Integrated Stormwater Master Plan
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City of Merritt Integrated Stormwater Master Plan REPORT CONFIDENTIALITY AND © COPYRIGHT This document is for the sole use of the addressee and Associated Engineering (B.C.) Ltd. The document contains proprietary and confidential information that shall not be reproduced in any manner or disclosed to or discussed with any other parties without the express written permission of Associated Engineering (B.C.) Ltd. Information in this document is to be considered the intellectual property of Associated Engineering (B.C.) Ltd. in accordance with Canadian copyright law. This report was prepared by Associated Engineering (B.C.) Ltd. for the account of City of Merritt. The material in it reflects Associated Engineering (B.C.) Ltd.’s best judgement, in the light of the information available to it, at the time of preparation. Any use which a third party makes of this report, or any reliance on or decisions to be made based on it, are the responsibility of such third parties. Associated Engineering (B.C.) Ltd. accepts no responsibility for damages, if any, suffered by any third party as a result of decisions made or actions based on this report. REPORT Table of Contents SECTION PAGE NO. Table of Contents i 1 General 1-1 1.1 Introduction 1-1 1.2 Background/Project Overview 1-1 1.3 Project Participants 1-2 1.4 Goals and Objectives 1-3 1.5 Work Plan 1-4 2 Summary of Observations 2-1 2.1 Field Reconnaissance 2-1 2.2 Existing Stormwater System and Standards 2-1 2.3 Data Collection 2-1 2.4 Hydrogeology 2-1 2.5 Natural Hazards 2-2 2.6 Environmental Considerations 2-3 2.7 Stormwater Quality Issues 2-4 3 Stormwater Model 3-1 3.1 Stormwater Model Development 3-1 3.2 Long Range Capital Improvements 3-3 4 Recommended Tasks 4-1 4.1 Protect the Merritt Drinking Water Aquifer 4-1 4.2 Stormwater Quality Monitoring 4-1 4.3 Protect Public Safety and Avoid Natural Hazards 4-2 4.4 Environmental Considerations 4-2 4.5 Information and Data Gaps 4-4 5 Recommended Best Management Practices 5-1 5.1 Urban Residential Lots 5-1 5.2 Industrial, Commercial and Multiple Residential Lots 5-1 5.3 Local and Collector Road Rights-of-Way 5-1 5.4 Arrterial Road Rights-of-Way 5-2 5.5 Stormwater Management Ponds 5-2 i City of Merritt 5.6 Riparian Areas 5-2 6 Implementation Plan 6-1 6.1 Funding Sources 6-6 6.2 Checklists for Development and Re-Development Projects 6-6 6.3 Incentives 6-6 6.4 Recommended Changes to City Bylaws and Documents 6-6 7 Conclusions and Recommendations 7-1 References Certification Page Appendix A - Hydrogeological Assessment Appendix B - Natural Hazard Review Appendix C - Aquatic and Terrestrial Species Habitat Review Appendix D - Water Quality Review Appendix E - Model Construction and Calibration Assumptions - GeoAdvice Appendix F - Model Results - GeoAdvice Appendix G - Long Term Capital Improvements ii p:\20122231\00_sw_plan\engineering\03.02_conceptual_feasibility_report\summary report\rpt_mer_ismp.docx REPORT 1 General 1.1 INTRODUCTION Associated Engineering was retained by the City of Merritt to complete an Integrateed Stormwater Master Plan (ISMP). The objective of an ISMP is to monitor, deveelop strategies and conceive plans to manage stormwater consistent with the planning objectives of the City of Merritt, while adhering to the ISMP Terms of Reference Template prepared by the Ministry of Environment. Summit Environmental Consultants Inc. (Summit), develooped the environmental components of the ISMP. Summit completed aquatic, terrestrial, groundwater, and hydro-geological assessments, gaining information pertaining to fish and wildlife values, examine soil conditions, and identify general areas that may allow for small, medium, and large scale infiltration practices within the study areea. Field information was collected to assess the quality and quantity of fish and wildlife habitat present, provide information on potentially sensitive habitat areas, and assess erosion or sedimentation concerns within the watershed. GeoAdvice Ltd. of Langley, BC, produced a model of the current stormwater layout using InfoSWMM, incorporating the information researched by Summit Environmental and ground reconnaissance work completed by Associated Engineering. Once calibrated, a future scenario was modeled based on future development plans obtained by the City and included in the City’s latest Official Community Plan. Results from the model process were used to determine where capital upgrades may be required to meet capacity needs into the future. The ISMP will seek to improve the overall watershed systeem by preserving aquatic and riparian habitats, protecting the aquifer that lies beneath the town site, and improving the quality of the stormwater being released into the Coldwater and Nicola River. The ISMP process examines the area as a whole and recommends best management practices and capital works to mitigate risks involved with managing stormwater discharges, while allowing for development too occur. This report is intended to provide key direction, strategiess and specific actions. Prioritization of recommendations and measures will be included along with estimated cost of implementation of the proposed recommendations. 1.2 BACKGROUND/PROJECT OVERVIEW Over the last century, the City of Merritt has grown from a ranching/farming community to an urbban centre, complete with industry development in forestry, coal mining, and transportation services. The community has grown to a population of 7,100 residents in approximately 2,800 residences (2011 census). Population growth and new development in Merritt has ressulted in significant changes to stormwater runoff. The City of Merritt and the BC Ministry of Environment haave committed to implementing an ISMP with the purpose of identifying all stormwater related issues (man--made and naturally occurring) in a manner that 1-1 City of Merritt preserves the physical and biological values of existing watercourses and addresses a range of capital and planning needs of the community. The City has a long history of river flooding and ice-jams that have impacted both how the stormwater system was designed and how it is operated. In this plan, the City has defined goals and objectives to guide the ISMP process. The goals and objectives relate to the management of the natural resources within the watershed area, including aquatic and terrestrial resources, flood and erosion control, and surface and groundwater resources. The project team met with City staff to evaluate operations, problem areas, land planning and policy considerations. 1.3 PROJECT PARTICIPANTS The consultant team is comprised of personnel from Associated Engineering, Summit, and GeoAdvice. Key team members are: Associated Engineering (BC) Ltd. Rod MacLean – Project Manager Michael Owen – Lead Technical Engineer Drew Lejbak – Review Summit Environmental Consultants Inc. Dan Austin - GIS Sandra Meidinger – Riparian Areas and Environmental Values Christopher Holmes - Hydrogeology Joe Alcock – Hazard Risk Assessment Trina Koch – River Water Quality GeoAdvice Engineering Ltd. Julien Bell, P. Eng. – Stormwater Model Project Coordinator Werner de Schaetzen, Ph.D. P. Eng. – Senior Review City of Merritt Shawn Boven – Public Utility Manager Shahrzard Honarmand - Technologist Jordan Goerlitz - Technologist Operations Staff 1-2 p:\20122231\00_sw_plan\engineering\03.02_conceptual_feasibility_report\summary report\rpt_mer_ismp.docx Report Inteegrated Stormwater Master Plan 1.4 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES This ISMP report is intended to provide key direction, strategies and specific actions. Prioritization of recommendations and measures will be included along with estimated cost of implementation of the proposed recommendations. The objective of an ISMP is to monitor, develop strategies and conceive plans to manage stormwater consistent with the planning objectives of the City of Merritt; while adhering to the ISMP Terms of Reference Template prepared by the Ministry of Environment (See Figure 1-1). The seven steps to developing an ISMP are as follows: 1. Secure Political Interest and Support 2. Watershed Problems and Opportunities 3. Develop Objectives and Alternate Scenarios 4. Collect Meaningful Data and Refine Scenarios 5. Evaluate Alternatives and Develop Component Plans 6. Develop an Implementation Program 7. Refine through Adaptive Management This report supports this general structure. We note that tthe ISMP is an active plan and reporting process. By providing more regular and focused measurements of water quality, water temperature and stormwater flows entering the watershed, downstream and with its boundaries, the City will better understand the impacts of implementing its ISMP. The capital works planning component can then be adjusted as required to meet the ever changing development needs in the community. Being the City of Merritt’s first ISMP, developing an understanding of the systems needed to be integrated with capital planning. For this first analysis, a focus was maintained on the following details. Maintain performance capacity and condition of both the overland and sub--surface storm sewer system. Limit pipe surcharging to prevent local road floodiing. Provide adequate servicing to new development and reduce or minimize downstream impacts. Ensure that new developments don’t negatively impact the current system. Protect integrity of the City’s drinking water aquifer, creeks, annd watercourses. Where possible, control and/or store stormwater being released into the watercourses and mitigate contaminants in the stormwater by taking appropriate