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Pickering Development Sparks Flood Risk Fears
27 Mar
Summary
- Development plans in northeast Pickering face opposition over flood risk.
- An endangered fish species, Redside Dace, inhabits the proposed development area.
- Environmental advocates question studies completed before development approval.
Environmental advocates are voicing strong opposition to a proposed development in northeast Pickering, ahead of a city council vote on March 30. Concerns center on potential increases in flood risk and the impact on the endangered Redside Dace fish population. The development area is situated within the Carruthers Creek watershed, where studies predict a significant rise in peak water flows due to urbanization.
Critics advocate for the completion of all environmental assessments and fiscal impact studies before any development plan is approved. They point to a 2021 TRCA study indicating a 113% increase in peak water flows during a regional storm event, a projection that does not account for mitigation measures. The Ontario Headwaters Institute emphasized the need to understand the conversion of natural surfaces to impervious ones.
Furthermore, the habitat of the Redside Dace, an endangered fish species, is present in the proposed development zone. Environmental Defence highlighted the lack of precedent for Redside Dace populations thriving after surrounding land is paved. While the City of Pickering states that planning includes studies to examine potential impacts on the Redside Dace and measures to mitigate them, advocates remain concerned about the development's sustainability.
