HomeMy WebLinkAboutENG 05-22Report to Council
Report Number: ENG 05-22
Date: March 28, 2022
From: Richard Holborn
Director Engineering Services
Subject: City of Pickering Frenchman’s Bay Stormwater Management Master Plan
- Status Update
- File: A-1440
Recommendation:
1. That Report ENG 05-22 from the Director, Engineering Services regarding a status
update of the City of Pickering Frenchman’s Bay Stormwater Management Master Plan
be received for information; and,
2. That the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering be authorized to take the necessary
actions as indicated in this report.
Executive Summary: At the Council Meeting of January 24, 2022 Correspondence 03-22
from David Steele dated December 31, 2021 regarding the City of Pickering Frenchman’s Bay
Storwmater Management Master Plan (FBSWMMP) prepared by MMM Group was received,
and staff was directed to report back to Council on the status of that report no later than March
28, 2022.
The FBSWMMP dated April 2009 prepared by MMM Group was endorsed by Council
Resolution #72/10 on April 19, 2010 through the approval of Report OES 04-10. The
endorsement of the Master Plan was a commitment in principle to implementing watershed-
wide stormwater management controls through a recommended suite of projects, programs
and policies designed to address issues related to flooding, erosion and poor water quality in
Frenchman’s Bay and its contributing watersheds. The Master Plan identified $53.8 million (in
2009 dollars) of projects, programs and monitoring spanning a period of 25 years.
The purpose of Report ENG 05-22 is to advise Council of the components of the FBSWMMP
that have been undertaken, are underway, or in the planning stages since the endorsement of
the Master Plan approximately 12 years ago. The two most significant projects that have been
completed are the Pine Creek and Amberlea Creek erosion control and restoration projects.
Projects that are currently in the design and approvals stage include the Krosno Creek culvert
replacements, and the Breezy Drive storm sewer outfall reconstruction. The Radom Street
culvert replacements project is in the planning stage. From a policy aspect, the implementation
of the City of Pickering Stormwater Management Guidelines in 2011 (which were recently
updated in 2019) are key to ensuring that new development or redevelopment in the City of
Pickering conforms to a set of criteria that protects and mitigates the impact of development on
our watersheds.
ENG 05-22 March 28, 2022
Subject: City of Pickering Frenchman’s Bay Stormwater
Management Master Plan – Status Update Page 2
Financial Implications: There are no financial implications directly related to receiving this
status report. An update of the FBSWMMP is required within the next five years, and the cost
for the Master Plan update report was identified in the City’s 2017 Development Charges
Background Study at a cost of $700,000. As the update has not taken place, it will be restated
in the 2022 Development Charges Background Study.
Discussion: At the Council Meeting of January 24, 2022 Correspondence 03-22
from David Steele dated December 31, 2021 regarding the City of Pickering Frenchman’s Bay
Stormwater Management Master Plan (FBSWMMP) prepared by MMM Group was received,
and staff was directed to report back to Council on the status of that report no later than March
28, 2022.
In March 2006, Council gave approval for staff to retain MMM Group to develop a Stormwater
Management Master Plan for Frenchman’s Bay and its contributing watersheds, namely
Amberlea Creek, Dunbarton Creek, Pine Creek, Krosno Creek as well as the West Shore and
Bay Ridges neighbourhoods with storm sewer systems that outfall directly into Frenchman’s
Bay. The total area is approximately 2260 hectares. The preparation of a master plan was in
response to long standing concerns regarding the ongoing decline in the water quality of the
Frenchman’s Bay ecosystem mainly due to uncontrolled runoff entering the local creeks and
Frenchman’s Bay itself.
The FBSWMMP dated April 2009 prepared by MMM Group was endorsed by Council
Resolution #72/10 on April 19, 2010 through the approval of Report OES 04-10. The
endorsement of the Master Plan was a commitment in principle to the recommended suite of
projects, programs and policies designed to address issues related to flooding, erosion and
poor water quality in Frenchman’s Bay and its contributing watersheds. The FBSWMMP was
based on implementing watershed-wide stormwater management controls in the form of
source controls, conveyance controls and end of pipe/end of creek controls.
The preferred alternative was “Scenario 4C” which is a combination of watershed-wide controls
such as SWM facilities at the mouth of Amberlea, Dunbarton and Pine Creek (Level 1 sizing),
surface SWM facilities in the watershed, Oil Grit Separators (OGS) for areas less than 5
hectares, and source controls.
The Master Plan identified $53.8 million (in 2009 dollars) of projects, programs and monitoring
spanning a period of 25 years. The first 5 years of the plan identified $25,605,000 of projects
and programs, whereas the next 20 years of the plan identified $28,206,000 of projects and
programs including the end of creek facilities in the amount of $19,000,000 which are
described further in this report.
Policies and Programs
The City of Pickering introduced Stormwater Management Guidelines in 2011 to guide
development and redevelopment from a water resources point of view. The guidelines include
criteria by which development must conform to mitigate the impact of development on
watercourses and receiving bodies of water such as Frenchman’s Bay and Lake Ontario. The
ENG 05-22 March 28, 2022
Subject: City of Pickering Frenchman’s Bay Stormwater
Management Master Plan – Status Update Page 3
guidelines include the use of on-site control measures such as Low Impact Development (LID)
practices to promote ground water infiltration and reduced runoff volumes , measures to
reduce pollutant and suspended solids loading such as oil grit separators and clean water
collection systems, and the requirement for stormwater management facilities (ponds) to be
designed for quantity, quality and erosion controls. The Stormwater Management Guidelines
were recently updated in 2019 to incorporate more recent best management practices.
Municipal activities such as street sweeping, catchbasin cleaning and storm sewer flushing can
work to reduce the quantity of pollutants and suspended solids that end up in receiving water
bodies. Over the last 12 years, the City has increased its fleet from one to three street
sweepers. Catchbasin cleaning is completed on a four year cycle and storm sewer flushing
and video inspection continues to be an annual maintenance program.
The City introduced a pilot project to harvest Eurasian Milfoil Weed in Frenchman’s Bay in
2021 and is recommending a repeat of this program in 2022. Although eradication of this
invasive weed is not achievable due to the extent of the invasion, removal of the weed assists
with increasing the health of the Frenchman’s Bay ecosystem and increasing safety for
recreational users of the bay.
Projects Within the Master Plan
A number of projects were recommended in the master plan such as erosion
control/remediation projects, construction of stormwater management (SWM) facilities, and
installation of oil grit separator (OGS) units. The consultant’s plan was extremely aggressive,
recommending 10 SWM facilities and 20 OGS units in the first 5 years, and 10 SWM facilities
and 14 OGS units in the next 20 years. It should be noted that many of the SWM facilities were
recommended on developable lands not owned by the City of Pickering.
The plan recommended SWM facilities at the mouth of Amberlea, Dunbarton, and Pine Creek
in the second phase (Year 6 - 25) at an estimated cost of $19 Million. Discussion with both the
Toronto & Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and the Ministry of Natural Resources
(MNR) during the consultation phase of the Master Plan indicated quite clearly that they did not
support construction and maintenance of stormwater facilities in the provincially significant
wetland (PSW), Frenchman’s Bay Coastal Wetland Complex. The City was advised that once
all upstream initiatives were completed, and their effectiveness assessed, they would be willing
to revisit the mouth of creek proposal, more so as a restoration project for the PSW . When the
FBSWMMP is updated, the viability of this project will be reviewed.
Projects Completed
Sandy Beach Road Bridge Replacement 2006
Although this project was initiated before the FBSWMMP was completed, replacing this bridge
with a larger structure resulted in an increase of flow through capacity which relieved some of
the flooding concerns in the Krosno Creek watershed upstream of this bridge.
ENG 05-22 March 28, 2022
Subject: City of Pickering Frenchman’s Bay Stormwater
Management Master Plan – Status Update Page 4
Amberlea Creek Erosion Control and Restoration
This project was the most significant undertaking outlined in the Master Plan. Site specific
stormwater management controls to deal with flooding and erosion problems were identified in
this area. The severe local channel erosion of the valley wall on Amberlea Creek downstream
of Bayly Street and the resulting sediment transport and deposition downstream and into
Frenchman’s Bay needed to be addressed to prevent further decline. This project was
undertaken in 2014 at a cost of approximately $2.1 Million. Upon completion, the area was
monitored for three years to determine its stability.
Pine Creek Erosion Control and Restoration
Another significant erosion control and restoration project identified in the Master Plan was
within Pine Creek south of the storm sewer outfall east of Mountcastle Crescent, west of Dixie
Road. The Master Plan concluded that restoration of the channel would be the most cost
effective and least disruptive solution. The project was undertaken in 2016 at a cost of
approximately $1.1 Million. Upon completion, the area was monitored for three years to
determine its stability.
West Shore Boulevard/Sunrise Avenue OGS
The installation of an OGS unit was included in the design and reconstruction of West Shore
Boulevard from Oklahoma Drive to Sunrise Avenue undertaken in 2012. The OGS component
of the project was at a cost of approximately $120,000.
Browning Street OGS Installation
The installation of an OGS unit was included in the design and reconstruction of the Browning
Avenue storm sewer replacement west of Fairview Avenue undertaken in 2016. The OGS
component was at a cost of approximately $50,000.
Pine Creek Culvert Replacements – Douglas Park
As part of a Region of Durham sanitary sewer replacement project, the five parallel culverts in
Pine Creek, at the north end of Douglas Park, that supported the sanitary sewer and
pedestrian walkway were replaced with a bridge. A large scour in the creek bed had developed
over years at the downstream end of the culverts resulting in erosion and the transport and
deposition of sediment further downstream towards Frenchman’s Bay.
Projects in the Planning and Design Stage
Krosno Creek Culvert Replacements
The replacement of three culverts in Krosno Creek, at Morden Lane, Reytan Boulevard and
Alyssum Street, to increase their capacity and reduce upstream flooding was a
recommendation of the Krosno Creek Flood Reduction Study Class Environmental
Assessment completed in 2015. The FBSWMMP identified a solution whereby flows from
Krosno Creek would be diverted to Pine Creek upstream of Hwy 401. However, the Class EA
offered a solution that restricted increased flows south of Hwy 401 and recommended that the
Krosno Creek culverts south of Bayly street be replaced with larger culverts to reduce
ENG 05-22 March 28, 2022
Subject: City of Pickering Frenchman’s Bay Stormwater
Management Master Plan – Status Update Page 5
backwater effect and potential flooding. With this solution, a diversion of flows to Pine Creek is
not necessary. The culvert replacement project design is complete. Funds in the amount of
$4.8 Million for construction were approved in the 2019 Capital Budget and utility relocation in
the area of the three culverts is being completed. The construction cost also includes creek
rehabilitation works between Reytan Boulevard and Sandy Beach Road.
Breezy Drive Storm Sewer Outfall Reconstruction
The design to reconstruct the storm sewer outfall at the intersection of Breezy Drive and
Sunrise Avenue, south of the Frenchman’s Bay Yacht Club, is underway and will be complete
in 2022. Additional funds for construction over and above funds already approved are
recommended in the 2022 Capital Budget. The construction cost is estimated at $1.75 Million
and the scope of work includes constructing a sediment forebay at the storm sewer outfall and
a large OGS unit upstream of the outfall.
Radom Street Culvert Replacements
There are two large corrugated steel culverts in Pine Creek at the Radom Street crossing. The
culverts are deteriorating and being undermined. The FBSWMMP identified replacing these
culverts with larger culverts along with other works in the Pine Creek flood plain, upstream of
Hwy 401, to mitigate flooding potential on properties north of Kingston Road. This project is in
the planning stage as funds for design were approved in 2021 and construction is forecasted in
2023. The project is estimated at $1.75 Million.
Frenchman’s Bay Stormwater Management Plan Update
As with most Master Plans, it is prudent that the FBSWMMP be revisited and updated in the
near future to look at many aspects such as:
• Changes in legislation and/or regulations
• Changes in stormwater management policies and criteria
• Current environmental issues and objectives
• Current best management practices and new innovation
• Effectiveness of the measures implemented to date
• Cost estimates of components of the Master Plan
• Partnerships and funding opportunities
City staff have recognized the importance of this Master Plan and its requirement to be
updated after a period of time has passed. A FBSWMMP Update was identified in the 2017
Development Charges Background Study at an estimated cost of $700,000 within the 2018-
2027 timeframe. As an update did not occur within the five year window of the current
Development Charges By-law, it is being restated in the upcoming 2022 Development Charges
Background Study process. Staff anticipates that the update will be initiated within the next five
year window of 2022-2027, subject to Council approval of the funds through the annual budget
process.
ENG 05-22 March 28, 2022
Subject: City of Pickering Frenchman’s Bay Stormwater
Management Master Plan – Status Update Page 6
Attachments:
1. Council Resolution #780/22
Prepared/Approved/Endorsed By:
Original signed by:
Richard Holborn, P. ENG.
Director, Engineering Services
RH:mjh
Recommended for the consideration
of Pickering City Council
Original signed by:
Marisa Carpino, M.A.
Chief Administrative Officer
Attachment #1 to Report #ENG 05-22
Legislative Services Division
Clerk’s Office
Directive Memorandum
February 1, 2022
To: Richard Holborn
Director, Engineering Services
From: Susan Cassel
City Clerk
Subject: Direction as per Minutes of the Meeting of City Council held on
January 24, 2022
Corr. 03-22
David Steele
City of Pickering MMM Storm Water Management Plan
Council Decision Resolution #780/22
1.That Corr. 03-22, from David Steele, dated December 31, 2021, regarding the
City of Pickering MMM Storm Water Management Plan, be received; and,
2.That staff be directed, through the CAO, to report back to Council on the status of
the City of Pickering Storm Water Management Plan no later than the March 28,
2022 Council meeting.
Please take any action deemed necessary.
A copy of the original correspondence is attached for your reference.
Susan Cassel
Copy: Chief Administrative Officer