2.

Problem Statement and Rationale

2.1

Study Purpose

The purpose of the Upper Strasburg Creek Class Environmental Assessment (EA) is to
resolve floodplain and major flow control issues under existing conditions, upstream of
Fischer-Hallman Road by determining which modifications may be required to the
Strasburg Creek Culvert at Fischer-Hallman Road. Modifications to the culvert may be
required to reduce the regional storm flood elevation to a maximum of 335 m. The GRCA
determination of this level of required flood control is attached in Appendix B. The
alternatives selected to resolve the floodplain and flow control issues are also required to
maintain the regional peak flow in Strasburg Creek at Fischer-Hallman Road below the
current allowable peak flow of 12.7 m3/s, to protect the sensitive downstream environment.
This study is important for the following reasons:

The area is an important groundwater recharge area for the Regional water supply wells
and the Mannheim ASR system. Approximately 25 percent of the water supply for the
Integrated Urban System water supply capacity for Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo
comes from the Mannheim East, West, and Peaking well fields.

A restricted culvert underneath Fischer-Hallman Road poses a potential flood risk to

lands upstream of the Fischer-Hallman culvert to an elevation of 335 m.

Strasburg Creek, downstream of Fischer-Hallman Road, is a sensitive coldwater stream.

It is anticipated that urban development (including residential development) will occur

in the Upper Strasburg watershed within the new City of Kitchener urban boundary.

2.2

Study Objectives

The Upper Strasburg Creek Class EA objectives are to address the flooding concerns, which are
a result of the existing configuration of the Fischer-Hallman culvert, under existing site
conditions.
The following is the specific objective for the culvert:

Resolve existing floodplain and major flow control issues for the study area upstream of
Fischer-Hallman Road, considering various options for a culvert upgrade at FischerHallman Road.

2.3

Study Approach

The detailed steps completed for this Class EA were, as follows:

Phase 1
Identify the problem
Notify the public and government agencies of study commencement

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2-1

UPPER STRASBURG CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DRAFT REPORT

Phase 2
Identify alternative solutions to the problem
Describe environmental conditions in the study area
Evaluate alternative solutions
Develop a preferred solution
Seek public and agency input concerning the assessment and recommended solution
Revise and finalize the preferred solution

Documentation and filing

Prepare a Schedule B Class EA report, which documents the study process, findings,
preferred solution, and consultation efforts
Notify the public and government review agencies of completion of the project and
make report accessible for review period.

2.4

Study Area Delineation

The general study area for this project includes the lands within the Upper Strasburg Creek
Watershed, as Figure 2-1 shows. Strasburg Creek is located in the southwest part of the City
of Kitchener. The entire drainage basin covers an area of approximately 14 km2 and
eventually discharges to Schneider Creek, 2 km upstream from the Grand River.
That section of the Upper Strasburg Creek, which is the specific focus of this Class EA, is the
portion of the watershed above Fischer-Hallman Road immediately adjacent to the Alder
Creek watershed. Figure 2-2 shows the relationship of the Strasburg Creek watershed to the
Alder watershed. This portion of the Upper Strasburg Creek watershed is located in the
Waterloo Moraine and contains a significant amount of depression storage due to its
hummocky terrain.

2.5

Linkage to the Alder Creek Watershed Study

The Alder Creek Watershed Study and Upper Strasburg Subwatershed Plan Update, and
the Upper Strasburg Creek Class EA, have been initiated to develop an understanding of
issues related to sustainable development and the balancing of interests in regard to
resource use. The two watershed areas are adjacent to one another and have recognized
interrelationships between groundwater systems and surface water systems. As a result, the
two studies have been carried out together. Given that these studies recognize the
interrelationship between the combined watersheds of Alder Creek and Upper Strasburg
Creek, the approach for watershed management and planning presented in the reports
provides added value by linking the needs of both watersheds, especially in light of the
interrelationship of the groundwater systems in the upper most part of the two watersheds.
The following interests are a priority to each study proponent:

2-2

Region of Waterloo Protecting groundwater and recharge areas

City of Kitchener Carefully managing urbanization
Preserving natural heritage resources
GRCA Managing flood risk and preserving natural heritage resources

122219T111_W122003003KWO

UPPER STRASBURG CREEK EA

Figure 2-1 Upper Strasburg Creek
Subwatershed Boundary and Study Area
122219T111_W122003003KWO

UPPER STRASBURG CREEK EA

Figure 2-2 Alder Creek and Upper
Strasburg Creek Subwatershed Boundaries

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2. PROBLEM STATEMENT AND RATIONALE

To incorporate these interests and provide value, the watershed planning exercise has
resulted in a plan that:

Addresses the need to understand the areas of priority management.

Supports the need to incorporate Official Plan requirements and the development of
land use guidelines that will support the water supply.

Supports and incorporates the water needs of natural heritage resources.

Addresses the issues associated with encroachment in the floodplain zones.

The combined studies consisted of numerous components that were carried out to
complete the various elements of the Alder Creek Watershed Study and Upper
Strasburg Subwatershed Plan Update, and the Upper Strasburg Creek Class
Environmental Assessment. Figure 2-3 shows these components.

FIGURE 2-3
ALDER CREEK WATERSHED STUDY AND UPPER STRASBURG CREEK SUBWATERSHED PLAN UPDATE
Major Task 1
Alder
AlderCreek
CreekWatershed
Watershed
Management
ManagementPlan
Plan

Surface
SurfaceWater
Water
Management
Management

Groundwater
Groundwater
Protection
ProtectionPlan
Plan

Major Task 2

Major Task 3

Natural
Heritage
Study
Natural
Heritage
Study

Alder
AlderCreek
Creek
Natural
NaturalHeritage
Heritage
Study
Study

Upper
Strasburg
UpperStrasburg
Creek
CreekNatural
Natural
Heritage
HeritageStudy
Study

Mapping
Mapping

Wetlands
Wetlands
Evaluation
Evaluation

Alder
Creek
andand
Upper
Strasburg
Alder
Creek
Upper
Strasburg
CreekSubwatershed
Management
CreekSubwatershedManagement
Strategy
and
Class
Strategy and ClassEA
EA

Phase
PhaseI I
Background
Background
Review
Reviewand
and
Needs
NeedsStatement
Statement

Strasburg
Creek
StrasburgCreek
Water
WaterBalance
Balance

Public
PublicConsultation
Consultation

Open
OpenHouse
House
#1
#1

Strasburg
Creek
StrasburgCreek
Flow
FlowSensitivity
Sensitivity
Phase
PhaseIIII
Evaluation
Evaluationofof
SWM
SWMAlternatives
Alternatives

Alder
AlderCreek
Creek
Management
ManagementPlan
Plan

Major Task 4

Open
OpenHouse
House
Class
ClassEA
EA

EIS
EIS

Workshop
Workshop

Recommended
Recommended
SWM
SWMStrategy
Strategy

Open
OpenHouse
House
#2
#2

Alder
AlderCreek
Creekand
andUpper
Upper
Strasburg
Creek
StrasburgCreek
Management
Plan
Management
Plan

122219T111_W122003003KWO

2-5