Town completes rehabilitation of stormwater management pond in Bolton

Columbia Way Stormwater Management Pond first built in 1990s to provide flood control

By Zachary Roman

The Town of Caledon has completed work it said will prevent flooding and protect water quality in Bolton.

On November 17, the Town announced the rehabilitation of the Columbia Way Stormwater Management Pond (SWMP) was complete.

According to the Town, the pond is designed to mimic a natural wetland, and the vegetation in it both provides a habitat for animals and increases water quality. The pond is designed to hold stormwater and release it slowly to reduce flooding.

The Town noted that final improvements to the pond will be made in early 2023 to meet conservation authority permit requirements. In 2023 and 2024, the Town will monitor vegetation planted at the pond to ensure that it is established and will be around for years to come. The Town noted rehabilitation of the pond was delayed by an unusually wet summer in 2021.

The Columbia Way SWMP is located between Taylorwood Avenue and St. Michaels Crescent in Bolton. During the pond rehabilitation efforts, the trail there from Schaefer Place and St. Michaels Crescent was closed. However, it was reopened on November 15.

First built in the 1990s, the Columbia Way SWMP was installed to provide flood control; but, according to the Town much has changed in the field of stormwater management since then. A 2017 Town of Caledon environmental assessment and 2019 design exercise highlighted the need to improve the Columbia Way SWMP and bring it up to modern standards. 

“In part, the objective of this work was to improve the flow of water impacting the stream that is currently flooding over a section of trail near Kingsview Crescent,” said Town's backgrounder on the project.

Some of the rehabilitation work undertaken by the Town included: removal of sediment and grading within the pond and around its perimeter; repaving of the trail from Columbia Way to St. Michaels Crescent; installation of new habitat features within the pond; and the planting of 36 trees, 4,000 shrubs and 10,000 aquatic plants.

According to the Town, a public information meeting about the rehabilitation project was held on February 24, 2021, where it heard from residents who said they'd like bird habitat to be protected, and requests to protect a community planting area and increase tobogganing safety (the Town noted it does not condone tobogganing in the area, but did create a “deceleration zone” at the bottom of a hill identified by residents).

Mayor Annette Groves said she's excited to see the outcome of the project and thanked the community for its patience during construction.

“This rehabilitated stormwater pond offers the community enhanced natural landscaping from the new plantings around the pond,” said Groves.

Ward 6 Councillor Cosimo Napoli attended the announcement of the project's completion alongside members of the Town's engineering department. Ryan Grodecki, the Town's Manager of Engineering Capital Design and Construction, said the Columbia Way SWMP demonstrates the Town's evolving understanding of stormwater management best practices. 

“The pond's rehabilitation is exemplary in that it not only provides flood control and water quality improvements but enhances the aesthetics of the natural area and supports local wildlife through bird and amphibian habitat features,” said Grodecki. “The lessons learned throughout the design and construction processes will be carried forward by the team to inform future capital stormwater improvements.”

Earlier this year, the Town of Caledon received an award from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority for its leadership in the field of stormwater management. Town of Caledon staff received the “Healthy Water Award” for holding stormwater management pond inspection and maintenance workshops for municipalities across the province.

Andrew Pearce, Caledon's Director of Engineering Services, said stormwater is a critical Town service that's needed to protect our water.