An Urban Watershed Approach

to Climate Resilience

Ontario Sustainable Energy Association

June 28, 2019

Chandra Sharma MCIP RPP

Director

Toronto and Region Conservation

Authority

Outline

• About Conservation Authorities

• Climate Risk And Vulnerabilities

• Climate Resilience Strategies

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 3

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

The Beginning and Evolution of Conservation Authorities

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The Evolution of Floodplain Management

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 5

Pre-Hurricane

Hazel

Development

Near Water

Infrastructure

Era

Water Control &

Conveyance

Floodplain Protection

Allow Natural Channel

Process Build Outside

Flood Plain

What flood plain mapping is used for:

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 6

Risk Assessments Real Time Flood Forecasting Tools Flood Plain Land-Use Regulation

Watershed Planning and Ecology Emergency Management Flood Remediation

Avoid putting people where it is risky

Flood Plain Management Now

Urbanization and Climate Constraints or Opportunities?

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 7

15 SPAs (Flood Damage Centres)

42 FVA Clusters

Special Policy Area

Climate Risks and VulnerabilitiesAug 9, 2005 and July 8, 2013 Storms

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Building Climate Resilience through Local Partnerships• Science and Information

• Watershed Science and Flood Plain Mapping

• Climate projections• Translated climate data products

• Adaptation and Mitigation Planning • Vulnerability and risk assessments• Sustainable community Planning • Community Energy Planning

• Capacity Building and Training• Training Sessions and Coaching

• Reporting and Evaluation• Frameworks & Sharing Best Practices

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 9

Climate Science and Information

• Translating complex data into useable graphs, summaries and outputs

• Co-producing climate trends and projections for municipal partners

• Training events and guidance on proper use of climate data for various applications (e.g., infrastructure design, natural resource management, ecosystem restoration priorities, etc.)

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Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Assessments

• Research, spatial data, and the tools to guide interventions across a portfolio or system…

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Scoping

Set-up

Vulnerability & Risk Analysis

Risk Treatment

Prioritizing Flood Mitigation

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 12

Redevelop, Remediate, Retrofit, Restore – Green Infrastructure and Complete Communities

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

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Green Technologies for a New Water Management Regime

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 14

Natural drainage

Rainwater cistern Biofilter

Permeable Pavers

Paving and vegetation in courtyard

Fitness path and drainage swale

Courtesy: Schollen & Co.

Sustainable Neighbourhood –SNAP• Depave Paradise, Burnhamthorpe,

Mississauga

• Harvest the Rain, Black Creek

• Public Relm Renewal, Markham

• County Court bio-filter swale, Brampton

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 15

Employment Lands Partners in Project Green: GTAA Pearson Eco-Business Zone

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 16

EV Network Project

144 EV charging ports installed

across GTA

18 organizations both private

and municipalities

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 17

Climate Professional Development: Building Staff Capacity

• Developing robust climate information for municipal staff

• Kick start conversations around experiential learning

• Building awareness and knowledge on climate science, risks and opportunities

• Improve municipal ability to plan for service delivery

• Improved protection of staff and community members

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www.trca.ca

Thankyou Questions?