Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) crews are conducting maintenance work along Stouffville Creek to reduce the risk of flooding in downtown Whitchurch-Stouffville.
Over a period of about four weeks, they will be cutting and removing trees that are growing in or have fallen into the Stouffville Flood Control Channel on TRCA property from upstream of Main Street to Burkholder Street.
Because trees and vegetation can reduce the flood flow capacity of the river, their removal is essential for reducing flood risk. Trees removed will be chipped and removed from the site.
Downtown Whitchurch-Stouffville has historically been susceptible to both flooding, which can happen at any time of year, and ice jamming, the TRCA reports. The Stouffville Dam was constructed in 1969 to provide flood protection to the Town and the Stouffville Flood Control Channel was constructed in 1980 to work in conjunction with the dam.
Though the dam is designed to provide 100-year flood protection, several properties comprised mostly of municipal parkland on Burkholder Street could be impacted in the event of a two-year storm – a term that refers to a storm that’s capable of producing rainfall expected to be equalled or exceeded on the average of once in two years.
TRCA regularly inspects and maintains the dam and has a Stouffville Dam Emergency Preparedness Plan in place. Learn more here.
Photo courtesy of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.
