3. SAWMILL CREEK SUBWATERSHED STUDY UPDATE

ÉTUDE SUR LE SOUS-BASSIN HYDROGRAPHIQUE DU RUISSEAU SAWMILL – MISE À JOUR

Committee Recommendations

That Council endorse the Sawmill Creek Subwatershed Study Update as the technical document to guide environmental planning and management decisions in the subwatershed area.

Recommendations du comitÉ

Que le Comité des services de l’environnement recommande au Conseil d’approuver la mise à jour de l’étude sur le sous-bassin hydrographique du ruisseau Sawmill à titre de document technique qui servira à orienter les décisions en matière de gestion et de planification environnementales dans le secteur du sous-bassin.

DOCUMENTATION

1. General Manager, Development Services Department report dated 26 June 2003 (ACS-2003-DEV-POL-0034)

2. Extract of Draft Minutes, 9 September 2003

Report to / Rapport au :

Environmental Services Committee

Comité des services de l'environnement

and Council / et au Conseil

26 June 2003 / le 26 juin 2003

Submitted by/Soumis par : Ned Lathrop, General Manager / Directeur général

Development Services Department / Services d’aménagement

Contact/Personne-ressource : ~~Cyn~~Richard Kilstrom, Manager, Community Design and Environment Gestionnaire, Conception et milieu communautaire

580-2424, ext. 22653, Richard.Kilstrom@ottawa.ca

Ref N°: ACS2003-DEV-POL-0034

SUBJECT: SAWMILL CREEK SUBWATERSHED STUDY UPDATE

OBJET: ÉTUDE SUR LE SOUS-BASSIN HYDROGRAPHIQUE DU RUISSEAU SAWMILL – MISE À JOUR

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That the Environmental Services Committee recommend Council endorse the Sawmill Creek Subwatershed Study Update as the technical document to guide environmental planning and management decisions in the subwatershed area.

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

BACKGROUND

In June of 1994, the Sawmill Creek Watershed Study was completed by Gore & Storrie Limited (now known as CH2M Hill Canada Limited) on behalf of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), the former Cities of Ottawa and Gloucester, the former Region of Ottawa-Carleton, the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy (MOE), the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), and the National Capital Commission (NCC). The study provided three main strategies: the Water Management Strategy, the Valley Lands Management Strategy and the Implementation Strategy. The overall purpose of the study was to define goals and objectives for the protection and enhancement of the creek and other natural features within the subwatershed (see Document 2 for the location of the subwatershed).

The Water Management Strategy focused on source control and infrastructure requirements to improve water quality within Sawmill Creek, targeting the non-degradation policy of the Rideau River. One of the main recommendations of the strategy in 1994 was to design and build a constructed wetland stormwater management facility and flow diversion on the east side of the Airport Parkway between Walkley and Hunt Club Roads on land now owned by the City. The constructed wetland was proposed to address the following issues:

· To mitigate frequent flooding in the South Keys residential and commercial areas;

· To provide treatment of stormwater runoff from existing development;

· To mitigate downstream streambank erosion; and,

· To enhance the natural features of the watershed.

A separate environmental assessment study was undertaken in May of 1996 to provide the technical details regarding the design of the constructed wetland and flow diversion project. The Sawmill Creek Constructed Wetland and Flood Reduction Project Environmental Study Report (ESR) was completed in May of 1997. It was approved under the Environmental Assessment Act having met the requirements of the Municipal Engineers Association Class Environmental Assessment process.

Seven years have passed since the subwatershed plan was completed and a number of changes have occurred which necessitated the need to update both the subwatershed plan and the Environmental Study Report. Specifically:

· The Environmental Study Report approval lapsed as of May 2002. In keeping with the requirements of the Class EA, an Addendum to the original ESR has been prepared to review the original recommendations and ensure that the proposed concept for the wetland is still appropriate.

· Since the completion of the original subwatershed plan in 1994, the extent of proposed development within the watershed has greatly increased over what was anticipated in 1994, particularly in the headwaters area. There is no centralized stormwater management solution for these pockets of development within the existing subwatershed plan.

· The Rideau River objective has shifted from a single parameter focus of bacteria to a more holistic approach. Although this study will not address the Rideau River policy, there is a need to revisit the objectives of the subwatershed plan to ensure that it reflects broader ecosystem principles. (The Lower Rideau Watershed Strategy, currently underway, will provide direction in terms of the overall objectives for the Rideau River.)

· Amalgamation has simplified the implementation of the plan, particularly the proposed constructed wetland, and provides an opportunity for action on the part of the new City.

As approved by Council on April 23^rd, 2003, the Addendum to the ESR for the constructed wetland was filed for the requisite thirty day public review period beginning April 25^th,2003, ending May 27^th, 2003.

DISCUSSION

Although the Subwatershed Study Update and the Addendum to the ESR were undertaken as a single project, the completion of the Subwatershed Study Update lagged behind the ESR Addendum. (Completion of the ESR Addendum was a priority in anticipation of proceeding to construction in the late fall of 2003. As noted above, the public review period has passed and detailed design for the constructed wetland is now underway.)

Sawmill Creek is one of the few remaining free-flowing streams inside the Greenbelt. Its headwaters originate within the Greenbelt north of Lester Road, fed by shallow sand and gravel deposits. The stream channel has been highly altered through the residential and commercial development between Lester and Walkley Roads but retains a more ‘natural’ character through the valley feature which begins south of Walkley and continues north until the creek outlets to the Rideau River.

The degraded health of Sawmill Creek is reflective of the high level of watershed imperviousness – currently at about 25% and expected to increase to approximately 37% based upon anticipated development. The creek exhibits the typical symptoms of uncontrolled runoff from urban areas - channel widening / bank instability leading to loss of physical habitat; increased sedimentation/siltation; impaired water quality; lack of riparian cover in many areas – and will be subject to further impacts as new development proceeds.

Goals and Objectives

For the update, the original 1994 subwatershed objectives were revisited and modified based upon current conditions in the subwatershed, as well as updated policies and regulations. Based upon consultation with the public, the following represent the updated objectives for the subwatershed:

Fish & Wildlife

s Maintain baseflow and cool temperatures in Sawmill Creek.

s Achieve a net gain in fish habitat.

s Enhance biodiversity in the subwatershed.

s Preserve the terrestrial habitat linkages and nodes that have been identified in the subwatershed

s Enhance and create more open-space linkages in the subwatershed and between external areas such as the Greenbelt and the Rideau River.

s Conserve and protect significant species and communities as designated in the Study.

s Undertake wildlife management programs that assist in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

Water Quality

s Waterborne pollutants from urban areas including nutrients, metals, and oxygen demanding substances should be controlled to Provincial Water Quality Objectives (PWQO) levels.

s Total Suspended Solids (TSS) should be controlled to the Rideau River non-degradation policy level of 25 mg/l. Furthermore, TSS loads from development areas should achieve reduction through the implementation of stormwater management measures consistent with MOE guidelines for “Level 1” or “Enhanced” treatment (i.e. 80% annual load reduction).

s The Lower Rideau Watershed Strategy (currently underway and expected to be complete by early 2004) will be addressing the issue of bacterial control within the Rideau River watershed. Further definition of bacterial control targets for the Lower Rideau and direction regarding the role of “end-of-creek” disinfection in meeting them will be deferred to the Lower Rideau Watershed Strategy. The PWQO for bacteria (100 counts/100 ml) was identified as a watershed objective in the 1994 study. The PWQO for bacteria is intended for application where there is a recreational use that involves users being immersed in the water and thereby exposed to a potential risk of disease from water-borne pathogens. Enabling this type of recreational use for Sawmill Creek was not identified as a watershed objective in the study update. Accordingly, controlling bacteria to 100 counts/100 mL is not being suggested as an appropriate target for Sawmill Creek. The need (if any) to implement bacterial controls on the Creek, in a preventive or restorative effort, will be driven by the objectives for the Lower Rideau Watershed Strategy, and not for any objectives related specifically to the creek. In the interim, the City’s Search and Destroy Program, conducted by the Water Environment Protection group will continue to work toward addressing bacterial issues in Sawmill Creek through the identification and elimination of bacterial sources in the watershed.

Water Quantity

s Urban drainage from any new development must not cause an increase in peak flow or long-term erosive impulses at any location downstream along the creek or its tributaries.

s Further remedial measures to deal with existing flooding or erosion problems should be designed to improve the natural features of the creek, and protect or restore aquatic and valley habitat (in keeping with the above objectives for fish and wildlife).

Public Use & Enjoyment

s Allow human enjoyment of the natural resources of the creek corridor while maintaining the quality and natural function of the creek and valley corridor.

s Any new trails/pathways will be designed to ensure the least amount of impact to the ecosystem. Any new access routes to the creek corridor should only be considered on a site-by-site basis in consultation with local residents.

s Educate the local community on the intrinsic value of the corridor and its role in the local ecosystem. Encourage awareness and a sense of pride, responsibility and stewardship.

s Promote awareness of the potential impact of human use on the natural features of the creek corridor and the watershed.

Corridor Integrity

s Improve roadway underpasses, overpasses and other constrictions or obstructions to the free movement of living things along the corridor, and eliminate obstructions where practical.

s Work toward establishing a continuously natural creek corridor.

Recommended Subwatershed Plan:

The recommended subwatershed plan consists of three management strategies: the Water Management Strategy, the Valley Lands Management Strategy, and the Implementation Strategy. The strategies are inter-related and comprised of a series of management actions which aim to protect and enhance the natural features and ecological functions of the subwatershed, rehabilitate to the extent possible those features and functions that have been degraded, and mitigate the impacts of future development.

A summary of the three strategies is provided in Tables 1 and 2, attached.

Next Steps – Implementation:

Within the proposed management strategies, specific actions and associated roles and responsibilities have been identified. Implementation of the subwatershed plan will require a cooperative effort from all parties including the City, RVCA, watershed residents, other public agencies and landowners, and the development community. It is expected that implementation of the subwatershed plan will extend over a number of years, providing the technical basis for environmental management decisions within the subwatershed for private and public sector projects.

Several recommended actions are already currently underway:

The constructed wetland (Issue 3 in Table 1) is currently in detailed design with construction anticipated to commence in the late fall of 2003.
An integrated monitoring program (Issue 7 in Table 1) to track the health of the subwatershed is currently being developed.
Sediment accumulation in the Ledbury Avenue area (Issue 5 in Table 1) is being further investigated by City staff.

In order to provide on-going tracking of the implementation of the subwatershed plan, it is also recommended that regular updates on the progress of the management actions be made available to the various stakeholders through the City’s website, and reconvening of the Steering Committee and Public Advisory Committee approximately every two years to review the status of the implementation.

CONSULTATION

Public consultation activities undertaken for this project met the requirements of the Municipal Class EA process and are summarized below:

· A Notice of Commencement was published in local community newspapers (the Alta Vista News, the Hunt Club Greenboro News, and the Hunt Club Riverside News) and also posted on the City’s website.

· A Public Advisory Committee (PAC), consisting of representatives of local community associations, special interest groups, and individual citizens, met five times during the course of the study to provide input.

· A Steering Committee, consisting of representatives from RVCA, DFO, MOE, MNR, the NCC, the Airport Authority, and various City departments, was struck to provide input and direction to the study. The Steering Committee met five times during the course of the study.

· Two public Open Houses were held during the study. The first Open House, held on September 17, 2002, presented information regarding the project need and justification, existing conditions, and the EA planning process. Approximately forty people attended the first Open House and nine comment sheets were received.

· The second public Open House was held on December 4, 2002. Items presented included an overview of the recommendations coming out of the update to the Subwatershed Study, the recommended conceptual design for the constructed wetland, and a summary of next steps to implementation of the constructed wetland. Approximately thirty people attended this Open House and thirteen comment sheets were received.

· Both Open House meetings were advertised in local community newspapers (the Alta Vista News, the Hunt Club Greenboro News, the Hunt Club Riverside News). For each Open House, flyers were also posted throughout the watershed area by the PAC members.

· Draft copies of the Subwatershed Study Update and ESR Addendum were circulated to all members of the Steering Committee and the PAC for their comment. Final versions of both documents have also been provided to all members.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The endorsement of the Sawmill Creek Subwatershed Plan does not have specific financial implications for the City at this time. Funding has already been committed for the construction of the constructed wetland in the 2003/2004 budgets. Funding requirements to implement the remaining recommended management actions will be brought forward through the annual budgeting process.

ATTACHMENTS

Document 1 – Sawmill Creek Subwatershed Study Update (distributed separately and on file with the City Clerk)

Document 2 – Location Plan

Document 3 – Table 1

Document 4 – Table 2

DISPOSITION

Implementation of the recommendations of the Subwatershed Study Update has commenced, as noted above, and will continue through both the land development process and stewardship efforts.

Document 2

LOCATION PLAN

TABLE 1 Document 3

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

Table 1 Implementation of Water Management Strategy

*Issue*		*Recommended Actions*		*Lead Agency* *(Support Agency)*	*Notes*	*Reference*
1	Hunt Club Ridge SWM Pond	a	Assess facility performance and impact on creek	City of Ottawa: WEP & DSD	To be incorporated in the integrated monitoring program for the creek (see Issue 7)	Sections 6.3.1 & 8.1.2 Appendix N
1	Hunt Club Ridge SWM Pond	b	Subject to overall impact, investigate retrofit opportunities	City of Ottawa: WW&DS	Retrofit opportunities to be assessed in the context of disturbance to the existing community as well as other recommended actions that may provide greater overall benefits
2	Transport Canada SWM Pond		Retrofit existing pond to current standards in conjunction with new development	Ottawa International Airport		Section 6.3.1 Appendix N
3	Constructed Wetland and Flow Diversion	a	Finalize EA Addendum	City of Ottawa: DSD	Class EA ESR Addendum to be filed April 2003	Section 6.3.4 ESR Addendum (2003)
3	Constructed Wetland and Flow Diversion	b	Complete detailed design, secure approvals and construct	City of Ottawa: DSD & CS-D (RVCA, DFO, MOE)	Final design scheduled for 2003; construction anticipated to commence late fall 2003	Section 6.3.4 ESR Addendum (2003)
4	Cash-in-lieu Policy Review		Review and recalculate unit rate for infill sites; Extend policy to former City of Gloucester	City of Ottawa: DSD	To be included in City’s Development Charge By-law update (currently underway)	Section 8.1.4 & Appendix O
5	Sediment Accumulation in the Ledbury Avenue area		Address sediment accumulation partially blocking an existing storm sewer outfall	City of Ottawa: WW&DS (RVCA, DFO)	A study is required to consider alternative approaches, address fisheries issues, fluvial geomorphic considerations, and long-term maintenance issues for the City	Section 8.1.3
6	Review of Land Development Proposals		Apply updated guidelines for new development (through all stages of development approval process)	City of Ottawa: DSD / RVCA	Guidelines for development and impact assessments have been updated.	Section 9 Appendix F
7	Integrated Monitoring Program		Develop an integrated monitoring program to assess benefits of the constructed wetland and to more accurately track the health of the watershed as development proceeds in the headwaters	City of Ottawa: WEP & DSD (RVCA, DFO, MOE)	Monitoring program to include elements of fluvial geomorphology, biology, baseflow measurement, etc.; will also incorporate assessment of the Hunt Club Ridge pond (see Issue 1) and the in-creek and storm outfall water quality monitoring program to be developed in lieu of effluent monitoring at the wetland	Section 8.1.2
8	Pollution Source Controls		Investigate and address sources of contamination via storm outfalls (continuation of current ‘Search and Destroy’) program, including the hydrocarbon issue on Cahill	City of Ottawa: WEP & WW&DS	‘Search and Destroy’ efforts to be integrated with proposed monitoring program (see Issue 7)	Section 2.5.2 & 8.1.2
9	Public Awareness & Education	a	Promote measures to reduce runoff from residential and commercial properties (downspout disconnect, source controls, etc.)	City of Ottawa	Consider a program targeted to Sawmill Creek watershed	Sections 6.3.2, 7.2.7 & 8.1.2
		b	Educational signage at strategic locations	Community associations	Assistance to be provided by City of Ottawa / RVCA	Section 8.1.2
		c	Creek clean-up and riparian planting days	Community associations	Assistance to be provided by City of Ottawa / RVCA; focus plantings within priority areas (see Issue 1, Valley Lands Management Strategy)	Sections 7.2.4, 7.2.5, & 8.1.2
10	Municipal Drain Abandonment		Abandon remaining sections of creek currently designated as municipal drain under Ontario Drainage Act (using formalized abandonment procedure described in the Act)	City of Ottawa (WW&DS)	Sawmill Creek remains a designated Municipal Drain in the Blossom Park and headwaters reaches.	Section 8.1.5

WEP: Water Environment Protection DSD: Development Services WW&DS: Wastewater & Drainage Services CS-D: Construction Services – Development CPFS: Central Parks and Forestry Services

TABLE 2 Document 4

Table 2 Implementation of Valley Lands Management Strategy

*Issue*		*Recommended Actions*		*Lead Agency* *(Support Agency)*	*Notes*	*Reference*
1	Riparian Forest Management and Habitat Linkages	McCarthy Woods area:
		a	Preserve areas identified as Important Adjacent Habitat (shown on Figure 2)	City of Ottawa: DSD	NCC/landowner involvement	Sections 2.1 & 7.2.1
		Greenbelt area south of Hunt Club Road and Creek Corridor
		b	Retain linkages at the north end of Reach 6, north of Lester Road, to Pine Grove to the east and the Airport Parkway lands to the west (shown on Figure 2)	City of Ottawa: DSD	NCC/Airport Authority involvement	Sections 2.1 & 7.2.1
		c	Retain linkages south of Lester Rd south to the Leitrim area, east to the Pine Grove forest and west to the Airport lands (shown on Figure 2)	City of Ottawa: DSD	NCC/Airport Authority involvement	Sections 2.1 & 7.2.1
		d	Near the creek mouth at the Rideau River, reduce maintained areas and plant additional vegetation in riparian area to improve linkage with Rideau River Greenway System (shown on Figure 21)	City of Ottawa: CPFS RVCA	Provide assistance/direction for community planting days, etc.	Sections 2.1 & 7.2.1
		e	Examine opportunity for reforestation in creek valley in vicinity of Heron Road, and reduction in maintained area east of creek (shown on Figure 21)	City of Ottawa: CPFS RVCA	Provide assistance/direction for community planting days, etc.; landowner involvement(Public Works and Government Services Canada)	Sections 2.1 & 7.2.1
		f	Examine opportunity for reforestation north of Lester Road, to Pine Grove in the east and the Airport Parkway lands in the west, especially along east side of the creek (shown on Figure 21)	City of Ottawa: CPFS RVCA	Provide assistance/direction for community planting days, etc.; landowner involvement	Sections 2.1 & 7.2.1
2	Improving Corridor for Public Use and Recreation		Provide for potential future north-south and east-west pathway linkages in the detailed design of the constructed wetland.	City of Ottawa: DSD & CS-D	Feasibility of providing linkages is presently under review by City staff.	Section 7.2.3
3	Improvement of Aquatic Habitat and In-stream Structures	a	Removal of permanent barriers to fish movement including existing culverts and gabions (shown on Figure 21 and listed in Table 3)	City of Ottawa (RVCA, DFO, MNR)	Consider in conjunction with infrastructure rehabilitation works and/or as possible compensation for works elsewhere on the creek.	Sections 2.2.3 & 7.2.4
3	Improvement of Aquatic Habitat and In-stream Structures	b	Improve creek shoreline and in-stream conditions through various measures including: · Brushlayering and other bioengineering techniques to reduce bank erosion · Installation of logs and riffle structures At strategic locations within the creek (shown on Figure 21)	City of Ottawa (RVCA, DFO, MNR)	Consider in conjunction with infrastructure rehabilitation works and/or as possible compensation for works elsewhere on the creek. Involve community associations.	Section 7.2.4
4	Slope Stability	a	Reach 1: monitor existing erosion near Billings Estate area Implement measures to protect pedestrians using informal trail near crest of slope at Billing Estate (formalize trail a safe distance from top of slope, etc.); revegetate areas of exposed silty clay	City of Ottawa (RVCA)	No imminent threat to property or infrastructure; monitor and consider as potential site for stream restoration work.	Section 7.2.6
4	Slope Stability	b	Reach 2: implement measures to protect pedestrians using informal trail near crest of slope (formalize trail a safe distance from top of slope, etc.); revegetate areas of exposed silty clay	City of Ottawa (RVCA)		Section 7.2.6
5	Public Awareness and Education		See item 9 above under Water Management Strategy	City of Ottawa / RVCA		Sections 7.2.7 & 8.1.2

WEP: Water Environment Protection DSD: Development Services WW&DS: Wastewater & Drainage Services CS-D: Construction Services – Development CPFS: Central Parks and Forestry Services

4. SAWMILL CREEK SUBWATERSHED STUDY UPDATE
ÉTUDE SUR LE SOUS-BASSIN HYDROGRAPHIQUE DU RUISSEAU SAWMILL – MISE À JOUR

ACS2003-DEV-POL-0034

The Committee heard from the following delegation:

Bill Royds, Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital, elaborated on the written comments he submitted to all members of the Committee by e-mail – copy on file with the City Clerk. He emphasized that the Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital take great interest in ensuring that the criteria contained in the report are very important and would like to ensure that the results of this Study are used as a base for the Greenway Master Plan to be presented and adopted in 2004.

In response to the delegation’s statement, Ned Lathrop, General Manager of Development Services offered guidance and confirmed that, from the technical point of view, staff also sees the Sawmill Creek Subwatershed Study as a major piece of work in terms of identifying how the City should deal with development and how development should have a no net increase in terms of erosion potential, as well as impact upon the environment within urban areas. He noted that the Environmental Strategy being brought forward will promote the type of approaches found in this Study at a higher level but from the detailed perspective, staff agrees that this document should be emulated throughout the City. However, he pointed out the financial limitation in doing so.

Councillor Stewart thanked Mr. Royds and other members of the Public Advisory Committee for their service in helping to set the goals and objectives and representing the public during the course of this Study update. She also thanked staff, particularly Darlene Conway and Cynthia Levesque for their hard work and leadership in this long and very involved process. While appreciating Mr. Royds’ comments on how great it would be to have these objectives or goals throughout the entire City, she feels that the beauty of a subwatershed plan is that it is specific to the needs and requirements of a specific watershed. She also feels that the City should do subwatershed plans for all other creeks and waterways.

Councillor Doucet expressed concern about the Lower Rideau and Sawmill Creek, both of which flow through his Ward. In response to his question on the City’s Search and Destroy Program, conducted by the Water Environment Protection Program, Darlene Conway, Infrastructure Planner, Development Services advised that with this Program staff would continue to work toward addressing bacterial issues in Sawmill Creek through the identification and elimination of bacterial and other pollutant sources in the watershed. She also advised that there is a fair amount of money spent on compliance monitoring for new Storm Water Management (SWM) facilities and that the Ministry of Environment (MOE) has agreed in the case of the proposed constructed wetland to forego compliance monitoring such that these funds can be dedicated to an expanded Search and Destroy Program in the subwatershed. This requirement will be incorporated in the certificate of approval for the wetland. She confirmed that these issues would be further addressed through the Lower Rideau Study, i.e., that the focus be expanded to include not just wet weather sources of pollutants (i.e., stormwater) but also dry weather sources (old sewers, cross-connections, etc.). The example she gave is just a very specific one that has been recognized for Sawmill and is going to be followed up on.

In response to Chair Hume’s question on the Lower Rideau Study, Ms. Conway replied that the ongoing Lower Rideau Study is a higher level planning study than the Sawmill Creek Study, which is specific to a subwatershed. Chair Hume suggested that Councillor Doucet get a briefing from staff on the Lower Rideau Study because the recommendations emanating from that Study will direct further work to improve water quality and the overall health of the Lower Rideau river.

In response to Councillor Doucet’s question, Ms. Conway was not sure exactly where water quality is being measured in the Rideau above and below the Sawmill Creek Outlet into the Rideau, but that these measurements are being undertaken by Water Environment Protection staff at a number of stations and it is recognized that the Sawmill Creek represents a source of pollutants to the Lower Rideau. Councillor Doucet asked for some assurances that somewhere in these many studies that the quality of the water at the mouth of the Sawmill Creek is being measured.

Chair Hume asked that an update on the Lower Rideau Study be brought forward to the Committee for discussion.

The Committee then approved the following recommendation, as presented in the staff report:

CARRIED