Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
RE: Town of Innisfil (Community of Alcona) Flood Reduction Class Environmental Assessment
On behalf of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA), I would like to thank GREENLAND® International - Consulting Engineers for the excellent work undertaken to complete the Flood Reduction Class Environmental Assessment for the Community of Alcona. I also want to provide you our sincere appreciation for the support GREENLAND® provided both in-kind and financially which allowed the project to proceed. The approved strategy will now enable the LSRCA and Town of Innisfil to move forward with the next phase of the project so that the science-based, publicly supported solution, can be implemented to alleviate flooding impacting residents in Alcona as soon as possible.
The project goal was to develop a sustainable - engineering solution to reduce significant annual flood damages currently occurring within the Community of Alcona (Town of Innisfil) and located within the Belle Aire Creek subwatershed. The project included a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process with extensive public and other stakeholder consultations to advance a solution involving enhancing a wetland (green infrastructure) to provide flood mitigation. The project was proposed over a decade ago and was then adopted in the Town’s Master Drainage Plan as required under the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. It is now one step closer to completion.
The project deliverables produced by GREENLAND® included an Environmental Study Report (ESR) which now provides a science-based, well-engineered, thorough and systematic understanding of the chronic flooding that has impacted the affected settlement area in the Town of Innisfil. The Environmental Study Report (by GREENLAND®) also developed a proactive flood mitigation and resiliency plan that can now be implemented by the LSRCA, Town and other stakeholders. Finally, the project work plan satisfied requirements of Ontario's Class Environmental Assessment process and with an effective/collaborative spirit of a "public-private partnership” utilizing and ecosystem approach. The timelines to complete the project were very aggressive and I was pleased that GREENLAND® was able to complete the project on-time and budget.
In conclusion, the role that GREENLAND® played to prepare the funding application for Canada’s National Disaster Mitigation Program; securing in-kind participation of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation (ICCA) at the University of Waterloo; providing in-kind Intellectual Property leveraging resources, and the financial contribution helped ensure the project was a complete success. I look forward to working with your company again on other partnerships of mutual interest and would be pleased to serve as professional references on similar projects.
Michael Walters
(Former) Chief Administrative Officer
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
November 6, 2020
The City of Waterloo
As a Senior Project Engineer (Water Resources) for the City of Waterloo, I would like to extend my appreciation to Greenland Consulting Engineers for providing exemplary EA planning, design, contract administration and construction inspection services for the Pond #53 Sediment Removal/Reuse and Retrofit Project.
This project was an important undertaking for the City which consisted of: the removal of 360m3 of sediment for reuse in a City owned boulevard area; removal of all additional sediment (approx. 3,000m3) from the SWMF permanent pool and forebay area to improve its operation, implementation of the retrofit design including improved maintenance access and proactive management of many unforeseen conditions throughout the duration of the project. This project also included significant logistical challenges with respect to the coordination of public access for area residents and businesses, and providing workable solutions to implementing the design as intended due to challenging unforseen site constraints.
As the Design Consultant, Contract Administrator and on-site Construction Inspector, Greenland always maintained open lines of communication between the City, Contractor and the affected residents, and promptly responded to all questions and issues raised by the Contractor, the City and the public. Greenland’s attention to detail throughout the entire duration of this assignment helped ensure the project was completed as required.
Jessica Kellerman, P. Eng
Senior Project Engineer - Water Resources
Engineering Services, Design & Construction
City of Waterloo
October 24, 2019
Muskoka Watershed Council
The Muskoka Watershed Council’s mission is to champion watershed health in those watersheds that flow into and through the District Municipality of Muskoka. There is no conservation authority in Muskoka, instead the Council is a volunteer-based organization supported by the District of Muskoka, local consulting firms, and local Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change offices.
The Muskoka Watershed Council is currently undertaking a project to understand the potential impact of climate change in Muskoka to the year 2050. In working with our municipal partners, decision support tools such as Greenland’s new CANWET-5 model could be useful in informing our watershed management planning decisions in relation to policy development, stewardship priorities and education and communication programs.
Peter Sale
Chair
Muskoka Watershed Council
November 17, 2014
