Bruce Beach Drain

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Bruce Beach Drain Watershed map

In 2018 the Director of Public Works signed a petition for a Municipal Drain to alleviate flooding and provide improved drainage control on Bruce Beach Road North of the 8th Concession.

On November 19, 2018, Council appointed Dietrich Engineering to prepare the report which on May 3, 2021, the responsibility was transferred to Headway Engineering.

Dietrich Engineering Limited attended the October 14, 2020, Council Meeting to provide Council with an update on the project, and to discuss potential phasing options which will allow for the construction of the most critical components of the design as soon as possible to increase the safety of the public. A description of the possible phasing of the south portion of the project is as follows:

1) Phase I

Phase I includes the construction of the detention facility east of Lake Range Drive; the Lake Range Drive road crossing; and improvements to the ravine downstream of Lake Range Drive to Bruce Beach Road.

2) Phase II

Phase II includes the construction of a drainage system directly affecting properties on the east side of Bruce Beach Road between Concession 8 Road and the ravine, and an outlet to Lake Huron.

The north portion of the Bruce Beach Municipal Drain was removed from the original municipal drain project in November 2020 as the majority of the storm water generated in this area originates on the municipal road allowance and the proposed infiltration gallery to be constructed is within the municipal road allowance. Therefore, this section is similar to a municipal storm sewer project that generally involves providing road drainage by constructing a storm sewer or open ditch.

The Township had provided direction to the Engineer to apply for an Emergency Order (Section 124) for the Drainage Act to allow an accelerated construction of the storm water retention facility.

On October 1, 2021, the Township received confirmation of the approved drainage project as defined in the engineer’s report for the Bruce Beach Road Municipal Drain – Phase 1 to be an emergency within the meaning of Section 124 of the Drainage Act. This designation allowed for the construction of Phase 1 of the Bruce Beach Municipal Drain (pond, ravine work) to proceed without risk of procedural violations under the Drainage Act.

On July 19, 2021, Council accepted the Bruce Beach Municipal Drain Phase 1 report prepared by Headway Engineering and granted provisional approval.

Three appeals to the assessment were received by the Township, a hearing will be held in March 2022.

Preliminary work on Phase II of Bruce Beach Drain has commenced with more information to follow in 2022.


In 2018 the Director of Public Works signed a petition for a Municipal Drain to alleviate flooding and provide improved drainage control on Bruce Beach Road North of the 8th Concession.

On November 19, 2018, Council appointed Dietrich Engineering to prepare the report which on May 3, 2021, the responsibility was transferred to Headway Engineering.

Dietrich Engineering Limited attended the October 14, 2020, Council Meeting to provide Council with an update on the project, and to discuss potential phasing options which will allow for the construction of the most critical components of the design as soon as possible to increase the safety of the public. A description of the possible phasing of the south portion of the project is as follows:

1) Phase I

Phase I includes the construction of the detention facility east of Lake Range Drive; the Lake Range Drive road crossing; and improvements to the ravine downstream of Lake Range Drive to Bruce Beach Road.

2) Phase II

Phase II includes the construction of a drainage system directly affecting properties on the east side of Bruce Beach Road between Concession 8 Road and the ravine, and an outlet to Lake Huron.

The north portion of the Bruce Beach Municipal Drain was removed from the original municipal drain project in November 2020 as the majority of the storm water generated in this area originates on the municipal road allowance and the proposed infiltration gallery to be constructed is within the municipal road allowance. Therefore, this section is similar to a municipal storm sewer project that generally involves providing road drainage by constructing a storm sewer or open ditch.

The Township had provided direction to the Engineer to apply for an Emergency Order (Section 124) for the Drainage Act to allow an accelerated construction of the storm water retention facility.

On October 1, 2021, the Township received confirmation of the approved drainage project as defined in the engineer’s report for the Bruce Beach Road Municipal Drain – Phase 1 to be an emergency within the meaning of Section 124 of the Drainage Act. This designation allowed for the construction of Phase 1 of the Bruce Beach Municipal Drain (pond, ravine work) to proceed without risk of procedural violations under the Drainage Act.

On July 19, 2021, Council accepted the Bruce Beach Municipal Drain Phase 1 report prepared by Headway Engineering and granted provisional approval.

Three appeals to the assessment were received by the Township, a hearing will be held in March 2022.

Preliminary work on Phase II of Bruce Beach Drain has commenced with more information to follow in 2022.


CLOSED: This discussion has concluded. Thank you for your participation.

If you have any questions about the Bruce Beach Rd. drainage project please post them here. We ask that residents refrain from contacting staff or Dietrich Engineering Ltd. directly as they have been instructed to direct all feedback to the Have Your Say HK website. 

If you prefer your question to be answered privately (not posted on the public Have Your Say HK website) please indicate that in your question. 

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    Do you mean that the HK Council as" the Petitioner" could decide to go ahead with the proposals as they stand without the consent of the property owners who would have to then pay the levy according to the Municipal Drainage Act? That's not very democratic! When are the next Municipal elections?

    gillian norton asked over 4 years ago

    We will be presenting Drainage Act information in more detail at the public meeting on November 30, 2019

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    Why has there been no mention that the 98BB outlet is private? Why is there no acknowledgement that upland water draining through this property is contrary to the drainage act? All of the stormwater originates from Lake Range Road and Above. Cottages along Bruce Beach Road should not be responsible for costs associated to poor municipal storm water infrastructure originating upland of their properties furthermore, 98/97BB should not be responsible to manage this upland water runoff either. The upland storm water should be retained at source and any overflow should be diverted down public lands (Concession 8 & 10).

    MG99 asked over 4 years ago

    We will address your concerns and the Drainage Act in more detail at the public meeting on November 30, 2019

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    At the Council meeting of Oct 21, 2019, Dietrich Engineering was asked whether they had studied the use of an expanded ditch on the east side of Bruce Beach Rd as a lower cost alternative to the proposed infiltration gallery. They responded that they had, and that they would make the information about this option available. When and how will this information be made available? Al Cottage 136

    Al asked over 4 years ago

    We will be presenting design information in more detail at the public meeting on November 30, 2019.  

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    The proposed infiltration unit along Bruce Beach Road from cottage 137 to 150 is a solution way beyond necessity to solve the minor flooding that occurs each Spring from a questionable drain on Highland Drive. What action needs to be taken to stop this proposal from ever happening? David 144

    davidwest144 asked over 4 years ago

    We will be presenting more detailed information on the Drainage Act and the design details at the public meeting on November 30, 2019

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    Why have the consultants not offered any solutions for the ponding and flooding of properties that occurs between #136 and # 99 and #97 to #88?( See picture of Flooding at 120 Bruce Beach Rd.) Owners have repeatedly asked for a ditch (low cost, low tech) on the east side of Bruce Beach Rd to address the ponding and flooding.

    Joan123 asked over 4 years ago

    We will be presenting design information in more detail at the public meeting on November 30, 2019

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    Huge Volumes of water from the Lake Range Rd East and West sides drains into the Gully above the #98 Outlet. The ditches here are filled 1 meter wide and 8 to 12 inches deep during rain events. All properties on lake range are graded and sloped downward towards the ditches. Did the modelling for the SWM plan for intake capture of all the drainage from either side of Lake Range Road between the 10th and 8th in addition to the 200 acres of farmland?

    Joan123 asked over 4 years ago

    We will be presenting design information in more detail at the public meeting on November 30, 2019

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    The Bruce Beach Ravine/ Gully above #98 outlet is an ecologically sensitive area that has been severely damaged since HK has used this ravine/gully to drain and manage the stormwater of 200 acres of agricultural land as well as all of Lake Range Road stormwater. Why has HK not asked for an Environmental Appraisal of the Bruce Beach Gully above #98 outlet? We would request HK seek an Environmental Appraisal as the Drainage Act provides for this.

    Joan123 asked over 4 years ago

    We will be presenting design information in more detail at the public meeting on November 30, 2019

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    Why has Huron Kinloss Council and Dietrich Engineering the Consultant not measured the 12 Guiding Principles submitted by local Bruce Beach owners and submitted to Dietrich Engineering by Council. These key stakeholders who submitted the Principles represent over 61 property owners, all owners on Bruce Beach Rd between Highland Drive and Concession 8.

    Joan123 asked over 4 years ago

    On December 3, 2018, Council received the guiding principles submitted by local Bruce Beach property owners and directed staff to forward them to the Engineer for information. This along with all comments and input provided by land owners are being considered. 


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    Since the meeting on Nov 30th is for Dietrich to explain their proposals and the proposed cost estimates I want to know HOW the decision to proceed or NOT will be made, by WHOM and how much input the property owners will have?

    gillian norton asked over 4 years ago

    Throughout the project the property owners have been given an opportunity to provide comments and suggestions on a solution for the drainage problem in Bruce Beach.  All input is being considered.  As per the Drainage Act, the petitioner is the only one that can remove their name from the petition and halt the project, in this case the petitioner is the Township of Huron-Kinloss. 


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    1. Does the asphalt over the Infiltration Gallery in the cross-section drawing mean that the road will become asphalt covered where the Gallery is to be installed, between Cottages 137 and 150 Bruce Beach Road? Is this asphalt part of the estimated project cost? Will the rest of the road going south remain gravel? Is the asphalt a necessary part of installation because gravel is not strong enough to protect the Gallery? 2. What time of year would installation take place and how long would it last? Would cottage access be reduced or eliminated during construction? 3. How would maintenance of the Infiltration Gallery be done? Would asphalt have to be broken up? What is estimated frequency and cost of maintenance, and how would costs be allocated? 4. Would the final cost assessment to each property be calculated based on road footage or some other criterion? Would we get details of how costs are allotted? 5. Does the Infiltration Gallery not seem like an overly complicated, costly, disruptive, and uncertain solution to relatively minor short-term spring flooding problem that is of little concern to many of us summer-only Bruce Beach residents who never experience it first-hand? How many residents actually complained about this flooding? Are these residents from the area of highest allotted costs, between 137 and 150 Bruce Beach Road? 6. Our estimated assessment of $2,900-$4,300 for the Infiltration Gallery is startling for something we do not want. Plus there likely will be on-going maintenance costs, and it may not even work properly. All the reactions viewed on this website seem negative to us. Should not approval for this large contentious project be put to a vote of all those assessed for its costs before any action is taken? 7. Would it not make sense to try something much simpler at first, such as just lengthening and deepening the trial ditch that is there now? Judging by the reported small flooding last spring, the trial ditch may already have reduced the problem somewhat by improving seepage into the ground. Such small actions should be included under road maintenance for which we pay large taxes. 8. Why is it that meetings, presentation, etc. regarding issues that largely and often solely affect Bruce Beach summer-only residents are often held in the off-season when we are not available without great inconvenience?

    over 4 years ago

    • Does this mean that the road will become asphalt covered where the Infiltration Gallery is installed? – The presentation previously presented suggests asphalt over the infiltration gallery for ease of maintaining the road.
    • Is this asphalt part of the project cost? – Yes, and assessed to the Township.
    • Will the rest of the road going south remain gravel? – we do not propose resurfacing the rest of the road.
    • What time of year would installation take place and how long would it last? – On the current timeline, and without surprises, we could anticipate construction in 2020, with the summer being the earliest possible start time.  The length of time for construction is dependent on the Contractor.
    • Would cottage access be reduced or eliminated during construction? – Cottage access would be reduced, however we expect only for short intervals.
    • How would maintenance of the Infiltration Gallery be done?  What estimated frequency and cost of maintenance, and how would costs be allocated? – Maintenance would be done be sucking out sediment using a vac truck at manhole locations.  The manufacturer of the product recommends that maintenance needs should be monitored periodically, but they expect on a system like this that maintenance would be on a 5 to 10 year cycle.  Costs would be minimal.  Costs would be shared between the Township and the community.
    • Would the final cost assessment to each property be calculated based on road footage or some other criterion? – Assessment of costs will be discussed in more detail at the next public meeting.
    • Can you provide a spreadsheet showing how the numbers are generated, or an explanation of the method used? – Assessment of costs will be discussed in more detail at the next public meeting.  Handouts will be provided.
    • Does the Infiltration Gallery not seem like an overly complicated, costly, disruptive, and uncertain solution to an annoying but relatively minor short-term problem? – Consideration must be given to the safety of the road, the needs & priorities of the community, the real estate constraints of the site. 
    • Would it not make sense to try something much simpler at first, such as lengthening and deepening the trial ditch that is there now? – This design option (along with variations) is being reviewed.
    • Why is it that meetings, presentation, etc. held in the off-season? A project under the Drainage Act does take time to follow the legislation.  The date was chosen in order to keep the project moving.  Please see Report DRAIN2019-11-17 that was presented to Council on November 4, 2019.  As noted in the report, if the public meeting was delayed until the spring, construction of the project could not begin any earlier than 2021. There are many property owners that are greatly affected by the water and have encouraged Council to provide a solution to the water issue in a timely manner. 

Page last updated: 27 Jan 2023, 10:19 AM