events. Due to the level of imperviousness within the watershed, there are no viable means to significantly enhance baseflow quantity or duration. Therefore, post-construction baseflow velocities that are predominantly immeasurable cannot be avoided and should be expected.
Design of the Broadway Drain will be undertaken by a team of specialists including engineers and natural scientists (i.e., aquatic and terrestrial biologists). Background studies have indicated that fluvial geomorphologists would be involved in the design and construction process associated with any re-alignment of the Broadway Drain. Due to the inherent hydrographic characteristics of the Detroit River (in combination with the necessary geometric characteristics of the new drain), it would be impractical and inappropriate to attempt to design the new channel with a focus on fluvial geomorphological channel design principles. For this reason, engaging the services of a fluvial geomorphologist during the design or construction process would offer no benefit to the project. Instead, the channel improvements will be designed by a team of water resource engineers and habitat biologists. Similarly, restricting construction of the new drain to “specialty contractor with demonstrated experience in undertaking channel relocations” is unnecessarily restrictive.
AS8 – Restoration Plans
Final design of the bridge plaza will include the preparation of proper landscaping plans. The plans will specify that all newly constructed surfaces (and areas disturbed by the construction process) will be promptly re-vegetated with desired ground cover seed mixes, erosion blankets (where appropriate), and desirable native shrub and tree species.
Post-construction monitoring will be undertaken in order to assess the effectiveness of environmental protection and compensation measures, in accordance with any conditions of final approvals (i.e., approvals issued under Fisheries Act, etc.)
AS9 – Post-Construction Monitoring
AS7 – Involve Qualified Experts in Design and Construction Process
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