Brantford Ice Jam Study

We have initiated a Class EA to investigate methods to reduce impacts from ice jam flooding on the Grand River in Brantford. The project will be carried out in partnership with the City of Brantford. Montrose Environmental has been retained as the study consultant.

The Gilkison Flats reach of the Grand River has a history of ice jam occurrences. In February 2018, a major ice jam set in through the reach, overtopping and circumventing flood protection along portions of the dike system through the City. The event required evacuations of thousands of city residents, caused extensive damages and cost to private holdings and public infrastructure, and required extensive emergency service operations from agencies. This flood event was set up through prior river and ice movement events that winter both through the reach and upstream watershed. A major ice jam with similar conditions also occurred in 1996.

An Ice Jam Study was completed by KGS Group following the 2018 ice jam to review the history of ice jams in the area and determine the meteorological conditions that contributed to the 2018 ice jam event. In 2021, Montrose Environmental (then Ecosystem Recovery Inc.) completed an Ice Jam Mitigation Feasibility Study to further develop concepts and costs for potential mitigation options and identify implementation considerations.

The objectives of the project are to:

1. Complete a baseline inventory (natural heritage, archeology, and cultural heritage assessments) to characterize the study area.
2. Develop a list of alternatives, including those that were carried forward from the feasibility study.
3. Select the preferred alternative(s) based on environmental, social, economic, and operational considerations.
4. Complete a detailed analysis to determine the environmental impact of the preferred alternative(s).
5. Carry out public consultation to gather public feedback on the mitigation alternatives.
6. Carry out First Nations engagement at key times throughout the study to incorporate input to be received in the decision-making process.
7. Complete an Environmental Assessment Report to satisfy the requirements of the Conservation Ontario Class EA.

The work for the project will commence in the spring of 2025. A Notice of Intent has been posted to inform the public of the project. Additional updates will be posted on this page as the work progresses.

A key component of the project is consultation with interested stakeholders (public, landowners and agencies) and First Nations. The project team will be hosting Public Information Centres (PICs) to gather input from interested groups and incorporate comments into the planning and design of the project. Dates of future PICs will be posted on this page when available.

The GRCA held a virtual Public Information Centre (PIC) in late 2020 as part of the Brantford Ice Jam Feasibility Study. The purpose of this PIC was to share information with interested community members, and to inform and identify priorities and interests that should be considered in project planning and execution.

Please note the following documents may not be accessible to people with disabilities. If you have a disability and require a document in an alternate format, please contact us.

• Notice of Study Commencement and Virtual Public Information Centre (795KB PDF);
• A video presentation;
• A transcript (226KB PDF) of the video presentation; and
• PIC boards (6.0MB PDF) for review.