Mapping and Studies

Wetlands are the most biologically diverse kind of ecosystem, as they support both aquatic and terrestrial plant and wildlife species. These ecosystems provide a range of benefits, such as flood management, water quality improvement, groundwater replenishment and climate resilience, as well as recreation and economic opportunities, such as for timber, hunting and fishing.

Conservation Halton uses wetland mapping to identify potential wetlands and to determine if a property may be regulated by Conservation Halton. Conservation Halton regulates all watercourses, valleylands, wetlands, Lake Ontario and Burlington Bay shoreline, and hazardous lands, as well as lands adjacent to these features. Up-to-date mapping supports the delivery of our regulatory and planning programs and helps ensure wetlands are protected.

A report was brought to the Conservation Halton Board of Directors on June 23, 2022. The engagement period began July 13, 2022 and closed on September 13, 2022.

The following are next steps that will be taken for this project:

• Staff is currently reviewing all comments received and is making edits to the mapping, where necessary.
• Where requested, staff is completing site visits to ground truth the mapping.
• Final draft mapping will be taken to the Board of Directors for approval in the new year.

Updates to the Regulatory Status of Lower Rambo Creek

The City of Burlington recently completed a Phase 1 Flood Hazard and Scoped Stormwater Management Assessment for downtown Burlington and the Burlington GO Major Transit Station Area (MTSA). The Phase 1 study revealed a flood hazard in the Lower Rambo watershed that is greater than previously understood. A Phase 2 study is currently underway to further refine the flood hazard mapping, but the Phase 1 study is considered the best available information for decision making when development is contemplated in hazardous areas.

Under Ontario Regulation 162/06, Conservation Halton regulates all watercourses, valleylands, wetlands, Lake Ontario and Burlington Bay shoreline, and hazardous lands, as well as lands adjacent to these features. The purpose of the regulation is to protect people and property from the risks associated with natural hazards and to prevent worsening of existing hazards or the creation of new hazards. Conservation Halton’s regulation now applies to identified flood (i.e., floodplain and spill areas) and erosion hazards, as well as a 7.5 metre regulatory allowance, in the Lower Rambo Creek watershed. Permission is required from Conservation Halton to develop in these areas.

For more information about Phase 1 or Phase 2, please contact City of Burlington staff.

Under Ontario Regulation 162/06, Conservation Halton regulates development in spill flood hazards (“spills”). Spills occur when floodwaters leave a watercourse, its valley and floodplain, and continue to flow overland in multiple directions before rejoining the same watercourse downstream or spilling into another watershed.  Spills often move through areas where riverine flooding may not be anticipated and can flow in complex patterns.  Conservation Halton has an interim policy for development in spills but is undertaking a review and update of this policy.  

In March 2022, Conservation Halton shared a discussion paper as the initial stage of the spill policy review and update process to provide the public and stakeholders with background information on spills and to engage on the policy approaches that CH could take to deal with development in spills. In November 2022, Conservation Halton’s Board of Directors endorsed the Spills Flood Hazard Policy Report, which includes an overview of the feedback received on the discussion paper and staff’s recommended policy approach/direction for managing risk associated with development in spill flood hazards along with supporting rationale.   

Throughout the policy review and update process, Conservation Halton will engage with other conservation authorities, municipal partners, residents, and other stakeholders. Conservation Halton staff will assess the input received throughout the process, draft new policies, and recommend to the Conservation Halton Board of Directors on the approval of any new spill policies. A public engagement session to present draft spill policies and engage further is anticipated to occur in Winter 2023.  

We welcome your feedback and input. Please email questions or comments to policy@hrca.on.ca or contact:

Matt Howatt
Manager, Policy & Special Initiatives
905-336-1158, ext. 2311 | policy@hrca.on.ca
www.conservationhalton.ca

Conservation Halton has retained consulting and engineering company, Wood, to update flood hazard mapping and modelling for Tuck, Shoreacres, Appleby and Sheldon Creeks in Burlington and Oakville.

Advances in technology allow us to better understand flood hazards and to develop more accurate flood hazard mapping. It is one of our top priorities to protect life and property from natural hazards and updating flood hazard mapping is one of the ways we do that.

Flood hazard mapping is used by Conservation Halton and municipal partners to identify areas that may be prone to flooding, and to inform flood forecasting, emergency response, community planning, infrastructure upgrades and other flood prevention efforts.

Flood hazards include floodplains and spills. A floodplain is an area of land that is flooded by a nearby creek or lake during large storms. A spill is what occurs when flood waters leave the floodplain and spill into surrounding lands.

Conservation Halton hosted the first public engagement session for the East Burlington Creeks Flood Hazard Mapping Study on October 14, 2021. The virtual Zoom session was attended by about 80 residents. Due to time constraints, we were unable to answer all questions during the session, but we appreciate the high level of public interest in this study. Click here to download a summary of questions and answers from the session

Click here for a status update on the second public engagement session.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, or you would like to be added to the mailing list for this project, please email floodplainmapping@hrca.on.ca or either of the contacts below.

Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

Conservation Halton has retained consulting and engineering company, Greck and Associates, to update flood hazard mapping and modelling for the West Branch of Sixteen Mile Creek in the Town of Milton. Advances in technology allows us to better understand flood hazards and to develop more accurate floodplain mapping. One of Conservation Halton’s top priorities is to protect life and property from natural hazards and updating flood hazard mapping is one of the ways we do that. An important part of the process of updating flood hazard mapping is to inform and engage with residents and other stakeholders in the study area.

Flood hazard mapping is used by Conservation Halton and municipal partners to identify areas that may be susceptible to riverine or shoreline flooding, and to inform flood forecasting, emergency response, community planning, infrastructure upgrades and other flood prevention efforts. Flood hazards include floodplains and spills.  A floodplain is an area of land that is flooded by a nearby creek or lake during large storms. Spills occur when flood waters leave the valley and floodplain and “spill” into surrounding lands, rejoining the watercourse at a distance downstream or moving into another watershed.

Conservation Halton hosted the second public engagement session for the Urban Milton Flood Hazard Mapping Study in March 2020. A summary of the study and draft mapping presented at that time can be found here: Urban Milton Flood Hazard Mapping.

Public Engagement Session 3

To learn more about the Urban Milton Flood Hazard Mapping Study and updated draft flood hazard mapping, Conservation Halton staff held a virtual public engagement session on February 22, 2023.

(You can also click here to download the presentation slides.)

Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become public record.