Amberlea Creek Erosion Control Environmental Assessment
Project Update
A Public Information Centre (PIC#1) was held for the Amberlea Creek Erosion Control Project Class Environmental Assessment on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the City of Pickering Civic Complex Council Chambers in Pickering, ON.
To review the materials presented at PIC#1 please scroll down to the Public and Agency Consultation Section.
Background of Project
In 2006, the City of Pickering formally retained Marshall Macklin Monaghan Ltd. to develop a Stormwater Management Master Plan (Master Plan) for Frenchman's Bay. The Master Plan was "to address long-standing concerns regarding the ongoing decline in the quality of the Frenchman's Bay ecosystem by seeking means to control the quantity and quality of storm run-off entering the local creeks and the Bay itself" (City of Pickering, 2006). The Master Plan was finalized in 2007, and there were a series of recommendations and projects to address public safety issues and degraded water quality within Frenchman's Bay and four main tributary watersheds. The Master Plan proposed a phased approach for dealing with key priority sites over the first five years of the implementation of the plan.
One of the key projects identified for completion within Phase 1 of the Master Plan is the undertaking of the Amberlea Creek Erosion Control Environmental Assessment (Amberlea Creek EA). Amberlea Creek is one of the four main tributaries of Frenchman's Bay, located northwest of the Bay. The project will assess opportunities for the entire watershed, however specific focus will be on the last 600 metres (m) of open channel before Amberlea empties into Frenchman's Bay, an area of the watershed where existing valley wall, (slope) instability, and channel erosion is occurring.
Project Purpose
The purpose of the Amberlea Creek EA is to provide long-term protection against slope instability, and channel erosion that will reduce the risk to public safety, and prevent future property damage. All options will ensure compatibility with the surrounding physical, biological, social and cultural environment.
Planning Mechanism for the Undertaking
TRCA must conduct its remedial flood and erosion control projects in accordance with the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA). Recognizing that common elements exist in addressing flood and erosion problems, a more efficient approach to environmental assessment was developed by Conservation Ontario for all conservation authorities known as the Class Environmental Assessment for Remedial Flood and Erosion Control Projects (Class EA). The Class EA approach is considered a suitable means for the planning of remedial flood and erosion control projects because it provides a consistent, streamlined process that ensures compliance with Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) requirements.
In the summer of 2013, TRCA and the City of Pickering will submit the Environmental Study Report in support of the Project for approval by the Ministry of the Environment under subsection 7 (1) of the Environmental Assessment Act.
Public and Agency Consultation
The Class EA process provides that all views respecting a proposed remedial flood or erosion control project be taken into consideration during the planning and design of remedial flood and erosion control projects. A Community Liaison Committee (CLC) will be formed to provide a venue to allow concerned citizens, local interest groups, and non-governmental organization to voice issues of public concern as well as assist in the planning and design process of the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been developed for Amberlea Creek Erosion Control Project based on feedback and inquiries received from the community. The FAQs will be updated periodically during the Environmental Assessment process as comments and feedback are received.
Public Information Centres (PIC)
PIC#1
PIC #1 was held for the Amberlea Creek Erosion Control Project Environmental Assessment on Thursday, March 21, 2013
at the City of Pickering Civic Complex Council Chambers in Pickering, ON.
Advertisements for PIC #1
Panels presented at PIC #1
Handouts provided at PIC #1
For more information, please contact:
Lindsay Prihoda, Project Manager, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority at (416) 661-6600 ext 5787 or lprihoda@trca.on.ca.
Or,
Nick Lorrain, Coordinator, Water Resources, City of Pickering at (905)-420-4660 ext. 2210 or nlorrain@pickering.ca.
