What is Stormwater?
Stormwater is rainwater that is not naturally absorbed into the ground, and as a result runs off surfaces like roofs, roads and sidewalks. In undeveloped areas, rainwater for the most part is soaked up by soil and plants, but in developed urban areas, hard surfaces prevent this absorption, and as a result water can flow quickly into drains, culverts and streams.
The management of stormwater infrastructure plays a crucial role in mitigating risk. If not managed properly, heavy stormwater can lead to flooding and erosion of local waterways and structures. Stormwater management works to control runoff and prevent unforeseen impacts on local infrastructure.
Stormwater By-law
The Town of Mahone Bay has a new Stormwater Management By-law. This by-law aims to establish a set of rules for how new development or redevelopments must handle stormwater to prevent damage to structures or waterways. The by-law aims to ensure that the Town’s stormwater management infrastructure is more resilient to extreme weather occurrences. Click here to read the stormwater by-law.
Stormwater Infrastructure Charge
Beginning in 2024, a portion of the infrastructure charge levied by the Town is dedicated to stormwater management infrastructure improvements. The infrastructure charge is a uniform tax for all residents of Mahone Bay. Each dwelling unit/commercial space/lot is billed the infrastructure charge as part of regular property taxes. These charges pay for important capital projects in wastewater, transportation, parks and facilities, etc.
Stormwater is rainwater that is not naturally absorbed into the ground, and as a result runs off surfaces like roofs, roads and sidewalks. In undeveloped areas, rainwater for the most part is soaked up by soil and plants, but in developed urban areas, hard surfaces prevent this absorption, and as a result water can flow quickly into drains, culverts and streams.
The management of stormwater infrastructure plays a crucial role in mitigating risk. If not managed properly, heavy stormwater can lead to flooding and erosion of local waterways and structures. Stormwater management works to control runoff and prevent unforeseen impacts on local infrastructure.
Stormwater By-law
The Town of Mahone Bay has a new Stormwater Management By-law. This by-law aims to establish a set of rules for how new development or redevelopments must handle stormwater to prevent damage to structures or waterways. The by-law aims to ensure that the Town’s stormwater management infrastructure is more resilient to extreme weather occurrences. Click here to read the stormwater by-law.
Stormwater Infrastructure Charge
Beginning in 2024, a portion of the infrastructure charge levied by the Town is dedicated to stormwater management infrastructure improvements. The infrastructure charge is a uniform tax for all residents of Mahone Bay. Each dwelling unit/commercial space/lot is billed the infrastructure charge as part of regular property taxes. These charges pay for important capital projects in wastewater, transportation, parks and facilities, etc.
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The Climate Ready Infrastructure Service (CRIS) Report The Town of Mahone Bay recently contracted WSP to complete a study regarding stormwater challenges and potential solutions near the intersection of Clearway and Main Street (3 on the map) This report provides a thorough review of flooding risks in the Clearway–Main Street area, which has experienced repeated overland flooding events during heavy rainfalls—most notably during the July 2023 storm. Click here to read the full report. |
Ernst Brook
Ernst Brook is a small watercourse the flows through the centre of Mahone Bay. This watercourse plays a large role in handling stormwater in our community. Stormwater from parts of town as far removed as Pine Grove Street and Long Hill Road all flows into the Ernst Brook on its way to the harbour. During heavy rainfall this watercourse receives large amounts of runoff from different sources, contributing to flooding of the brook, especially when existing infrastructure upstream may be undersized and become overwhelmed.
Ernst Brook is a small watercourse the flows through the centre of Mahone Bay. This watercourse plays a large role in handling stormwater in our community. Stormwater from parts of town as far removed as Pine Grove Street and Long Hill Road all flows into the Ernst Brook on its way to the harbour. During heavy rainfall this watercourse receives large amounts of runoff from different sources, contributing to flooding of the brook, especially when existing infrastructure upstream may be undersized and become overwhelmed.
Some preliminary analysis regarding Ernst Brook, done in 2016 by the engineering firm CBCL (Mahone Harbour Flood Prevention and Shoreline Enhancement Plan), shows that there are widespread flooding risks throughout the town. Flood risks along Ernst Brook include Town infrastructure, private residences and commercial buildings.
The Town recently conducted an analysis of erosion in the Ernst Brook tidal area (1 on the map) with adjacent property owners, updating and expanding upon prior work done by CBCL.
The Town is also currently in the design stage of two stormwater diversion projects impacting tributaries of Ernst Brook (4 and 5 on the map).
Jubilee Pond Study
In the CBCL report, (Mahone Harbour Flood Prevention and Shoreline Enhancement Plan), a municipally owned pond was identified in the section, Design of Stormwater Management Infrastructure, as part of a flood risk area. The pond is in Jubilee Park, a municipal park, located at 6 Pond Street, Mahone Bay, NS. The pond is connected to Ernst Brook.
The Town is in the process of putting out a tender for a feasibility report, that will study the hydrology of the watershed that feeds Jubilee Pond, as well as identifying projects to manage stormwater in Jubilee Pond itself. Some potential projects include constructing a berm, increasing the capacity of the pond, and enhancing the wetland behind the pond. The hydrology of the watershed is necessary, in order to understand the flow of water through the watershed, and the rate at which the pond discharges water.
The Jubilee Pond outlet pipe goes under a gravel lane, follows an open channel, then goes into a culvert under Clairmont St and then follows another open channel into Ernst Brook. There is a wooded wetland area upstream of Jubilee Pond (2 on the map).
In the CBCL report, (Mahone Harbour Flood Prevention and Shoreline Enhancement Plan), a municipally owned pond was identified in the section, Design of Stormwater Management Infrastructure, as part of a flood risk area. The pond is in Jubilee Park, a municipal park, located at 6 Pond Street, Mahone Bay, NS. The pond is connected to Ernst Brook.
The Town is in the process of putting out a tender for a feasibility report, that will study the hydrology of the watershed that feeds Jubilee Pond, as well as identifying projects to manage stormwater in Jubilee Pond itself. Some potential projects include constructing a berm, increasing the capacity of the pond, and enhancing the wetland behind the pond. The hydrology of the watershed is necessary, in order to understand the flow of water through the watershed, and the rate at which the pond discharges water.
The Jubilee Pond outlet pipe goes under a gravel lane, follows an open channel, then goes into a culvert under Clairmont St and then follows another open channel into Ernst Brook. There is a wooded wetland area upstream of Jubilee Pond (2 on the map).
