Best Practice Based Approach to Bruce Beach Source- Storm Water Management
Bruce Beach needs approaches/solutions to the Source - Storm Water Management affecting the beach that are based in evidence, with an assessment and environmental scan of the sources of the water and how it affects our environment/property/road. Solutions are being proposed without the measurement/documentation of the sources of water, flow rates and the down stream impact.
Sources of water that residents on Bruce Beach Rd know about:
~ 60 new homes on Lake Range Rd, several on the west side have drainage tile exiting on the hill and flowing onto Bruce Beach Rd. The picture attached of one such home on Lake Range Rd that flows through the gully and exits out at the entrance to the tennis courts resulting in mudflow and ponding on Bruce Beach Rd.
- HK Council several years ago made a decision to dump water from the farms at #815 and #737 Lake Range Rd draining over 300 acres as well as the overflow from the 10th Concession and the some 60 properties all along Lake Range Rd) down the five gullies that exit into the lake at three outlets, Cameron Lane, #98 and at #177 Bruce Beach. The Highland Drive north and south drains exit onto Bruce Beach Rd were recently installed with no regard to the impact of dumping this huge amount of water onto Bruce Beach Rd. Even on a quiet day with no rain ( today) it is flowing at~ 10 gallons per minute. These were all low cost approaches to drainage with no regard for the environmental impact, the flooding of properties & the road, the large volumes of water picking up soil from the gullies with the phosphorous producing algae on the beach, severe erosion resulting in a huge number of up rooted trees clogging the gullies and mud entering the lake affecting the water quality. Perhaps at the time the HK Council decisions did not recognize the devastating impact down the road. It is time that this HK Council remedies the situation and understands that the lowest cost approach may not be the best approach for the future.
A Storm Management Facility is a good first step to controlling the water at source for the farms . Lake Range Road has not been addressed. Concepts to address the ponding along Bruce Beach Rd and water flows from Lake Range Rd need to avoid using the gullies to prevent further erosion and further destruction. Concepts that add outlets to the lake will not be supported and in fact HK council and Dietrich Engineering should be prepared for a legal challenge under the Drainage Act should HK Council decide to add an additional outlet.
Stewardship of the Environment
We expect environmental stewardship from our HK Council.
The solutions proposed do not address Water Quality and the impact on the Lake.
HK council needs to demonstrate they are being good stewards for the Bruce Beach Community and the Environment.
It is recommended that:
* Water Quality be added to the guiding principles.
* An amendment to the Drainage Act submission to include Bruce Beach Rd North of Highland Drive.
* Data be collected to understand the sources of water, flow rates, impact and be used to inform the design of solutions/concepts
* Dietrich Engineering and HK Council reference the solutions/concepts using the Source and Onsite Controls for Municipal Drainage Systems: A Best Practice by the National Guide to Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure 2003. It is easy to rely on consultants but ultimately HK Council is accountable.
* Solutions/ Concepts be developed based on the evidence.
* Select another Engineering firm with experience in Storm Water Management ( ideally in a lake related environment) to review Dietrich Engineerings recommendations and provide suggestions for improvement.
* HK Council demonstrate stewardship for our environment and select concepts to remedy past decisions that considers the Bruce Beach Rd Guiding Principles.
Sincerely
Joan McLaughlin 123 Bruce Beach Rd