The study
The City of Kitchener (the City) retained Matrix Solutions Inc. (Matrix) to provide a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for flood risk reduction in the Hidden Valley Creek subwatershed. There are several flood vulnerable areas and erosion vulnerable reaches in the downstream portion of the Hidden Valley Creek subwatershed close to Hidden Valley Road. This EA was undertaken to define a flood risk reduction solution to reduce existing flood risks and support future development in the Hidden Valley community.
Study area
The Hidden Valley Creek subwatershed, located in southeast Kitchener, is approximately 2 km squared and contains a large wetland and woodland environmental complex with notable classifications of Environmentally Sensitive Policy Area (ESPA) and Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW). In addition to being an environmentally sensitive area, the Hidden Valley ESPA/PSW is the hydrologically dominant feature in the subwatershed.
The area downstream of the Hidden Valley ESPA/PSW has experienced flood and erosion impacts related to both specific rainfall-runoff events and/or the release of natural debris-blockages (e.g., beaver dams) within the wetland feature.
The process and results
The project is being carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act and it is being planned under Schedule B.
Matrix conducted a detailed background review and hydrologic/hydraulic analysis of the study area to identify potential solutions to reduce flood hazard. In consultation with the public, agencies, and Indigenous communities, four (4) alternative solutions were evaluated to identify a preferred design concept to address the flood risk.
The preferred design concept includes replacing the culvert at Hidden Valley Road to increase the conveyance capacity, lower the water surface elevation upstream and reduce the frequency of floods overtopping the road.
Project file
The City has completed a Project File Report, which documents public and government agency consultation; the development and evaluation of project alternatives; an assessment of the impacts of the proposed improvements; identification of measures to mitigate any adverse environmental effects; and commitments to any additional investigations and consultation in subsequent project phases.
View the report
Interested persons may provide written comments to our project team by May 13, 2024. All comments are requested to be sent directly to the Project Contacts listed below. Previous study information, including the Public Information Centre, is available on the above webpage.
Monica Mazur, M.Sc., P.Eng.
Project Manager, Development Engineering
City of Kitchener
200 King Street West, P.O. Box 1118 Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
(519)-741-2600
hiddenvalley@kitchener.ca
Karen Hofbauer, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Consultant Project Manager
Matrix Solutions Inc.
650 Woodlawn Road West, Unit 7B
Guelph, ON N1K 1B8
(226)-314-1932
khofbauer@matrix-solutions.com
In addition, a request may be made to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for an order requiring a higher level of study (i.e., requiring an individual/comprehensive EA approval before being able to proceed), or that conditions be imposed (e.g., require further studies), only on the grounds that the requested order may prevent, mitigate, or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. Requests on other grounds will not be considered.
Requests should include the requester contact information and full name. Requests should specify what kind of order is being requested (request for conditions or a request for an individual/comprehensive EA); how an order may prevent, mitigate, or remedy potential adverse impacts on Aboriginal and treaty rights; and any information in support of the statements in the request. This will ensure that the Ministry is able to efficiently begin reviewing the request.
The request should be sent in writing or by email to:
Minister Jeff Yurek
Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks
777 Bay Street, 5th Floor
Toronto ON M7A 2J3
minister.mecp@ontario.ca
and
Director, Environmental Assessment Branch
Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks
135 St. Clair Ave. W, 1st Floor
Toronto ON M4V 1P5
EABDirector@ontario.ca
Requests should also be copied to Monica Mazur and/or Karen Hofbauer by mail or by e-mail. Please visit the Ministry’s website for more information on requests for orders under section 16 of the Environmental Assessment Act.
All personal information included in your request – such as name, address, telephone number and property location – is collected, under the authority of Section 30 of the Environmental Assessment Act and in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and is maintained for the purpose of creating a record that is available to the general public. With the exception of personal information, all comments shall become part of the public record.
This project is being undertaken in accordance with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process (MEA, 2000 as amended in 2007, 2011, and 2015). Results are documented in this Environmental Assessment, which has been submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks for review. For details on this process, please refer to the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment website or contact the City Project Manager.
This Notice of Completion was first issued on April 12, 2024
