HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnv - 2016-03-17 - Item 3 - INS-16-031 - Upper Blair State of the Watershed Study
REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: April 11, 2016
SUBMITTED BY: Linda Cooper, Manager Development Engineering, 519-741-
2200 ext. 7974
PREPARED BY: Eric Riek, Project Manager Development Engineering, 519-741-
2200 ext. 7136
WARD(S) INVOLVED: 4
DATE OF REPORT: March 2, 2016
REPORT NO.: INS-16-031
SUBJECT:Upper Blair Creek State of the Watershed (SOW) Report
___________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION: That the Upper Blair Creek State of the Watershed Report
dated February 10, 2016, be received.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The system-wide monitoring programs recommended within the Blair, Bechtel, Bauman Creeks (BBB)
Study and the Upper Blair Creek Functional Drainage Study (FDS) has been underway in Blair Creek
since 2006, undertaken by GRCA on behalf of the City of Kitchener, in addition to ongoing monitoring
undertaken by three (3) of the four (4) main development proponents (Hallman, Monarch, Activa) since
approximately 2007 relating to each individual development. The primary goal is to monitor and evaluate
the overall health of the Blair Creek ecosystem. The secondary goal is to demonstrate that it is possible
for environmentally responsible development to occur.
The purpose of this first Upper Blair State of the Watershed (SOW) report is to document baseline
environmental conditions, determine the nature of any observed impact on Blair Creek due to ongoing
urban development in the East Study Area, assess the operational effectiveness of the monitoring
program, and prioritize which monitoring parameters will assist in future monitoring efforts to develop
an enhanced understanding of the state of the watershed.
Based on pre-construction monitoring, Upper Blair Creek can be characterized as a very healthy creek. It
has very low Total Suspended Solids (TSS) levels at all stations along Blair Creek with little variation
throughout the year. At a minimum, targets for future monitoring have generally been proposed to reflect
Maintenance of the status quo (existing conditions). Further, increased importance on erosion and
sediment control during construction will ensure the creek and surrounding environment doesn’t suffer
from the impacts of development.
BACKGROUND:
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The Blair Creek is a 18.4 km(1840 ha) watershed which spans the City of Kitchener, Cambridge and the
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Township of North Dumfries. Agricultural land uses dominate the upland, headwater areas
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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of the Blair Creek Subwatershed. Blair Creek is a well-defined, perennial water course which is
groundwater fed and sustains brook trout populations and other aquatic species. Many of the streams
within the Blair Creek watershed are bounded by provincially significant wetlands and areas of natural
and scientific interest. Blair Creek outlets to the Grand River at the Village of Blair, approximately
9 km downstream of the City of Kitchener Municipal boundary (at Hwy 401).
The Upper Blair Creek subwatershed is located near the southwest boundary of the City of Kitchener and
represents the headwaters of the Blair Creek system. The Upper Blair Creek subwatershed is
further delineated into two (2) study areas:
The East Study Area
1.- represents the lands located to the east of Reidel Drive and generally reflects
the Doon South Community Plan – Phase 2 Area (current Study Area).
The West Study Area
2.- represents the lands located to the west of Reidel Drive which are generally
undeveloped.
REPORT:
Future State of the Watershed reports are scheduled to be completed every five (5) years. Of particular
interest to the Region of Waterloo, City of Kitchener and the GRCA are:
1) Changes to flow regime impacting stream stability;
2) Thermal impacts to Blair Creek and associated habitats;
3) Sediment release, loadings and construction erosion and sediment control issues; and
4) Groundwater recharge.
Evaluating the state of environmental and urban (East Study Area) features and functions within the
Upper Blair Creek subwatershed area provides the Region of Waterloo, City of Kitchener and the GRCA
with a benchmark tool for assessing watershed health. This vital information about the entire Upper Blair
watershed area will not only provide decision makers, planners, and practitioners with defensible
information needed to manage watershed resources in an effective and integrated manner, but also
demonstrate that environmentally-responsible development can occur. Development in the West Study
Area is contingent upon demonstrating that there have been no negative impacts on the Blair Creek as a
result of the development in the East Study Area (Stantec Consulting Ltd., 2009).
The objective of this first Upper Blair SOW report is to document and assess pre-construction conditions
(baseline conditions) based on the monitoring data collected since 2006 against which future conditions
can be evaluated (during and post-construction/development). Accordingly, to meet project objectives,
the SOW report completed the following tasks:
Reviewed all relevant background reports, monitoring programs and data.
Defined existing conditions and assessed the approach and methodology used in the current
monitoring program for the collection of existing conditions data.
Developed a framework for project goals, objectives, indicators and targets.
Evaluated the existing conditions in relation to the specific targets.
Recommended an integrated monitoring program which refines the current program and
integrates the proposed monitoring with the developed targets. Recommendations include
specific areas within the current monitoring program that should be modified, remain the same or
have flexibility going forward; and
Provided recommendations in regards to sediment management during construction activities.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommendation of this report supports the achievement of the City’s strategic vision through
delivery of core service.
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FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The total cost of preparing the SOW report was $126,853.80 (inclusive of HST) and was paid for from
funds in the annual Upper Blair Creek Monitoring account. Although increased system-wide City/GRCA
monitoring is recommended in the SOW report, the current annual DC funding adequately covers the
increased cost. No changes to annual budget requirements are anticipated for Upper Blair Creek
Monitoring.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM – This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in
advance of the council / committee meeting.
COLLABORATE – A stakeholder committee was formed to assess the report findings
including staff from Engineering, Environmental Planning, Region of Waterloo, and the
GRCA.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, staff recommends that the Upper Blair Creek State of the Watershed Report dated
February 10, 2016, prepared by Aquafor Beech Ltd, be received.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Justin Readman, Deputy CAO
Infrastructure Services Department
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