HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-15-081 - Balzer Creek Environmental Assessment Staff Rport
I r rc'.�► t .R Infrastructure Services Department wmkitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Community & Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: October 19, 2015
SUBMITTED BY: Nick Gollan, C.E.T., Acting Director of Engineering
(519-741-2200 x 7422)
PREPARED BY: Matt Wilson, M.Eng., P.Eng., Design & Construction Project
Manager(519-741-2200 x 7149)
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Wards 3 and 6
DATE OF REPORT: October 8, 2015
REPORT NO.: INS 15-081
SUBJECT: Balzer Creek Environmental Assessment
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Balzer Creek Environmental Study Report (ESR) prepared by Ecosystem
Recovery Inc. dated October 8, 2015 be received; and further
THAT the Balzer Creek Environmental Study Report (ESR) be filed with the Ministry of the
Environment and Climate Change for the mandatory thirty (30) day review period as
required by the Environmental Assessment (EA) Act.
BACKGROUND:
• The City of Kitchener has undertaken an Environmental Assessment study with the
consultant Ecosystem Recovery Inc., to evaluate the best alternatives to address
various environmental, private property and infrastructure concerns along Balzer
Creek.
• Interim emergency works were completed (September 2015) to protect private
property (rear yard infrastructure) behind Brisbane Court, and directly upstream of
Homer Watson Blvd to stabilize the creek bank at the location of a badly failed outlet
and collapsed stream bank.
• The study is being completed under Schedule "B" of the Municipal Class
Environmental Assessment Process. This portion of the study specifically addresses
Phases 1 & 2.
• A number of alternative solutions were evaluated by the consulting team using
Technical, Environmental, Economic and Social/Cultural criteria within a matrix
evaluation process.
• Preferred solutions for each of three stream reaches have been identified.
***This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
7 - 1
• Two Public Information Centre (PIC) meetings have occurred to provide
opportunities for public feedback into the process and the materials presented at
each PIC were presented at Kitchener's Environmental Committee.
• The preliminary design work and a final report have been prepared by Ecosystem
Recovery Inc. for the preferred solutions and this work incorporates feedback from
both PICs and the environmental committee meeting.
REPORT:
Project Issues and Recommendations
• The project was initiated to reduce risk to a sanitary trunk sewer in locations where
Balzer Creek has migrated over top of this infrastructure, and to address erosion and
flooding concerns on Blazer Creek between Coach Hill Drive and the outlet at
Schneider Creek.
• Along Reach 1 (between Old Country Dr. and Homer Watson Blvd.) the preferred
solution consists of providing erosion spot improvements and limited in-stream
channel work. The works include:
o Utilization of rock, planting and bioengineering techniques to prevent erosion;
• Plunge pools at outlet locations;
• Stabilization of the channel downstream of Country Hill Dr.; and
• Implementation of a Type 2 multi-use pathway between Old Country Dr. and
Homer Watson Blvd.
• Along Reach 2 (between Homer Watson Blvd. and Fallowfield Dr.) the preferred
solution consists of realignment of the channel away from private property and away
from the existing sanitary infrastructure, provision of erosion control in areas
adjacent to infrastructure and provision of wetland enhancements. The works
include:
o Landscape restoration using native plant/tree species;
• Natural channel design principles for channel relocation;
• Provision of energy dissipation pools, vegetation and rock at storm sewer
outfalls; and
• Construction of a Type 2 multi-use pathway where the gap exists between
Homer Watson Boulevard and Fallowfield Dr.
• Along Reach 3 (between Fallowfield Dr. and Schneider Creek) the preferred solution
consists of relocation of the channel away from the toe of slope at the south valley
wall, creation of approximately 150m of new channel using natural channel design
principles and stabilization of the `toe of slope' along the south valley wall. The works
include:
o Landscape restoration (tree and shrub planting);
• Bioengineered treatments on channel banks using logs, woody material and
stone;
• Improved channel at Fallowfield crossing; and
7 - 2
o Erosion protection and removal of debris in the channel.
• Detailed design and construction is scheduled for 2016/2017.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION:
On April 28, 2015 Phase 1 of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Process
was presented to the public. The Public Information Centre (PIC) provided
opportunities to learn about the problem/opportunity, understand the natural, social,
economic and environmental aspects of this project and the impacts of various potential
solutions. PIC #1 also provided an opportunity for public feedback into the decision
making process.
On September 2, 2015 Phase 2 of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment
Process was presented to the public. The Public Information Centre (PIC) provided
opportunities for the public to learn about how potential solutions to the problem were
evaluated and how the preferred solutions were selected. PIC #2 also provided an
opportunity for public feedback into the preferred solutions.
On September 17, 2015 a presentation summarizing the results of Phases 1 and 2 of
the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for this project was presented to the
Environmental Committee. Feedback from the Environmental Committee has been
incorporated into the decision-making process and Final Report.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommendation of this report supports the achievement of the city's strategic
vision through the delivery of core service.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
N/A
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
In addition to the two PICs that occurred as part of the Municipal Class Environmental
Assessment process, and the presentations given at the Environmental, the City will
also make the project file available on the public record for a 30 day review period
during which members of the public may voice any concerns about the project in writing
to the Minister of the Environment.
All information about this study from the Notice of Study Commencement and including
all information presented at the Public Information Centres is posted on the City's
website.
CONCLUSION:
The study confirms that the in-stream intervention is necessary to rehabilitate and
stabilize Balzer Creek, and to protect private property and municipal infrastructure within
the study area. The preferred solutions have been presented to the public and feedback
has been incorporated into the preliminary design and final report.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Dev Tyagi, Deputy CAO, Infrastructure Services Department
7 - 3