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Stormwater Management

Stormwater management criteria are available for each watershed on the basis of Level of Control (water quality), Flood Flow Management, and Frequent Flow Management (erosion control).

To download PDF copies of detailed Stormwater Management Criteria, use the watershed links below:

Download Duffins Creek Stormwater Management Map - 500K pdf icon

The SWPAM Program

The multi-agency Stormwater Assessment Monitoring and Performance (SWAMP) Program operated from 1995 to 2003. The program was an initiative of the Government of Canada's Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and the Municipal Engineer's Association. A number of individual municipalities and other owner/operator agencies have also participated in the SWAMP studies.

During the mid to late 1980s, the Great Lakes Basin experienced rapid urban growth. Stormwater runoff associated with this growth is a major contributor to the degradation of water quality and the destruction of fish habitats. In response to these environmental concerns, a variety of stormwater management technologies have been developed to mitigate the impacts of urbanization on the natural environment. These technologies have been studied, designed and constructed on the basis of computer models and pilot-scale testing, but have not undergone extensive field-level evaluation in southern Ontario. The SWAMP Program was designed to address this need.

The SWAMP Program's objectives were to:

  • monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of new or innovative stormwater management technologies; and
  • disseminate study results and recommendations within the stormwater

To download executive summaries of SWAMP reports free of charge, or to order hard copies, click here.

A new program called the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (STEP) was initiated by the TRCA in 2005. The program continues the work that the SWAMP Program began, but with a broader focus. Click here to visit the STEP website

For more information about the SWAMP or STEP Programs, please contact:
Mr. Tim Van Seters
Manager, Sustainable Technologies
Toronto and Region Conservation
Phone: 416-661-6600 ext. 5337
Fax: 416-661-6898
Email: tvanseters@trca.on.ca