tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14958949.post451946863562074797..comments2023-08-20T10:49:09.928-04:00Comments on Don Watcher: Linchpin of the Lower DonDonwatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14196127953849417904noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14958949.post-10659146278872039452007-01-02T20:34:00.000-05:002007-01-02T20:34:00.000-05:00Ken,
Thanks for the very accurate and technical c...Ken,<br /><br />Thanks for the very accurate and technical clarifications. I just want to add my own comments.<br /><br />1) I realize the Flood Protection Landform or berm on the west side of the river is integral to the project. I see it as a separate yet parallel project to the bridge reconstruction. I didn't mention it because, a) it hasn't been started yet, and b) I felt that talking about both would make for a lengthy article. When the berm construction is started I will certainly blog about it.<br /><br />2) I wasn't aware of the modelling aspect about the different rainfall amounts over the Don and the Humber being different. Nevertheless, I disagree with your assertion that the railway was not a significant contributing factor. Flooding north of the embankment was more serious than it was on the south side (at least to the west).<br /><br />3) I am well aware of the complexities of the Don Mouth project. However, I don't believe that it can be done without first performing the flood protection work currently underway.Donwatcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14196127953849417904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14958949.post-46887303271727562832007-01-02T20:21:00.000-05:002007-01-02T20:21:00.000-05:00I received these comments on my post from Ken Dion...I received these comments on my post from Ken Dion, TRCA project manager.<br /><br />1) The main flood protection feature that will prevent flooding into the West Don Lands and downtown Toronto up to the Hurricane Hazel sized event, will be the Flood Protection Landform that will underlie the future Don River Park. The Kingston Railway Bridge Extension is a critical mitigation feature that will provide sufficient hydraulic capacity underneath of the railway to compensate for the additional flood waters that will be pushed back into the Don River once the Landform is constructed. This will ensure that there is not an increase in flood levels upstream and to the east of the river, resulting from the construction of the Landform.<br /><br />2) The level of flooding in the lower Don during the actual Hurricane Hazel event was significantly lower than the anticipated flood levels that are calculated by our computer generated hydraulic and hydrological models for the Don River because the actual Hurricane Hazel was centred over the Humber River. Our computer models calculate the level of flooding as if Hurricane Hazel was centred over the Don. As a result of the significantly lower levels during the actual hurricane in the Don as compared to the computer generated levels, the railwaybridge was not likely a significant contributor to the moderate level of flooding in the area that occurred in the 1950s storm. During a Hurricane Hazel sized event over the Don Watershed, the railway embankment will likely contribute to the extent of flooding in the area, however this sized event has not yet been observed in recorded history.<br /><br />3) The Don Mouth Naturalization Project has not proceeded up to now not so much due to the uncertainty over the volume of water that will come south of the railway bridge, rather it was the sheer magnitude of costs to study and undertake the work, combined with the extensive infrastructure in the way, the extent of contaminated soils and uncertainty over the use of the Port Lands that has delayed progress. The naturalization is only possible in a highly coordinated process that examines and plans all these issues together, combined with the political will and financial commitment from all levels of government (through the TWRC) that makes this project possible. Even with this commitment, it has been a large undertaking to get all the complicating adjacent land issues moving at the same time - hence the resulting delays.Donwatcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14196127953849417904noreply@blogger.com