Disaster Mitigation & Adaptation Fund Project – Port Stanley Shoreline, Harbour & Stormwater Management

The Municipality of Central Elgin (Municipality) has retained Arcadis to develop a Stormwater Management Master Plan (SWMMP) to establish a much-needed road map for the Municipality to advance the development of a comprehensive stormwater management strategy to address current and future needs within the community of West Port Stanley.

When: December 6, 2023 | Location: Port Stanley Arena | Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

WSP Golder and London Soil Test Ltd. were on site Monday, July 31^st to commence geotechnical investigations and borehole drilling for the West Port Stanley Stormwater Management Master Plan.

A drill rig was set up to collect soil samples, investigate underlying material and measure water table depths throughout the Main Beach area.

NOTICE OF STUDY COMMENCEMENT

Class Environmental Assessment

West Port Stanley Stormwater Management Master Plan (SWMMP)

The Municipality of Central Elgin (Municipality) has retained Arcadis/IBI Group to develop a Stormwater Management Master Plan (SWMMP) to establish a much-needed road map for the Municipality to advance the development of a comprehensive stormwater management strategy to address current and future needs within the West Port Stanley (Study Area) area. Refer to Figure 1-1 Location Plan for the Study Area extents.

As a Master Plan effort, a comprehensive approach is required looking at all stormwater systems throughout the Municipality to understand how they interact, where there are deficiencies, and where improvements are required now and, in the future, focused specifically on the Study Area.

Stormwater systems include many components starting with overland conveyance systems (overland, road and ditch), inlets and pipe collection systems, water quantity/quality features (end-of-pipe facilities, Low Impact Development (LID), etc.), outfalls, ditches, and receiving streams. Integral to stormwater management practice are quantity and quality control features (end-of-pipe storage, etc.) designed to minimize water quantity and quality impacts on natural systems and aquatic habitat, as well as protecting streams from erosion and managing flood levels.

The SWMMP must consider the functional requirements of all stormwater services and how they work today and in the future. It needs to provide an acceptable level of service and meet regulatory requirements in accordance with watershed drainage plans, recognizing the constraints imposed by topography and other local considerations.

The Municipality recognizes the need to develop a SWMMP to identify current and future servicing requirements and establish an overall strategy to improve services. The SWMMP process is relatively straightforward as it follows the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) process for Master Plans requiring a review of background information, preparation of hydrologic/hydraulic modelling tools, system assessment with a problem/opportunity statement, and the development and evaluation of projects/strategies to meet level of service objectives.

The project is being planned under Schedule B of the Municipal Class EA process.

For further information on the project, or on the planning process being followed consult: www.letstalkcentralelgin.ca/dmaf

Contact

Andrew Parker, P.Eng

Manager of Capital Projects

Municipality of Central Elgin

450 Sunset Drive, Elgin County Administration Building

St. Thomas, Ontario N5R 5V1

(519)631-4860 ext 272

aparker@centralelgin.org

and/or

Sandra Hayman P. Eng

Associate - Manager, Civil Engineering

Suite 203 - 350 Oxford Street West

London ON N6H 1T3 Canada

(519)472-7328 ext 63003

shayman@ibigroup.com

Neighbourhood businesses, residents, community members and interested parties will be able to participate and provide comment for incorporation into the planning and design of this project, and will be received until September 1, 2023. This information is being collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Except for personal information, all comments received will become part of the public record and may be included in Study documentation prepared for public review.

The meeting date and details will be advertised on Let’s Talk Central Elgin, the Municipality of Central Elgin webpage and Central Elgin social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter).

Thank you for your interest in this Study.

With Council approval, The Municipality has retained Arcadis / IBI Group Professional Services to commence a Stormwater Management Master Plan (SWMMP) through the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process for the DMAF SWMMP area (being west of Kettle Creek in the Main Beach area). Early works will include investigations into the existing stormwater system to catalogue system components and identify problems with the network. Work may include, but is not limited to:

• Utility locates
• Geotechnical investigation (including monitoring wells)
• Rain gauge installation
• Surveying and investigation into the underground infrastructure.

Please adhere to all construction signage and staff for your safety, road closures are not anticipated through the EA process.

Continue to check back for project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback to the EA process!

Infrastructure Canada News Release

Quotes

“With increasing extreme weather events, ensuring our communities have reliable disaster mitigation infrastructure is key to safeguarding the livelihoods of all residents. Today’s important announcement will ensure that residents in Port Stanley are better protected from the impacts of climate change thanks to improved disaster mitigation infrastructure.”

Arielle Kayabaga, Member of Parliament for London West, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities

“Lake Erie & Kettle Creek are integral to the Municipality of Central Elgin. Today's announcement supports the completion of infrastructure that will benefit the residents, businesses and visitors going forward. We look forward to this and further partnerships with the Government of Canada in the future.”

Andrew Sloan, Mayor of the Municipality of Central Elgin

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada is investing $6.8 million in this project through the Disaster and Mitigation Adaptation Fund (DMAF). The Municipality of Central Elgin is contributing $10.2 million.

• On November 24th, 2022, the Government of Canada released Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy: Building Resilient Communities and a Strong Economy. It commits $1.6 billion in new federal funding to help address both immediate and future climate risks to Canadian communities.

• As outlined in the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan (GOCAAP), the federal plan to implement the National Adaptation Strategy’s goals, objectives and proposed targets, the Government of Canada will invest up to an additional $489.1 million through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) to help communities increase their resiliency against the effects of climate change.

• Launched in 2018 with an initial investment of $2 billion, the DMAF helps communities build infrastructure they need to better withstand natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and droughts. Through Budget 2021, the Government of Canada invested an additional $1.375 billion in the DMAF.

The latest updates regarding this project will be posted here! Stay tuned!