Storm water drainage issues to be reviewed

Longstanding problems exist in Bible Hill and Salmon River

Water drainage issues in Bible Hill and Salmon River are prompting a review of potential storm water management by the County of Colchester.

Staff are being directed by council to review potential solutions for stormwater management related to Teakwood Court in Bible Hill and also on Gasper Cross Road in Salmon River.

A staff report said an existing drainage course on private property immediately downstream of Teakwood was blocked by grub-bings following the construction of Osprey Court.

“This is getting to be very complicated, especially with that new development there (on College Road),” Councillor Wade Parker said. He was referencing water drainage issues that stem from Teakwood Court and which impact residents on Guest Drive and other nearby, low-lying areas.

The report said the private property owner has expressed willingness to remove the grub-bings in order to reestablish the original flow path.

Improvements would also be required along the downstream flow path, including ditching and culvert improvements on College Road and possibly in the area of Guest Drive.

Another staff report says that in Salmon River, storm water runoff from subdivisions in the area of Barry Avenue crosses under East Prince Street and enters the roadside ditches on Gasper Cross Road.

The report said the traditional drainage path for storm water there was modified over past years by private landowners. The result is that ditches on Gasper Cross Road do not have the required capacity to carry storm water runoff, which causes flooding to residences at the end of the road near the CN rail yard.

Potential options to address those issues include digging out the roadside ditches, re-establishing the traditional drainage paths and creating storm water retention/detention infrastructure upstream of the Gasper Cross Road area.

“If we don’t take the opportunity to help out on this, there’s going to be a lot more headaches coming forward in the future,” Coun. Ron Cavanaugh said.