HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-10-081 - Upper Blair Creek Annual Monitoring Program1
Kl~rc~~R
Qevelo pment &
Technical Services
Report To: DTS Committee, Chair- Christina Weylie
Date of Meeting: April 26, 2010
Submitted By: K. Grant Murphy, P.Eng, Director of Engineering
Prepared By: Nick Gollan (x2422) / Binu Korah (x2974), Engineering
Ward(s) Involved: 4 -South Ward
Date of Report: April 14, 2010
Report No.: DTS-10- 081
Subject: UPPER BLAIR CREEK ANNUAL MONITORING PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION:
That Council approve the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) to carry out the
Long Term Annual Monitoring Program in the amount $522,000.00 in accordance with the
approved Upper Blair Creek Functional Drainage Study, prepared by Stantec Consulting
Ltd., dated March 2009.
BACKGROUND:
In 2003, the Upper Blair Creek Functional Drainage Study (FDS) was started in cooperation with
the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), the Region of Waterloo and the City of
Kitchener. The Upper Blair Creek FDS was approved by Council on February 9, 2009
The study dealt with the technical issues related to hydrogeological and hydrological conditions
of the watershed and the associated stormwater management measures that could be
implemented to minimize changes from the current condition.
REPORT:
In 2003, the Upper Blair Creek Functional Drainage Study (FDS) was started in cooperation with
the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), the Region of Waterloo and the City of
Kitchener. The City took the lead in completing the study. In 2004 a Technical Steering
Committee was formed which included the GRCA, the Region, the City, and members of the
Waterloo Region Homebuilders Association (WRHBA). Stantec Consultants were retained to
complete the Upper Blair Creek FDS with extensive monitoring, research and analysis taking
place along with consultation with the public, development industry and other government
agencies.
The Upper Blair Creek FDS deals with the technical issues pertaining to the hydrologic and
hydrogeologic characteristics of the subwatershed existing conditions and a range of post-
2-1
development conditions and associated stormwater management (SWM) measures that can be
implemented to minimize the changes from current conditions.
With the support of the detailed analysis, it was the conclusion of this Study that typical, urban
development densities accompanied by amulti-component, infiltration-focussed SWM strategy
can be implemented within the Upper Blair Creek subwatershed, and achieves the objectives as
outlined in the governing watershed study (BBB).
It was recommended that the comprehensive monitoring, maintenance, and mitigation program
outlined in Section 6 in the FDS be implemented as a means of confirming existing background
characteristics, design assumptions contained herein and within future model updates, and
minimize the potential for negative impacts on the receiving system.
The development of a comprehensive Monitoring, Maintenance, and Mitigation (MMM) program
has been designed to provide all stakeholders with sufficient physical data to assess any
ecological, hydrological, hydrogeological, or geomorphological impacts related to the
development within the Upper Blair Creek drainage area, identify the source of such impacts,
and adopt a strategy to reverse, eliminate, or minimize the potential for future repetition.
In summary, staff from the City of Kitchener have supported the technical findings of the Upper
Blair Creek Functional Drainage Study, approved in its entirety by Council (see Report DTS-09-
010), and now recommend that the monitoring program designed by the GRCA based on the
Upper Blair FDS with additional input from the GRCA and the City of Kitchener be implemented.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The Upper Blair Creek monitoring program was identified in the 2009 Development Charge
Background Study. The ongoing monitoring program for the Upper Blair Creek will be funded
from the Development Charges, Upper Blair Creek Monitoring account #59500643.
In accordance with the 2009 capital forecast there is a balance of $145,642.00 remaining for
2010. Further the 2009 to 2019 ten year capital forecast allocated a total of $1,219,000 to
complete this program from the development charge funds. The total cost to complete the
monitoring program is $522,000.00 (excluding HST) to the end of 2013.
CONCLUSION:
In summary, staff from the City of Kitchener have supported the technical findings of the Upper
Blair Creek Functional Drainage Study, approved in its entirety by Council (see Report DTS-09-
010), and now recommend that the monitoring program designed by the GRCA based on the
Upper Blair FDS with additional input from the GRCA and the City of Kitchener be implemented.
Therefore staff recommend that the GRCA be appointed in the amount of $522,000.00
(excluding HST) to complete the Long Term Monitoring Program to the end of 2013.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Willmer, Interim General Manager DTS
2
2-2