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.


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CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
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    Comment received on November 22nd

    over 4 years ago

    This letter does not address the capital cost for road resurfacing; this letter addresses the maintenance cost of a ditch.

    It only engages the chronology of petitions, maintenance costs, a typical roadside ditch and a second petition for the roadside trial ditch.

    It rebuts the statements:

    1 - Sept 5 2009 councilor JH speaks aside to a group of seated residents: ~ the road will be paved

    2 - Sept 5 2009 councilor AE speaks aside to same group ~ “we’re not building storm ponds”

    With

    Please see July 4, 2009 Drain Meeting Minutes Mayor speaks 9: July 4, 2009... Continue reading

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    Bruce Beach Road - drainage issue. Jim and Donna Clark #120

    by Jim Clark, over 4 years ago

    Donna and I both agree that the proposed expensive infiltration solution as described is not needed at this time. We agree with many of the comments made by our fellow Bruce Beach Road residents to include and not limited to: inspect the properties on Lake Range Road and Highland Drive to ensure that there are no pipes draining directly onto the hill; continue monitoring the low tech/low cost solution of the ditch that was installed by the Township on the east side. Perhaps expanding the length and depth of the ditch would facilitate drainage; consider a in person meeting in... Continue reading

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    Bruce Beach Rd Drainage # 136-155

    by Heather, over 4 years ago

    Although I will be repeating many of the opinions already presented I will add my views in hopes that the Huron Kinloss Council will understand the frustration of property owners on Bruce Beach Rd.

    As has been clearly demonstrated the "flooding" in the area of #136-155 Bruce Beach Rd is minimal, occurring for a few days in the spring, and causing no damage to structures or the integrity of the road. In fact the excess water has been much reduced since the Township constructed a small ditch on the east side of the road in the affected area. The residents... Continue reading

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    Issues in the Bruce Beach Drainage Project

    by Joan123, over 4 years ago

    Issues to Date:

    Council held an in camera meeting immediately after after the Dietrich presentation on October 21, 2019. This was an election day and the scheduling of the Dietrich Presentation on Election Day sent a very negative message to the Bruce Beach Property owners with only 6 out of 71 property owners living in the local area. Council limited questions after the presentation to three by one person Al Brezina President Division Area 11 and Cameron Grove (who travelled 6 hours to attend). All the attendees for the presentation were there were asked to leave after the presentation due... Continue reading

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    Drainage - Bruce Beach Road

    by JJeffries, over 4 years ago

    As a Bruce Beach cottage owner (seasonal only) do not support the proposed solutions. We do support a cost-benefit analysis to be done. The short term flooding issues near Highland Drive do not warrant the extensive work, in this writer's opinion. We will support the incremental approach that has been suggested by other Bruce Beach cottagers in this forum, that being a low tech, low cost extension/deepening of the existing ditch at the bottom of Highland Drive. An incremental solution would also include regular township maintenance of the outlet at cottage #98 between Lake Range Dr. and Lake Huron.


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    Timing of November 30th 2019 Information Meeting

    by dougandjutta, over 4 years ago

    This comment represents the opinions of the property owners of Bruce Beach # 148 and 149:

    We strongly object to the timing of the information meeting on Nov. 30 at a date when most of the affected cottage owners, being seasonal residents only, are not able to attend. We were told at the May 25 meeting at the Point Clark Community Centre that subsequent meetings on this issue would be held on dates when most property owners could be present. What changed? In the Q & A section the following answer was given to the timing issue: A project under... Continue reading

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    Proposed solution for the section of Bruce Beach cottages #150 to #134 of an infiltration gallery

    by dougandjutta, over 4 years ago

    This comment represents the opinions of the property owners of Bruce Beach # 148 and 149:

    We are very much in favour of having the source of the water flowing onto Bruce Beach Road between cottages #150 and 137 investigated first. We would like to see the properties along Lake Range and Highland inspected for pipes draining directly onto the hill or near the west end of their property from eaves, sump pumps, hot tubs, etc. and have these capped.

    And we are very much in favour of continuing and improving the low tech/ low cost solution of the... Continue reading

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    Drainage not needed Here-

    by burke cueny, over 4 years ago

    The cottages 138-149 on Bruce Beach road do not need expense of a drainage program. There is no problem with water accrual.

    We have noted extensive tree cutting by owners on the west side of our road,(highland avenue) which can lead to possible drainage as the losses might not absorb all rain water. Nothing yet, has occurredto cause concerns.

    Cuenys 141

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    Bruce Beach Drainage Project Comparison to Key &Guiding Principles Presented to HK Council/ Dietrich

    by Joan123, over 4 years ago

    Key principles:

    Key Principle #1: Options developed are acceptable to residents of Bruce Beach Rd.

    Progress to Date: In order to assist owners to understand the benefits versus the costs, a step was missed. Landowners are tax payers and they do not want to see their money directed into solutions that do not represent significant/ commensurate benefit. We prefer to see low cost and low tech solutions tried out before considering spending money on high cost/ high tech solutions. All the options/soultiions were not all costed and were not presented to the landowners on a cost-benefit basis. We respectfully request... Continue reading

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    Drainage problems

    by Louise, over 4 years ago

    Since my cottage is affected by the drainage issue (#137 & 137-2), I have been very interested in the engineering company's presentation and took the time to come to Ripley especially for the October 21st meeting. I was particularly annoyed that the HK council meeting was scheduled for voting day (for the federal election), since I had been at the cottage over the Thanksgiving weekend when advanced polls were held at home (Toronto), so had to vote on voting day before coming up to Bruce Beach. Also, since most cottagers would have closed for the winter, they were not able... Continue reading

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