Replacement of a damaged culvert with a pedestrian bridge on the Watts Creek Pathway

September 21, 2021. The National Capital Commission must determine, as lead authority, whether the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. 

To help inform this decision, the National Capital Commission is inviting comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. All comments received will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice

Written comments must be submitted by October 21st, 2021, referencing project name and registry number.

The NCC is planning to install a pedestrian bridge to replace a damaged culvert on the NCC-owned Watts Creek Pathway. The culvert is located near Corkstown Road where the Watts Creek Pathway crosses Stillwater Creek. It has reached the end of its useful life and is damaged beyond repair: it has become deformed, is severely corroded, and is at risk of failure. In addition, because the current culvert is also undersized for the water flow of the creek, it is causing erosion and sedimentation downstream.

The NCC explored the option of installing a new culvert, but it is not possible to install one that is large enough to accommodate the creek's flow. Instead, the open bottom of the planned pedestrian bridge will allow the creek bed's natural width and slope to be restored, improving conditions for fish. The bridge will also incorporate dry ground ledges on either side, which will allow for the passage of wildlife.

Currently, the vegetation in the area consists primarily of tall grasses and invasive plants and shrubs. Some of this vegetation will need to be cleared for construction and will be replaced with a mix of native species typically used in the Greenbelt.

The NCC has received a letter of advice from Fisheries and Oceans Canada to ensure that the project implements all necessary measures to avoid or mitigate any negative impact on the fish or their habitat. The NCC will be working in collaboration with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority to monitor the health of the creek after the installation of the new bridge.

The bridge construction, scheduled to take place from November 2021 to June 2022, will require a closure of the pathway at the creek crossing, as well as a section of the pathway around the creek, which will be used as a staging area for construction equipment. A detour route will be in place to allow for the continued use of the pathway for commuter and recreational purposes during the construction period.

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Latest update

November 02, 2021 - The assessment decision statement has been issued to the proponent.

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Contacts

National Capital Commission
Environmental Assessment
40 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5A8
Email: IA-EI@ncc-ccn.ca


  • Location

    • Watts Creek Pathway (Ontario)
  • Nature of Activity

    • Recreation and Tourism
    • Maintenance activities (fences, walls)
  • Assessment Status

    Completed
  • Start Date

    2021-09-21
  • Proponent

    The National Capital Commission
  • Authorities

    • National Capital Commission
  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands
  • Reference Number

    83024
Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

 

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...within 200 kilometres
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