or q

ualit

y an

d qu

ality

con

trol o

n fu

ture

de

velo

pmen

t lan

ds

Sew

ers/

Cul

vert

s: C

lean

out o

f sew

ers

and

culv

erts

for

sele

ct re

ache

s of

Mud

Cre

ek

Ups

trea

m F

lood

ing:

Flo

od m

anag

emen

t nor

th o

f the

C

P ra

ilway

and

mai

ntai

n or

impr

ove

the

fl ow

path

via

be

rms

as n

eces

sary

Nat

ural

Are

as: M

aint

ain

or e

nhan

ce n

atur

al a

reas

(fo

rest

)

WBG111014013609KWO

Short Listed Alternatives – Alternative 3

LEGEND:

Riparian Corridor

Culvert Cleanout / Upgrade

Channel Stabilization/ Protection / Rehab / Cleaning

Sewer/Channel Channel Deepening / Widening / Protection

Major SystemOnsite Quality/Quantity Control

Natural Area

1000 ft

Mud CreekAlternative 3Mud Creek Subwatershed Environmental AssessmentCity of London, London, Ontario

New CNR Culvert

©2015 Google

WBG111014013609KWO

Short Listed Alternatives – Alternative 4

LEGEND:

Riparian Corridor

Culvert Cleanout / Upgrade

Channel Stabilization/ Protection / Rehab / Cleaning

Sewer/Channel Channel Deepening / Widening / Protection

Major SystemOnsite Quality/Quantity Control

Natural Area

1000 ft

Mud CreekAlternative 4Mud Creek Subwatershed Environmental AssessmentCity of London, London, Ontario

New Culvert

©2015 Google

The Final Preferred Alternative will be identifi ed following input from the Public and a detailed technical analysis of the alternatives will be conducted (i.e. hydrological and hydraulic modelling).

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Proj

ect S

ched

ule

and

Con

sulta

tion

Proc

ess

Data

Collection&Re

view

•Re

view

historicalstud

iesa

ndproject

inform

ation.

•ProjectTeam

Meetin

gsinclud

ingCity

staffa

ndconsultantso

ccur

througho

uttheproject.

Stakeh

olde

rand

Agen

cyCo

nsultatio

n•

Upp

erTham

esRiverC

onservationAu

thority

•Ministry

oftheEnvironm

enta

ndClim

ate

Change

•Ministry

ofNaturalRe

sources

•Canadian

NationalRailway

•Land

owne

rs

PublicInform

ationCe

nter

No.

1

•Noticeof

Commen

cementa

ndPIC

issue

dNovem

ber6

thand13

th.

•Co

mmentsreceived

atthePICwillbe

incorporated

into

thenextstep

s.

FallFieldInvestigations

•Fieldinvestigations

toassessthenatural

features

ofthesubw

atershed

willbe

cond

uctedinthefallandinthesprin

g.•

Fieldinvestigations

willsupp

ortthe

Environm

entalImpactStud

y.

Fall2014

Winter2

014–2015

Hydrolog

ican

dHy

drau

licMod

eling

•Hy

drologicandhydraulic

mod

elsw

illbe

used

tode

velopalternatives.

•TheUTR

CAwillbe

consultedthrougho

utthemod

elingprocess.

Stream

Assessmen

t

•Theaquatic

characteristicso

fMud

Creek

willbe

analyzed

inorde

rtode

velop

desig

ncrite

riafora

healthystream

system

.

Sprin

g2015

Sprin

gFieldInvestigations

•Fieldinvestigations

toassessthenatural

features

ofthesubw

atershed

willbe

cond

uctedinthefallandinthesprin

g.•

Fieldinvestigations

willsupp

ortthe

Environm

entalImpactStud

y.

Alternatives

Developm

ent

•Po

tentialalte

rnatives

andevaluatio

ncrite

riawillbe

develope

d.

PublicInform

ationCe

nter

No.

2

•Thenextpu

blicinform

ationcenter

will

seek

inpu

tfrom

thepu

blicon

thelisto

falternatives.

•ThePICwillbe

heldinsprin

gof

2015.

SelectPreferredAlternative

•Co

mmentsfrom

thePICwillbe

received

andaddressed.

•Thepreferredalternative(s)willbe

selected

.

DraftE

ARe

porting

•TheEA

processw

illbe

documented.

•Therecommen

datio

nswillbe

sent

toCity

Coun

cilfor

endo

rsem

ent.

•ANoticeof

ProjectC

ompletionwillbe

distrib

uted

.

Summer

2015

Fina

lEARe

porting

•Thefin

alrecommen

datio

nswillbe

available

forp

ublic

review

andcommen

tfor

a30

day

perio

d.•

Ifno

substantiveissue

sare

identifiedby

stakeh

olde

rs,the

projectw

illproceedto

implem

entatio

n.

We

Are

Here

652502_WT0414151014KWO

Thank You

Thank you for your interest in the Mud Creek SubwatershedEnvironmental Assessment.

For further information, please contact:

Scott Mathers, MPA, P.Eng.Project ManagerCity of LondonT: 519-661-2500 ext. 4430E: SMathers@London.ca