10.2 Recommended Maintenance

I recommend that the drain be maintained in a good state of repair as provided for in the Drainage Act.

11.0 Approvals

The works recommended herein, and any future maintenance works are subject to approval of various local, provincial and federal authorities, including the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), and Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

We note that some of the works occur within areas that have been designated as Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI), Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), and Provincially

by the provincial Government of Ontario are

applied to contiguous geographical regions within the province that have geological or

ecological features which are significantly representative provincially, regionally, or locally. These areas also are known to contain endangered species and species-at-risk.

As noted previously, portions of the open channel segment of the drain run through these designated areas. There are very minimum works proposed within the designated. Nevertheless, the tree removal, brushing, and installation of the sewer inlet cage will require review and approval by the MECP, and possibly MNRF to address these issues.

As of April 1, 2019, the administration of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) transitioned responsibility from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). Since then, the MECP has not been engaged in reviewing project proposals, pending official reform of the Act. Therefore, the most appropriate action is to seek approval for the proposed drain improvements prior to construction.

12.0 Utilities

The cost estimates presented herein do not provide for relocating or adjusting existing utilities as needed to complete the recommended works. In accordance with Section 26 of the Drainage Act, if any existing utilities interfere with the construction of the recommended drainage works, and require relocating or adjusting, the added cost of completing the works is directly chargeable to the affected utility. Potential utilities that may have existing infrastructure within the project limits include Union Gas Ltd., ENWIN Utilities Ltd., Bell Canada, MNSi, Windsor Utilities Commission, and Hydro One.