5 | durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, August 25, 2022 | The Town of Whitby, in partnership with Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) has completed a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) study to assess possible improvement alternatives for upgrading Rowe Channel. The channel is located between the Whitby GO Station and Lake Ontario (refer to map). The existing channel requires improvements to address the failing gabion baskets that line the channel. This study follows the Master Plan Approach number one planning process as outlined in the Municipal Engineer's Association "Municipal Class Environmental Assessment" (2000, as amended in 2007, 2011 and 2015) which is approved under the Environmental Assessment Act. The study satisfies the planning requirements for Schedule A and A plus projects and provides the basis for future Schedule B projects. The study was carried out in accordance with the planning process for 'Schedule B' projects as outlined in the Municipal Engineers Association "Municipal Class Environmental Assessment" document (October 2000; amended 2007, 2011 and 2015), which is approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. The Class EA process included an evaluation of alternatives, assessment of potential environmental effects, and identification of reasonable measures to mitigate any potential adverse impacts, and public and review agency consultation. The project team has identified and evaluated a range of design options to reduce flooding risk to properties along the channel, minimize the Town's maintenance costs, improve channel aesthetics, and reduce the presence of invasive species. The preferred solution includes the following: • Removal of the existing gabion baskets and mattresses along the channel and replacement with an open channel lined with armour stone; • Replacement of existing culvert crossings at Victoria Street West, Watson Street West and Front Street West with twin concrete box culverts (each 3 metres by 1.5 metres) to fully convey peaks flows; and, • Construction of riparian buffers along the channel for filtering sediment and pollutants. In accordance with the Class EA planning process, the Project File Report will be placed on public record for 30-days beginning August 26, 2022. A digital copy is available for review at connectwhitby.ca/RoweChannel Anyone has the right to raise comments or concerns, which should be addressed to rowechannel@resilientconsulting.ca on or before September 24, 2022. Alternatively, concerned parties may contact one of the following Project Team representatives: Priyan Tharumaratinam Water Resources Technician Town of Whitby, 3000 Garden Street, Unit 100B, Whitby, Ontario L1R 2G6 905-430-4943 | tharumaratinamp@whitby.ca Louie Jakupi, P. Eng. Senior Water Resources Engineer Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority 100 Whiting Avenue, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 3T3 905-579-0411, extension 113 | ljakupi@cloca.com Mark Bassingthwaite, P. Eng. Project Manager Resilient Consulting PO Box 643, Whitby, ON L1N 5V3 289-943-4651 | mbassingthwaite@resilientconsulting.ca During the comment period, if there are outstanding concerns that this project may adversely impact constitutionally protect Aboriginal and treaty rights, which cannot be resolved in discussion with the Town, then a person or party may request that the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks make an order for the Project to comply with Part Two (2) of the Environmental Assessment Act. Requests on other grounds will not be considered. This is referred to as a Part Two (2) Order request, which addresses Individual Environmental Assessments. Requests should specify what kind of order is being requested (i.e., a request for additional conditions or a request for an Individual Environmental Assessment), how an order may prevent, mitigate or remedy those potential adverse impacts, and any information in support of the statements in the request. The request should be sent in writing or by email to both the following: Hon. David Piccini, Minister Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks 777 Bay Street, 5th Floor, Toronto, ON M7A 2J3 minister.mecp@ontario.ca Director, Environmental Assessment Branch Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks 135 St. Clair Ave. West, 1st Floor, Toronto, ON M4V 1P5 EABDirector@ontario.ca Personal information will be collected under the authority of Section 11 of the Municipal Act, 2001, and will be used for information purposes only for this study. Questions regarding the collection and use of personal information should be directed to the Town of Whitby Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Office at 905-430-4300, extension 2287. This Notice first issued on August 25, 2022. For more information, please visit connectwhitby.ca/RoweChannel Phone: 905-430-4300 Email: info@whitby.ca NOTICE OF COMPLETION Rowe Channel Upgrade Study Municipal Class Environmental Assessment