Don Head East Pond and Valleyland Rehabilitation

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Project Background

Don Head East Pond and Valleyland Rehabilitation Study Area Map

The City of Richmond Hill is undertaking the Don Head East Stormwater Pond and Valleyland Rehabilitation Environmental Assessment (“Study”) to determine the best means of rehabilitating the Don Head East Stormwater Management Pond, stream erosion sites and to assess maintenance improvements for the adjacent Pioneer Park Stormwater Management Pond.

The study area is situated along the North Richvale Greenway system (see map). The study will evaluate a range of alternatives to determine the best rehabilitation solution to improve water quality, erosion and prevent flooding in the area.

The Don Head East facility was originally constructed in the early 1980s as part of the Don Head Village subdivision, south of Major MacKenzie Drive between Bathurst Street and Yonge Street. The facility receives drainage from the surrounding residential homes, as well as upstream drainage conveyed by the Upper East Don River, a total of more than 800 hectares. The section of river within this valleyland has experienced issues such as erosion, debris jams and inadequate fish passage.

The need to rehabilitate the facility and associated valleyland has been identified in a number of studies and maintenance and inspection activities conducted by the City.

This study will be conducted under Schedule B of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process.

What is a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment?

A Municipal Class Environment Assessment (EA) is a process by which municipal infrastructure projects are planned, in accordance with the EA Act (2000).

Purpose

The Class EA study is important to the decision making process for municipal infrastructure projects as it evaluates the potential positive and negative environmental impacts of road, water and wastewater projects. It assists in the protection, conservation and wise management of Ontario’s environment. Public consultation at various phases is an integral part of the process.

Phases

The Class EA process consists of five phases, as follows:

Phase 1 – Identify problems and opportunities
Phase 2 – Identify alternative solutions and establish a preferred solution
Phase 3 – Examine alternative design concepts and establish a preferred design concept
Phase 4 – Prepare an Environmental Study Project File Report
Phase 5 – Implementation

Municipal infrastructure projects have varying levels of complexity and sensitivity to environmental impact, and as such, projects are classified in terms of schedule (i.e., Schedule A, A+, B and C). Depending on the Class EA Schedule, projects may not be required to complete all five phases of the Class EA process prior to implementation.

This project will undergo a Schedule B Class EA, requiring the consideration of Phases 1 and 2. Schedule B projects have potential for some environmental impact. They identify and assess alternative solutions to the problem, inventory impacts, and select a preferred solution, while including contact with relevant agencies and affected members of the public.

Project File Report

A Project File Report will be prepared, which will describe the project background information and will detail the evaluation of the possible options for the area, as well as the conceptual designs for the preferred solutions.

Public Communications and Consultation

Notice of Commencement

A Notice of Commencement for this project was mailed to adjacent residents on February 4, 2021. An online version is published here.

Notice of Commencement

Public Open House

To facilitate community input, a Public Open House will be held later in 2021. The notice of the open house will be mailed to homes in the nearby neighbourhood and posted here.

Questions or Comments

Please submit written questions or comments to the contact listed below. For more information regarding submissions and the collection of information, please contact one of the Study Team members:

Ms. Kristina Delidjakova, M.Sc.
Coordinator, Water Resources

Infrastructure and Engineering
City of Richmond Hill
225 East Beaver Creek Road
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3P4
Tel: 905-771-5539
kristina.delidjakova@richmondhill.ca

Mr. Steve Hollingworth, P.Eng.
Consultant Project Manager

The Municipal Infrastructure Group Ltd.
8800 Dufferin Street, Suite 200
Vaughan, ON L4K 0C5
Tel: 905-738-5700 ext. 359
shollingworth@tmig.ca

Any personal information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25, the Environmental Assessment Act, R.S.O 1990, c. E.18 and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56. The City collects this information to enable it to make an informed decision on the relevant issue(s). Individuals who submit correspondence should be aware that any personal information in their communication will become part of the public record. The City will make it available to the public, unless the individual expressly requests the City to remove the personal information from the public record. Questions about the collection of this information may be directed to Kristina Delidjakova, at 905-771-5539, 225 East Beaver Creek Rd, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 3P4.

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