Modification of the Gatineau River Pathway

Enhancing and animating the shoreline is a priority as part of the National Capital Commission's (NCC's) strategic plans. To achieve this, the NCC must ensure good stewardship of its lands and put in place measures to protect against natural elements that can affect the integrity of its shorelines.

Due to flooding in the National Capital Region in 2017 and 2019, the banks of the Gatineau River have experienced significant erosion. To prevent damage to the Gatineau River Pathway, a multi-use asphalt pathway that runs along the river, the NCC demolished a 580m section and relocated it to the south, along the Leamy Lake Parkway.

For spring/summer 2023, the NCC is proposing to vegetate the northern half of the former asphalt pathway and convert the other half into a stone dust path. This initiative would maintain the public's pedestrian access to the river, while reducing the NCC's maintenance costs.  This project represents a design change for a project for which a determinate under the Impact Assessment Act was completed in the spring of 2022.

 

Objectives

  • To improve the multi-use pathway network, ensuring public safety and new usage needs;
  • Protect the NCC's natural habitats and shorelines in the National Capital Region;
  • Naturalize a portion of the old multi-use pathway.

 

Construction Stages – spring/summer 2023

  • Installation of exclusion fences to protect wildlife;
  • Replacement of electrical cable along Leamy Lake Drive;
  • Planting of vegetation along the new trail;
  • Soil placement and seeding on the northern section of old pathway;
  • Placing stone dust on the southern section of the old pathway;
  • Placement of benches along the new pathway;
  • Restoration of the site.

 

Coordination with the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is required as CWS issued a Species at Risk Act permit for planned work in Chorus frog habitat. In order for the project to proceed, ECCC must make a decision under the Impact Assessment Act. This department is considered a co-signatory authority with the NCC.

More


Latest update

February 20, 2024 – The public comment period on the project is closed. The National Capital Commission is considering comments received to help inform its determination on whether the carrying out of the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Participate

Key documents

Key documents
Document Number Document Title File Date
1 Notice of Intent to Make a Determination - Start of Public Comment Period - January 31, 2023

Contacts

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


  • Location

    • Gatineau River Pathway (Quebec)
  • Nature of Activity

    • Remediation and conservation
  • Assessment Status

    Terminated
  • Proponent

    National Capital Commission
  • Authorities

    • National Capital Commission
  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands
  • Reference Number

    84282
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.

 

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
Date modified: