3. Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of the Stormwater
Impacts Assessment Study was;
• To Identify stormwater related
impacts on McVicar Creek
• To characterize these impacts
through a Unified Stream Assessment
• To identify the 3 most representative
stormwater subwatersheds along the
creek
• To pursue further research on these 3
sites and;
• To develop remediation
recommendations for the 3 identified
sites and McVicar Creek as a whole
4. How to achieve the purpose of the study
An initial assessment was completed
along the entirety of the creek, from
that assessment, the 3 sites were
identified. Further research was
completed to;
• Develop a feasibility criteria of site-
specific stormwater remediation
options for each site
• Implement a decision-support
criterion to identify the most
effective stormwater remedial
options based on; Low Impact
Development (LID), education,
policy/regulation and maintenance
• Produce a remediation option plan
using expert feedback along with
data collection
5. Initial Unified Stream Assessment
Results
The initial Unified Stream Assessment (USA) confirmed the
suspected theory of stormwater pollution being contributed to
McVicar Creek, and proved the need for continued research.
• Stormwater outfalls are in fact contributing to degraded water
quality such as elevated levels of nutrients and metals
• Effects of pollution found to degrade infrastructure integrity,
cause declined aesthetics and cause impairments to aquatic
habitats
• Future research is recommended to assess localized and
detailed stormwater impacts along the creek (RAP, 2010)
6. Detailed Unified Subwatershed and Site
Reconnaissance study
USSR Site Assessment Results
• The results of the USA determined the 3 most representative
sites along the creek for future study; Court Street, Castlegreen
and County Fair
• The USSR study assessed the impacts of stormwater from a
subwatershed perspective based on behaviours within the
terrestrial environment
• The results and recommendations drawn from USSR were used
to complete the final recommendations for remediation options
along the creek.
7. Court Street
Site Characterization:
Residential, 22 hectares,
39% impervious
Concerning Urban Activity:
Home vehicle repair shops,
disconnected rainbarrels and
excess sediment
Water Quality Exceedance:
Chloride, ammonia,
aluminum, cadmium, copper,
iron, vanadium and lead
8. Castlegreen
Site Characterization:
Residential, 7 hectares,
45% impervious
Concerning Urban Activity:
Private gardens, pet
waste and buckling of
street
Water Quality Exceedance:
Chloride, ammonia,
nitrate, aluminum,
copper, iron, lead and
zinc
9. County Fair
Site Characterization:
Commercial/Residential, 20 hectares, 62% impervious
Concerning Urban Activity:
Use of parking lot, presence of gas station, outdoor
garden center and drive-through
Water Quality Exceedance:
Chloride, ammonia, nitrite, copper, iron and zinc
10. Initial USSR Study Resulting
Recommendations
Recommendations:
• Court Street:
• A focus on community education in properly connected rainbarrels,
effects of auto fluids from home vehicle repair shops on the
aquatic environment, and alternative snow removal
• Castlegreen:
• Focus on community education in the effects of gardening
chemicals and pet waste on aquatic systems. Also landscaping of
the 100% impervious parking lots
• County Fair:
• Possible end-of-pipe LID design and policy enforcement and
maintenance on the back mall parking lot
11. Development of Remediation Option Plan
Research was aimed at finalizing a remediation option plan
based on the initial recommendations produced from USSR
• Continued Quantitative data collection on all three sites:
• Water quality testing based on seasonal collection to monitor
water quality discharge into the Creek
• Development of a case study plan based on a possible end-of-
pipe LID on County Fair
• Further water quality testing done upstream and downstream of
outfall, soil nutrient, organic and composition testing and infiltration
rate testing
• This additional testing was to determine if County Fair was a
suitable LID site and aide in final remediation recommendations.
12. Why County Fair as an LID Case Study
Reasons why the County Fair site was selected as a case
study through USSR assessment
• Ownership of the land
• Overall end cost
• Feasibility based on Thunder Bay’s current stormwater
management practices
• Location for optimal community education and outreach and;
• Localized stormwater inputs
14. Results of the Quantitative data
• Court street:
• Continued, concerning elevated
levels of ammonia, nitrate and
chloride
• Castlgreen:
• Continued, concerning elevated
levels of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite
and phosphate
15. Quantitative Results of County Fair
(LID Case Study)
• Concerning water quality
parameters (all locations sampled):
ammonia, nitrate and phosphate
• Soil: Soil testing results showed
relatively suitable soil conditions
(with some engineering alterations)
for a vegetated infiltration LID at the
current wetland, not downstream.
• Infiltration: Infiltration rates at the
current wetland showed suitable
levels for infiltration LID, again, not
downstream
16. Quantitative data not the final say
The quantitative data used throughout this project does not
have the final say in the recommendations, the qualitative
data does….
• The quantitative data used in this research project included the
involvement of a multi-stakeholder group throughout the
process.
• This multi-stakeholder group included representatives from; The
City of Thunder Bay, EcoSuperior, Lakehead University,
Earthwise®,
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario
Ministry of the Environment, The Northshore Steelhead
Association and the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority.
17. Stakeholder Involvement
There were 3 main stages of Stakeholder involvement in
decision-making.
• Stage 1: Introduction
• This included the introduction to the project and background
information.
• Stage 2: Site Visit
• This included a group visit to all three sites with information
provided.
• Stage 3: Workshop
• This included a Multi-Stakeholder Decision Making (MSDM)
workshop structured to produce final remediation
recommendations for this project.
18. Results of the Workshop
The Stakeholders were provided with all known information
on the three sites and asked to complete specific tasks
• Final agreed upon Stormwater Management Objectives for Thunder Bay
• Social:
• Context specific plans
• Ensure community safety
• Economic:
• To internalize the cost of new stormwater management
• Integration of stormwater into asset management plan
• Environmental:
• Reduce surface volume runoff
• Improve quality of runoff
• Increase and enhance integrity
• Political
• Creation and adoption of the stormwater management plan
• Ensure balance between short and long-term planning
• Most of all à CREATE PARTNERSHIPS
19. Final site specific Recommendations from
Stakeholders
• Court Street possible remediation options:
• 1) Increase by-law enforcement
• 2)Community Stewardship initiative
• 3)Adopt LRCA’s previous education strategy
• Most valued recommendation for meeting objectives
• Community education campaign
• Castlegreen possible remediation options
• 1) further investigate pipe system
• 2) Work with the co-op to educate community
• 3) Maintenance on heaving and buckling road
• Most valued recommendation for meeting objectives:
• Partnership with the co-op
• County Fair possible remediation options:
• 1) remove section of pipe, or create end-of-pipe LID
• 2) Educate and partner with land owner to remediate up-land
• 3) Leave alone
• Most valued recommendation for meeting objectives:
• Educate and partner with land owner
20. Final Remediation Recommendations for
McVicar Creek Resulting from this Project
1) First and foremost that the defined objectives for Thunder Bay
stormwater management be considered in all further
stromwater management
2) Before further stormwater remediation plans are pursued on
McVicar Creek that the final recommendations proposed by
Stakeholders are completed; An education and outreach plan
on McVicar Creek watershed hotspots and in the watershed as
a whole
3) That the process used in this research project be referenced to
determine further stormwater remediation options within
Thunder Bay
4) That the baseline data collected in this project be used for any
further LID proposal on the County Fair site