Online mapping provides information about our watershed, including Conservation Halton Parks and other properties, including the Niagara Escarpment and the Greenbelt, as well as our Approximate Regulation Limit mapping.
Over the past few years, Conservation Halton has embarked on a major review and update of our regulatory mapping (e.g., flood hazard mapping, wetland mapping, watercourse mapping, etc.). Updates to technical studies and modelling, using new tools and technologies, help us to better understand the nature and extent of existing hazards and/or wetlands. Mapping is a dynamic process. As mapping reviews and updates progress, refinements to the Approximate Regulation Limit mapping will be necessary, as additional hazard or regulated areas may be identified or removed.
Conservation Halton developed a protocol to establish at what point in the mapping update process will the draft data or mapping be considered “best available information” for understanding the extent of the hazard, assessing potential risk to life and property, identifying potential interference to a wetland, identifying areas requiring further analysis, making decisions when development is contemplated in hazardous or regulated areas and administering Ontario Regulation 162/06. The Mapping Implementation Protocol establishes the key stages in the mapping update and study process, what data will be used at each stage of the process, how the data will be presented in online mapping, when the data can be used for administering Ontario Regulation 162/06, and when public and stakeholder engagement will occur.
The Conservation Halton Board of Directors endorsed the Mapping Implementation Protocol Report for use on November 26, 2021.
The Floodplain Mapping program is responsible for updating and maintaining watershed floodplain mapping, which identifies flood risk and hazards. This information is used to develop approximate regulation limit mapping for purposes of review associated with Ontario Regulation 162/06, as well as used to support flood risk management decisions and communications
The first step to reducing the impact of flood damage within a community is to have mapping that helps us identify flood hazards, accurately. Conservation Halton is working with our partners to reduce flood risk in our communities by updating our floodplain maps, some of which are more than 20 years old. Updates to technical studies and modelling, using new tools and technologies, help us to better understand the extent of flood hazards. As mapping reviews and updates progress, refinements to Approximate Regulation Limit mapping will be necessary, as additional hazard or regulated areas may be identified and some may be removed.
How can you get involved?
Conservation Halton encourages the public to participate in flood hazard mapping studies. Public involvement provides greater certainty and transparency for the floodplain mapping program, and it benefits from receiving observations about the watershed from the people who experience these watershed conditions.
We host public engagement sessions on floodplain mapping studies to notify the public and stakeholders that a study is occurring in their area and to share information on the study process and draft mapping updates for review and input. Floodplain mapping study notifications and updates on public engagement are published in community newspapers and posted on the Conservation Halton website and social media. You can also request to be added to the email contact list for the study to receive direct notifications.
Recent Mapping 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.
Charles Priddle, Ph.D. Manager, Regulations Program Conservation Halton 905.336.1158 ext. 2276 cpriddle@hrca.on.ca |
Umar Malik, M.Eng., P.Eng. Stormwater Engineer City of Burlington 905.335.7600 ext. 7426 umar.malik@burlington.ca |
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.
Matt Howatt Manager, Policy & Special Initiatives Conservation Halton 905.336.1158 ext. 2311 | mhowatt@hrca.on.ca |
Amy Mayes, P.Eng. Coordinator, Floodplain Mapping Conservation Halton 905.336.1158 ext. 2302 | amayes@hrca.on.ca |
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.)
The draft study report and mapping are available for review (please use the links above) and feedback is requested by March 18, 2023. After the 30-day public review period, Conservation Halton will review all feedback received and make any necessary revisions to the draft flood hazard mapping. It is anticipated that the final draft mapping and study will be presented to the Conservation Halton Board of Directors for their approval and inclusion in online Approximate Regulation Limit mapping in Spring 2023.
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.
Matt Howatt Manager, Policy & Special Initiatives Conservation Halton 905.336.1158 ext. 2311 | mhowatt@hrca.on.ca |
Amy Mayes, P.Eng. Coordinator, Floodplain Mapping Conservation Halton 905.336.1158 ext. 2302 | amayes@hrca.on.ca |