Sophia Creek Stormwater Management Pond Upgrades

Project Type

Stormwater & Creeks

Status

Recently Completed

As part of the City’s ongoing efforts to revitalize creeks and provide improved water quality within our watersheds, staff completed the retrofit/upgrade the Currie Storm water management facility (Pond ID SP03).

The pond is located in the Sophia Creek Watershed near the intersection of St. Vincent Street and Highway 400. The improvements noted below were done to upgrade the stormwater management facility per the Sophia Creek Watershed & Mulcaster Drainage Area Class EA Update (2017), to improve system and environmental performance.

Project Updates

October 9, 2024

Yesterday, the City was recognized with a Healthy Water Award at the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority's Conservation Awards, for this project work. The Healthy Water Award is presented to individuals and groups who have completed a project that improves, supports or protects the water quality in the Lake Simcoe watershed.

Read More About the Award

Clare Riepma, Ward 1 Councillor, City of Barrie and Chair of the LSRCA Board of Directors; Craig Thompson, Engineering Contract Administrator, City of Barrie; Jeff Henry, Engineering Project Manager, City of Barrie; Randy Greenlaw, Mayor of Oro-Medonte and Vice Chair of the LSRCA Board of Directors.

November 20, 2023
The bulk of the work on the pond was completed in October 2023. The pond is functioning as designed and the City is monitoring the pond's performance.
The project included the expansion and conversion of the existing dry stormwater pond to a wet pond. The capacity of the pond has now increased from 11,000 cubic metres to 31,500 cubic metres. The pond will reduce flooding downstream, as well as reduce phosphorous in the creek and ultimately help it from entering Kempenfelt Bay. There are some minor items that will be completed in the fall of 2023 and in 2024.
September 25, 2023
Most of the work is complete and the pond is functioning as designed. The project included the expansion and conversion of the existing dry stormwater pond to a wet pond. The capacity of the pond has now increased from 11,000 cubic metres to 31,500 cubic metres. The pond will reduce flooding downstream, as well as reduce phosphorous in the creek and ultimately help it from entering Kempenfelt Bay. There are some minor items that will be completed in the fall of 2023 and in 2024.
July 26, 2023
The construction of the stormwater facility is nearly completed. The contractor has began restoration work, including placing seed on the banks of the new pond. The majority of the work involving dump trucks hauling materials from site and deliveries to site are now completed. The contractor is expected to begin operations to restore asphalt at 28 Currie Street within the first week of August.
The contractor will return in the cooler months of the fall to plant the trees, shrubs, and aquatic plants around the pond.
June 21, 2023
The construction of the stormwater facility is progressing well ahead of schedule. The contractor is currently working on excavating the forebay of the new pond. The aftbay and outlet are mostly constructed, with some minor grading still required. The contractor will deliver armourstone for the construction of the new pond inlet shortly. The contractor is actively managing dust from the site.
April 2023
The contractor is continuing construction on the stormwater management facility. Construction is currently on schedule. Hauling of material from site has begun. The contractor is actively managing the tracking of mud and debris from site.
March 2023
The contractor has mobilized and is continuing construction on the stormwater management facility. Construction is currently on schedule. It is anticipated that heavy truck traffic will increase to and from site during the week of March 20, 2023. As the warmer weather approaches, the contractor is actively managing the tracking of mud and debris from site.
February 2023
The contractor will begin mobilizing during the week of February 6, 2023 to prepare the site for construction activities on the week of February 13, 2023. It is anticipated that heavy truck traffic will increase to and from site during the week of February 20, 2023.

Schedule

These improvements began February 2023. The original estimated completion date was on or about December 2023. The work progressed well ahead of schedule and was completed in fall 2023.

Project Features

The overall objective of the project was to:

enlargeof the existing SWM facility and convert from a dry pond to a wet pond to provide additional flood control and improved water quality;
restore and rehabilitate an existing watercourse adjacent to the new wet pond facility;
naturalize the site through landscape planting and seeding.

Example of completed conversion of dry pond to wet pond:

Dry pond on left; wet pond on right — Example of completed conversion of dry pond to wet pond

Frequently Asked Questions

When designed properly, stormwater structures should not promote mosquito breeding. Ensuring that these structures are properly designed and maintained is the key to limiting mosquito production.
Please note that commonly overlooked mosquito breeding areas are residential backyards. Homeowners should check their property to eliminate mosquito breeding. Water can collect in various areas and may provide the perfect habitat for mosquitoes.