Hidden Valley Flood Risk Reduction Environmental Assessment

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

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Public Information Centre earlier this month. If you were unable to make it, here are the materials we shared: Hidden Valley Flood Risk Reduction PIC boards.

Your input on this study is valuable and appreciated. Please review those materials and, if you have any feedback, email your comments to the project team. We are able to accept comments until October 30, 2023.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the project newsletter to get updates. Add your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe’.

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 is being undertaken to define a flood risk reduction solution to reduce existing flood risks and support future development in the Hidden Valley community. The project is being carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act and is planned under Schedule B. The intent of this project is to identify alternative solutions to reduce the flood hazard in the vulnerable downstream reaches of the Hidden Valley Creek subwatershed.

Public Information Centre

October 12, 2023
Drop-in from 5 to 8 p.m.
Centreville Chicopee Community Center
(141 Morgan Avenue, Kitchener)

A key component of the EA process is consultation with interested stakeholders (public, landowners, and agencies). As part of this study, consultation is being undertaken, and your participation is encouraged. A Public Information Centre (PIC) is planned to:

• share the study background
• explain the Environmental Assessment process
• outline existing conditions
• evaluation criteria
• and the alternative solutions

We’d like to hear from you

Your input is important to us and can shape the project decision. We invite you to join our upcoming PIC to learn more about the alternative solutions, ask our team questions, and provide feedback. Listening to, and learning from First Nations, residents and stakeholders is part of the process. If you are unable to attend the PIC, the presentation boards will be made available on this webpage.

To submit a comment or question via email, or if you have accessibility requirements to comment on the study, please contact one of the representatives below:

Monica Mazur, M.Sc., P.Eng.

Project Manager (Development Engineering)

City of Kitchener

Phone: 519-741-2600 ext. 7135

hiddenvalley@kitchener.ca

Karen Hofbauer, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.

Principal Water Resources Engineer Matrix Solutions Inc.

Phone: 226-314-1932

Email: khofbauer@matrix-solutions.com

Please note that comments will be maintained for reference throughout the project and will become part of the public record. Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, any personal information such as name, address, and telephone number included in a submission will become part of the public record unless the comments specifically request that such personal details not be included in the public record.

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Hidden Valley Flood Risk Reduction

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 is being undertaken to define a flood risk reduction solution to reduce existing flood risks and support future development in the Hidden Valley community.

The Process

The project is being carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act and it is being planned under Schedule B. The intent of this project is to identify solutions and design alternatives to reduce the flood hazard in the vulnerable downstream reaches of the Hidden Valley Creek subwatershed. A key component of the EA process will be consultation with interested stakeholders (public, landowners, and agencies).

Matrix will conduct a detailed background review and hydrologic/hydraulic analysis of the study area and identify potential solutions to reduce flood hazard. Upon completion of the analysis, Matrix will prepare a Project Report for the City and for submission to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), which will be available for public review for a period of 30 calendar days. All interested parties will have an opportunity to attend a Public Information Centre (PIC) meeting hosted prior to the final decisions on the proposed solutions. Notification of the PIC will be provided through email and postings on the City’s website.

Study Area

The Hidden Valley Creek subwatershed is approximately 200 ha located in southeast Kitchener (see Figure 1). The Hidden Valley Creek subwatershed contains a large wetland/woodland environmental complex, which holds classifications of a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW), Environmentally Sensitive Policy Area (ESPA), and Core Environmental Feature (CEF). Within the study area there are Regionally Significant Woodland and Significant Valley, species at risk habitat, and a warmwater fishery. In addition to being an environmentally sensitive area, the Hidden Valley ESPA/PSW is the hydrologically dominant landscape feature in the subwatershed.

The area downstream of the Hidden Valley ESPA/PSW has experienced past flood and erosion impacts related to both specific rainfall-runoff events and/or the release of natural debris-blockages (e.g., beaver dams or natural debris jams) within the wetland feature.

Public Feedback

Public, Indigenous, and agency consultation is a key component of the Class EA process, and Matrix is interested in hearing any comments or concerns that you may have about this study.

To submit a comment or question via email, or if you have accessibility requirements to comment on the study, please contact one of the representatives below:

Monica Mazur, M.Sc., P.Eng.

Project Manager (Development Engineering)

City of Kitchener

Phone: 519-741-2600 ext. 7135

hiddenvalley@kitchener.ca

Karen Hofbauer, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.

Principal Water Resources Engineer Matrix Solutions Inc.

Phone: 226-314-1932

Email: khofbauer@matrix-solutions.com

Please note that comments will be maintained for reference throughout the project and will become part of the public record. Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, any personal information such as name, address, and telephone number included in a submission will become part of the public record unless the comments specifically request that such personal details not be included in the public record.