Report to: Development
Services Committee Date:
May 4, 2010
SUBJECT: Don River Watershed Plan and Implementation Guide
PREPARED BY: Learie Miller, Senior Environmental Policy Planner,
Ext 6922
Abdullah Hossain, Environmental Engineer, Ext 2628
RECOMMENDATION:
1) That the staff report entitled Don River Watershed Plan and Implementation Guide be received;
2) And That this staff report be forwarded to the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), and the Region of York as the Town’s response to the Don River Watershed Plan and Implementation Guide;
3) And That the Town endorse in principle the Don River Watershed Plan objectives while continuing to work with the TRCA and other stakeholders to practically and feasibly meet the overall objectives of the Implementation Guide in the context of respective roles, responsibilities and funding capabilities;
4) And That the TRCA and Town staff report back regarding future capital and operational costs associated with these guidelines (including potential funding sources);
5) And that the proposed 10 year work plans of implementation projects in Markham, as outlined in the Implementation Guideline, be subject to funding commitment by the Province, other stakeholders and further Council approval;
6)
And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all
things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an
overview of the Don River Watershed Plan and Implementation Guide, which has
been circulated to municipalities within the
BACKGROUND:
The Don River Watershed Plan was prepared by TRCA staff and consultants
with advice from two groups, the Don Watershed Regeneration Council and a
Municipal Technical Advisory Committee, both of which had Town of
The Don River Watershed is 360 sq km in size covering portions of the
City of
The extent of historical urbanization has significantly increased the amount of impervious or hard cover in the watershed. This has reduced the interception and infiltration of precipitation into groundwater aquifers and generated more surface runoff. This, in turn, results in higher and more frequent flows in rivers and streams, greater rates of erosion, increased direct discharges from storms and combined sewers and a greater risk of flooding in certain areas. The focus of the Don Watershed plan is to address sustainability in the context of the urbanized watershed.
The
Watershed Plan provides detailed information on regeneration plans on a sub
watershed basis (7 subwatersheds were identified of which
only two, (German Mills Creek Subwatershed and Upper East Don
Subwatershed contained lands in
The plan
has a strong technical foundation with modeling of future scenarios being an
integral component. In addition, meetings were held with agencies, other
watershed partners and the public to review issues and seek feedback on the
plan’s recommendations.
OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:
Don River
Watershed Plan
The Don River
Watershed Plan is intended to inform and guide municipalities, the Provincial
and Federal governments, TRCA, non-government organizations and private
landowners as they update their policies and practices for environmental
stewardship. The pathway to a regenerated
- Protect and sustain what is healthy;
- Regenerate what is degraded, and,
- Take responsibility for the Don.
The recommendations
of the
In addition to providing detailed information on regeneration plans on a sub watershed basis, the Watershed Plan proposes a number of site planning exercises designed to engage local participants in the watershed study and promote innovative approaches. Five concept site plans are presented in the watershed plan and these provide practical representations of how key watershed recommendations could be applied on a local or neighbourhood basis.
Don River
Watershed Plan Implementation Guide
The Don River Watershed Plan Implementation Guide identifies the actions and projects needed to achieve the paramount strategies identified in the Watershed Plan. Appendix ‘A’ attached hereto, is an Executive Summary of the Don River Watershed Plan and Introduction to the Implementation Guide. The Implementation Guide identifies a 10 year work plan of proposed implementation projects addressing all recommendations of the watershed plan, and organized according to primary implementation mechanisms listed below:
- Policy;
- Regeneration;
- Land Securement;
- Stewardship and Education;
- Operations and Maintenance;
- Enforcement; and,
- Monitoring.
The stated purpose of the
Implementation Guide is to facilitate implementation of the recommendations
contained in the Don River Watershed Plan. The Watershed Plan has sought to
evaluate possible futures under different environmental management scenarios
and has sought to detail regeneration plans and concept site plans at a
subwatershed level. This approach is beneficial from a municipal planning
perspective because it allows more detailed focus on the areas of the watershed
(German Mills Creek Subwatershed and Upper East Don Subwatershed) that fall
within the Town of
Town staff generally support the objectives of the Don River Watershed Plan and Council has funded and supported numerous projects consistent with the Watershed Plan including Pomona Mills Creek Erosion Restoration and Habitat Enhancement Study, Don Mills Ditch Capacity Remediation Study, Markham Stream Erosion Rehabilitation Implementation Plan and Stormwater Management Pond Retrofit projects.
However, notwithstanding the
alignment of numerous TRCA and Town projects, staff from engineering, planning,
urban design, and operations have concern with some of the projects proposed in
the Don River Watershed Plan relative to the ambitious timelines proposed, and
most importantly the ongoing funding commitments that would be required. The
capital and maintenance costs associated with the plan, while not qualified in
the Guide would be significant. Specifically, costs related to stormwater
infrastructure, flood risk reduction and erosion retrofits, which are required
for this plan to be successfully implemented,.
The TRCA and Town need to prioritize these capital projects and establish funding commitments through a process which examines and weighs all other municipal priorities and needs. Therefore, the implementation of the proposed 10 year work plan for the recommended projects, as outlined in the Don River Watershed Plan Implementation Guideline, is not recommended by Town staff for, specific approval by Council at this time.
Staff recommends
that the Town endorse in principle the Don River Watershed Plan objectives while
continuing to work with the TRCA with respect to how best to meet the overall
objectives of the Implementation Guide in the context of actions that are
considered to be practical and feasible to
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Although the Implementation Guide does not contain cost estimates, it is anticipated that future funding for projects will be expected from municipalities and possibly the Province. However, there are no specific requests for funding at this time. The implementation of the Don River Watershed Plan will have long term cost (capital and operating) implications for the Town, and will affect a number of Departments including Engineering, Operations and Planning.
HUMAN RESOURCES CONSIDERATIONS
Not Applicable
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:
A significant amount of the proposed implementation activity is consistent with the Building Markham’s Future Together strategic priority on the Environment as it focuses on sustainable development practices in the context of the overall Don River Watershed Plan.
BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
The Don River Watershed Plan and Implementation Guide was circulated internally to the Policy Planning, Engineering, Heritage, Operations and Parks and Open Space departments and their comments where provided, have been incorporated in this report.
RECOMMENDED BY:
________________________
________________________________
Alan Brown, C.E.T Valerie
Shuttleworth M.C.I.P., R.P.P
Director of Engineering Director of
Planning and Urban Design
_________________________
Jim Baird M.C.I.P., R.P.P
Commissioner of Development Services
ATTACHMENTS:
Figure 1: Map showing Don River Watershed Plan Boundary
Figure 2: Map showing Don River Watershed in
Appendix ‘A’: Don River Watershed Plan Executive Summary and Introduction to
the Implementation Guide
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525 Don River Watershed Plan\Reports\Report to DSC March 2, 2010.doc