Restoring Local Creeks: North Strasburg Creek

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We are changing North Strasburg Creek to restore its natural flow and reduce erosion. The creek is currently lined with concrete between McIntyre Place and Strasburg Road. We will remove the concrete lining and replace it with natural materials.

The City of Kitchener has hired Aquafor Beech Limited, an engineering consulting firm, to restore this section of the creek. We are designing a solution that:

  • Reduces future flood risks,
  • Protects and improves water quality,
  • Addresses erosion,
  • Restores habitat for fish, amphibians, and birds, and
  • Protects infrastructure near the creek

These changes will support the brook trout and other diverse species in North Strasburg Creek. Brook trout is a species of fish found in more sensitive cold-water creek systems. They are rare in Kitchener. Though North Strasburg is not a cold-water creek, we manage it as if it is to protect the cold-water species that live there. We have already improved three stormwater ponds along this creek’s path to help with cooling, water quality and flood risk. This project will further our work to protect and restore this important creek.

For more information on this project, please read the project background and the Frequently Asked Questions.

Stay Informed

If you have any questions or comments about the project, please use the Questions tool or contact the project team.

Subscribe for updates and be the first to know about news and information about this project. Add your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe’.

We are changing North Strasburg Creek to restore its natural flow and reduce erosion. The creek is currently lined with concrete between McIntyre Place and Strasburg Road. We will remove the concrete lining and replace it with natural materials.

The City of Kitchener has hired Aquafor Beech Limited, an engineering consulting firm, to restore this section of the creek. We are designing a solution that:

  • Reduces future flood risks,
  • Protects and improves water quality,
  • Addresses erosion,
  • Restores habitat for fish, amphibians, and birds, and
  • Protects infrastructure near the creek

These changes will support the brook trout and other diverse species in North Strasburg Creek. Brook trout is a species of fish found in more sensitive cold-water creek systems. They are rare in Kitchener. Though North Strasburg is not a cold-water creek, we manage it as if it is to protect the cold-water species that live there. We have already improved three stormwater ponds along this creek’s path to help with cooling, water quality and flood risk. This project will further our work to protect and restore this important creek.

For more information on this project, please read the project background and the Frequently Asked Questions.

Stay Informed

If you have any questions or comments about the project, please use the Questions tool or contact the project team.

Subscribe for updates and be the first to know about news and information about this project. Add your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe’.

  • Open house materials available, share your feedback

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    Thank you to everyone who attended our Virtual Open House on April 4. Check out the presentation materials and tell us what you think! The presentation materials include:

    • Project background and timeline
    • Three alternative solutions for channel design
    • Evaluation criteria that will be used to assess the alternatives

    View the presentation slides

    Whether you attended the open house or not, we want your feedback through our online survey. Please fill out our survey so we can hear what you think about the design options.

    Answer the survey

    The survey closes May 3, and we would love to hear from you!


  • Join the Virtual Open House on Apr. 4

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    The City of Kitchener is hosting a live virtual open house. Staff and consultants will present proposed designs for restoring North Strasburg Creek. We want to hear from you!

    When: Thursday, Apr. 4 at 6:30 p.m.

    Where: Via Zoom. You must register for the Zoom meeting to receive the direct link and Meeting ID.

    Alternate formats, communication supports, and accommodations are also available. If you require an accessible document or support to participate in this event, please inform Michaela Jennings at StrasburgCreek@kitchener.ca or 519-741-2600 x 4057 (TTY:1-866-969-9994)/

    How To Join

    Online

    Register for the meeting any time before the start of the meeting

    You will receive a meeting link from Zoom once you register and will automatically be reminded by email about the event.

    You may join the meeting as early as 15 minutes before it is scheduled to start.

    You can still attend the meeting after it starts. You will still be required to register to receive the meeting link to join.

    By Phone

    You do not need to register in advance if you join by a traditional phone call. Joining this way will only allow you to hear the meeting, you will not be able to view the presentation.

    To join by phone call +1 647 374 4685 followed by the webinar ID 642 1558 1878.

    You will be admitted to the meeting when it is scheduled to start.

  • Project background

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    In 2016, the City of Kitchener Council approved a stormwater master plan. This plan created a strategy to manage stormwater for the next 15 years. This plan showed us that only 25 percent of runoff in the city is managed through stormwater facilities. This means that 75 percent of runoff from heavy rainfall and snow melt flows into storm sewers, contaminating local creeks.

    The master plan identified initial concepts for the installation of projects across Kitchener. We consulted city-wide on the stormwater master plan. That consultation met the needs of the master plan. But as we look closer at specific projects, we need to consult further with the community.

    The Government of Canada awarded us nearly $50 million through the Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund. Access to this funding means we can make stormwater improvements at a reduced cost to the community. And we can do this much sooner than possible without the funding. We need to comply with funding requirements, which places an extra constraint on these projects.


Page last updated: 29 Apr 2024, 05:03 PM