Barrie, ON, has begun a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study to determine necessary stormwater infrastructure improvements required to reduce flooding on both private and municipal lands, resolve issues concerning public safety, and provide improved maintenance opportunities within the Sophia Creek watershed and Mulcaster drainage area.

“Major drainage improvements may consist of flow reduction, conveyance improvements or a consolidation of both to assist the mitigation of flooding, accommodating climate change and improving infrastructure that is not in compliance with current city standards,” said Lorran Cooney, Barrie’s senior infrastructure planning consultant, to the Barrie Examiner.

Barrie has already begun to implement improvements to stormwater infrastructure in the Dyments Creek area, which has had repeated flooding issues that directly impacted the city’s wastewater treatment facility. A 30 metre wide floodway and low flow channel running 30 metres upstream and 106 metres downstream of the Dyments Creek culvert began design in 2016. Construction is set to begin in 2018 and be completed by 2020. This in addition to the city investing in a $1.3 million upgrade to stormwater drainage at Barrie’s Heritage Park.

While planning has continued to develop from the city’s 2016 Capital Budget Project Details Report, the municipality has also turned to the public to mitigate flooding problems. “This study will encourage private landowners to infiltrate runoff from building roof and driveway areas on their residential lots with rain gardens, rain barrels and infiltration trenches to promote local recharge and reduce runoff into the storm system, assisting in flood control for the community,” Cooney

For further information on the city’s plans, contact:

Lorran Cooney
Senior Infrastructure Planning
Technologist, Engineering
(705) 739-4220 ext. 4514
[email protected]

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