HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-16-039 - Upper Blair Creek State of the Watershed Report
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 30,2016
REPORT NO.: INS-16-039
SUBJECT: Upper Blair Creek State of the Watershed (SOW) Report
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RECOMMENDATION: That the reporting timeframe for future Upper Blair Creek
State of the Watershed reports, be endorsed, as outlined in Infrastructure
Services Department report INS-16-039.
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 Creek 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
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control during construction will ensure the creek
suffer from the impacts of development.
BACKGROUND:
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The Blair Creek is a 18.4 km2 (1840 ha) watershed which spans the City of Kitchener,
Cambridge and the Township of North Dumfries. Agricultural land uses dominate the
upland, headwater areas 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).
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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:
vision through delivery of core service.
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
advance of the council / committee meeting. Further, the report was brought forth to the
Environmental Committee for discussion on March 17, 2016. Due to time constraints, it
was requested to be brought back to the committee for discussion at the Apr. 21, 2016
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:
That the reporting timeframe for future Upper Blair Creek State of the Watershed
reports, be endorsed, as outlined in Infrastructure Services Department report INS-16-
039.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Justin Readman,Executive Director, Infrastructure Services
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