Chedoke Creek remediation update: City of Hamilton beginning targeted dredging work at Chedoke Creek later this month

HAMILTON, ON – As part of the City of Hamilton’s Chedoke Remediation plan, in-water targeted dredging work is scheduled to begin the week of August 22, 2022, with construction mobilization underway, and the dredge machine scheduled to arrive and be placed in the creek on Wednesday, August 17, 2022.The targeted dredging work is anticipated to take four months to complete, wrapping up by December 31, 2022 or sooner, in alignment with the deadline specified in the Director’s Order issued to the City by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP).

Over the coming weeks, residents may notice an increased level of truck traffic along Macklin Street N and temporary construction sites at the base of Longwood Road S near the Desjardin Trail as well as Macklin St N across from Kay Drage Park. Other impacts related to the dredging work include:

• Kay Drage Park will remain closed for public access for the duration of the construction activities.

• The Access Trail located behind Nicholas Mancini Centre will remain closed for the remainder of the dredging activities.

• In order to load the dredge machine into the creek, intermittent closures of the Desjardin pedestrian bridge will take place, with the first bridge closure taking place on the afternoon of August 17, 2022. Another half-day closure will occur when the dredge machine is removed from the creek. Details regarding dates and changes to pedestrian bridge access will be shared on the City’s Twitter channel in advance.  

Last spring, the City began executing some preliminary activities outlined in the Chedoke Creek workplan in advance of the upcoming work. A timeline of events includes:

• April 2021: The City of Hamilton conducted aerial LiDAR drone mapping work at Chedoke Creek, Princess Point and the eastern shoreline of Cootes Paradise in preparation for remediation activities. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of pulsed lasers to measure and map distances between objects.

• April & August 2021: City of Hamilton completed sediment testing at Chedoke Creek, Princess Point and the eastern shoreline of Cootes Paradise in preparation for remediation activities.

• June 11, 2021: The City of Hamilton received MECP approval of Chedoke Creek Workplan and Cootes Paradise Report.

• April - August 2021: Species at Risk investigations were completed.

• June - July 2021: The City completed the pre-qualification of Contractors in order to determine competency and prior experience with dredging projects of a similar size and scope.

• July 23, 2021: The City of Hamilton submitted a workplan to the MECP that defined the remediation/mitigation methods for Cootes Paradise and the Western Hamilton Harbour Area based on the approved Cootes Paradise Report.

• August 13, 2021: The City received MECP approval of Cootes Paradise Workplan.

• September 2021: The City implemented short-term direct measures in areas around lower Chedoke Creek and Princess Point including the installation of a small-scale aeration system near the Kay Drage Park bridge as well as the installation of an 800 sq. ft. floating treatment wetland just inside the Princess Point Embayment. 

• September - November 2021: Hydrologic & Hydraulic Modelling was completed to determine creek water flow rates and water depth.

• January - March 2022: Detailed engineering plans (drawings) and technical specifications were prepared for permitting and tendering in consultation with internal/external stakeholders.

• May - June 2022: The City of Hamilton completed tendering to the four pre-qualified contractors.

• June 15, 2022: The last of the permits from six governing bodies including the MECP, Hamilton Conservation Authority, Ministry of Transportation, Transport Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Royal Botanical Gardens was received allowing the City to proceed with remediation work.

• June 6 - June 16, 2022: Aquatic biologists hired by the City of Hamilton completed Lilliput Mussel search and relocation work in accordance with the mandated Species at Risk (SAR) protocol.

• July 8, 2022: The tender for targeted dredging work was awarded to Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc. with a corresponding bid price of $5,919,992.00

• August 2-5, 2022: The City of Hamilton completed habitat enhancements for the Lilliput mussel host species, the bluegill and sunfish in accordance with Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Lilliput mussel Overall Benefit Permit.

• August 22, 2022: In-water dredge work scheduled to begin the week of August 22, 2022.

In-water work is expected to take place seven days a week between 7 am and 7 pm Excess noise, dust or smells are not expected as part of this work and residents with questions or concerns can contact the City’s Customer Contact Centre at 905-546-CITY (2489) and state that the call is related to the Chedoke Creek remediation project.

The City of Hamilton continues to be committed to the health of the watershed and to ensuring members of the public receive regular updates on the City’s efforts. Given the significance of this project, the City has launched a dedicated project website to share timelines, permitting status details, a construction schedule and information on each offsetting remediation/mitigation project identified in the Cootes Paradise Workplan at:  www.hamilton.ca/ChedokeCreekRemediation.

Staff are preparing an Information Report for the General Issues Committee (GIC) meeting on September 7, 2022 that will provide further information relating to remediation progress to date.