Kanata West Development & Flooding
Meredith Brown - Wednesday, September 23, 2009
City trades health of waterways for more developable land – bad deal for residents
Tributaries play an important and understated role in the ecological health of our rivers and our communities. Small waterways – like tributaries of the Carp River – help store and transport stormwater away from developed (urban and suburban) areas, therefore reducing the risk of flooding. Because of the continued disregard for small tributaries, wetlands and floodplains while developing land, the health of our urban rivers and our communities are at risk. Basements and neighbourhoods flooded with sewage and stormwater pose threats to public health and safety. And yet, the City of Ottawa continues to allow aggressive development in areas like Kanata West, and continues to alter natural watercourses and floodplains for the purpose of increasing developable land… for the purpose of economic gain. Will the revenue from an increased tax base ultimately exceed the liability the City may face if the safety of private property and public health is jeopardized?
Bad practices and changing climate give rise to risky conditions
The July 24, 2009 flooding of homes in Kanata West was the third significant flooding incident in this region in thirteen years. During this rainfall event, pumping stations operated at or above capacity and as a result, two stations overflowed and basements were flooded.
Several practices in this region that raise my eyebrows are:
• The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority has authorized fill and development in the floodplain of the Carp River.
• Development projects are being approved based on old and outdated floodplain levels, and models that do not simulate the changing hydrological conditions of these communities after large-scale development.
• Class environmental assessments are not being coordinated on a sub-watershed level, thus making it difficult to assess the cumulative burden on municipal infrastructure and local rivers.
• Developers (and their consultants) are responsible for quality assurance and construction of this vital infrastructure.
• Infiltration of groundwater into pipes is not being taken into consideration when models are run to predict the storage capabilities in the area; hence the infrastructure cannot handle the true loads.
If our current wastewater infrastructure is failing to meet demands of today, why is more development in this area being approved? Who is acting in the best interests of the existing home owners and new home buyers in this area? Many of these flooded properties were developed in historically low-lying areas where nearby tributaries were destroyed. We know that there is a desire to further develop within the Carp River Watershed, thus creating more stormwater runoff. We know that our climate is changing and we must be prepared for more frequent, intense storms (read: more stormwater to deal with). We know that our sewage collector pipes leak and infiltrate groundwater, taking up precious capacity. We must take ALL of these factors into consideration when planning development.
Prevention is the preferred approach
The Province has empowered municipalities to assume responsibilities for the management of flood risk areas, the associated liability and the risk relative to planning for new land uses in and around these areas. The Province recognizes that the management of flood susceptible lands involves a combination of three main program components:
i) Prevention, by land use planning and regulation of development;
ii) Protection, by applying structural and non-structural measures and acquisition; and
iii) Emergency response, by flood forecasting/warning and flood/erosion disaster relief.
I couldn’t agree more with the Province’s recommendation that “prevention is the preferred method for the management of flood plain lands”. In Kanata West it seems that the City is relying heavily on protection and underestimating the importance of prevention.
Establish a moratorium on development
The flooding in Kanata could most likely have been avoided through better planning. Increasing the amount of developable land cannot come at the expense of people living in these areas. In Kanata West, there is still a great deal of uncertainty about flood levels, storm water management, and our future needs resulting from changing weather patterns and increased precipitation. Until all of the above is appropriately assessed and a more sustainable forward-thinking plan is put in place, there is a continued risk to public health, safety and private property. Establishing a moratorium on development in the Carp River watershed is the only acceptable next step for the City of Ottawa. While the moratorium remains in effect, a concerted effort should be made to ensure that future development is consistent with more sustainable stormwater and floodplain policies and guidelines. This is the responsible and prudent course of action, and is a necessary step towards protecting home owners and the integrity of our local streams.
Going green, or seeing green?
Why is our city reluctant to demand responsible, low-impact development? Cities across North America have been implementing low-impact development (LID) strategies for decades. In Toronto, for example, city council is considering a by-law that would make it mandatory for buildings with a large surface area to incorporate green roof initiatives. Yet, here in Ottawa, we’re seemingly unwilling to implement the sustainability measures necessary to ensure public health and the health of our local environment. How long will it take for Ottawa to catch up and begin implementing the principles of smart growth? The City of Ottawa must protect the public interest in matters of public health and safety, and must take the risks posed by flooding seriously. Putting our future in the hands of developers, motivated by economic means, is unjust and irresponsible. We need leadership and foresight to develop responsibly.
Homeowners to foot the bill for city negligence?
A recent statement by City of Ottawa lawyers implying that the city is not responsible for damages to private property (resulting from sewer overflows and flooding) is extremely questionable. The area of Kanata West has experienced flooding many times since 1990, and the issue of developing in floodplains been raised at all levels of government. The City of Ottawa has continued to approve development in the Carp River watershed, putting homeowners in other areas (including Glen Cairn) in harms way. Residents of Kanata West have been failed by over burdened municipal infrastructure, time and time again. Now, residents are being failed by a municipal government refusing to accept responsibility.
Thank you, Councillor Feltmate – anyone else care to join?
Our democratic processes offer a valuable gift; the right to choose those who will best represent us – represent the interests of our citizens and our communities. Councillor Peggy Feltmate (Kanata South) is fulfilling her obligation to support the needs of her constituents and to speak out on their behalf. The City’s reluctance to adopt more sustainable building practices is an issue that affects us all. Continued development ignores the needs of all of our communities, and Councillors who support old and failing methods are not acting in the best interest of their constituents.
Take responsibility and take action:
Practice and Enforce Sustainable Low-Impact Development
1. Smart development can decrease incidents of flooding and infrastructure failures
2. Coordinating environmental assessments will flag problematic development planning
3. Establish a longer-term moratorium on development in Kanata West until the needs of the community are properly assessed
4. Accept short term losses and expenditures for longer term gains – invest in low-impact development now instead of spending on clean-up costs, legal costs and further review and study of problematic development areas
Nature is not ours to challenge. We need to stop allowing the irresponsible development practices that forever change the course of our waterways and put our communities and residents unnecessarily at risk. We need to demand responsible decision making from our city, city councillors and regulators. We need the leadership and foresight that will guide us through future challenges, changing climate and changing needs. We need to advocate for what is in the best interests of our community – and we need to be sure our governments, those working for us, do the same.
Meredith Brown, Executive Director and Ottawa Riverkeeper