Public Consultation Required as City Undertakes Stormwater Management Master Plan Project

The City of Owen Sound is undertaking a comprehensive Stormwater Management Master Plan (SWMMP) to develop a long-term plan for the safe and effective management of stormwater runoff.  This includes the initial Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Planning Process and residents’ input on existing stormwater runoff issues on City or public lands.

Residents' feedback will help identify localized drainage issues the City may not be aware of.  The public can also comment on possible solutions for future stormwater or drainage projects. Public participation will be gathered and documented as part of the final report.  Please visit the project’s online engagement page at OurCity.OwenSound.ca/Stormwater-Master-Plan to identify areas on a map (with a pin, a photo and a brief explanation) where stormwater runoff issues exist (on public property and road allowances).  Residents can post ideas or questions using the appropriate tools on the OurCity page. 

On December 18, a virtual question-and-answer session with Tatham Engineering and City staff will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Registration is required and available through the project’s webpage here. The first Public Information Centre in-person meeting is planned for December 19, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. before the Operations Committee meeting at City Hall. Please visit and follow the project’s webpage for more details on how to participate.

This project outline includes the following:

• Identify current and future problems with drainage infrastructure, including areas prone to flooding.
• Create drainage solutions to address these issues, reduce flooding, enhance public safety, and improve maintenance opportunities.
• Assess the proposed solutions by conducting a risk analysis that considers costs, environmental impacts, and feedback from the public and stakeholders.
• Select a set of preferred solutions to be implemented.
• Prioritize the chosen solutions based on a risk assessment, available funding, planned developments, capital budgets, infrastructure condition evaluations, and coordination with other improvement projects, such as roads, bridges, sanitary systems, and water mains.
• Review Development charge-eligible costs, identify alternative funding sources and develop an Implementation Plan and Capital Funding Review.
• Develop a policy framework for managing stormwater in existing developed areas and areas planned for future growth.

The City is evaluating the stormwater management of public lands (road allowances and publicly owned property), not private property drainage issues.  This Stormwater Management Master Plan will steer future projects by identifying deficient areas, recommending improvements, and prioritizing projects so capital reserves can be set aside to complete the work. The SWMMP's findings and recommendations will be incorporated into future projects.

The City has awarded Tatham Engineering Limited the contract for the Stormwater Management Master Plan. The Existing Conditions Assessment will be finalized following the public consultation in December. Phase 2 of the project, which includes evaluating improvement alternatives, developing an Implementation Plan, and conducting a Capital Funding Review, will be completed in Spring 2025, and the final Report will be presented to Council in Summer/Fall 2025.

For more information, please contact:

Jacob Macdonald, P. Eng., Engineer with Tatham Engineering, at 705-444-2565 ext. 2161, or email jmacdonald@tathameng.com

Spencer Hammill, P.Eng., Engineering Services Division with the City of Owen Sound, at 519-376-4440 ext. 3301 or email shammill@owensound.ca

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