Detailed Stormwater Management Assessment and Analysis for Disaster Mitigation and to Accommodate Future Community Growth

completed

This project will include a comprehensive stormwater management assessment and analysis that will establish several alternatives to providing the community with a proper stormwater management plan. Under current Federal guidelines, stormwater management has not been a consideration as it is under Provincial legislation. The alternatives will be identified and analysed based on impacts to the environment and public health, as well as social, technical, and economic feasibility. The community is currently serviced by groundwater under the influence of surface water. Surface runoff in the community is prevalent as a result of not having stormwater management in place. Surface runoff affects the quality of groundwater and is therefore a significant threat to the drinking water supply in the community. Surface runoff containing untreated sewage from private residences and cottages combined with agricultural runoff on the Island has also impacted the surrounding Lake Scugog, and the effects are highly visible along the shoreline of the lake. The creation of an effective stormwater management plan will help the community protect its groundwater resource from contamination and protect the natural ecology of Lake Scugog by minimizing the current rate of degradation. In addition, due to the topography of the community being generally flat and surrounded by wetland features, the community often experiences severe flooding and very wet ground conditions. These conditions pose risks to public health and safety of the residents, in addition to limiting the opportunities for economic development and future growth of the community. A comprehensive stormwater management plan will enable the community to plan, guide, monitor, and implement stormwater management initiatives that provide the best mitigative measures for flood control, protection of groundwater (the only viable source of drinking water on the island), and protection of the surrounding Lake Scugog (off reserve benefit).