Cheery sign near Charles St. and CN railway, but questions remain about environmental impact of flood-control project

The Town of Sackville and Crandall Engineering of Moncton must answer a series of environmental questions before construction can begin on a massive flood-control project in a 33 acre (13.4 hectare) area between Lorne Street and the Tantramar River.

The project is currently undergoing a formal environmental impact assessment that must be completed before the provincial environment minister approves it.

As part of that review, a federal-provincial committee raised serious concerns late last month in a six-page letter signed by Christie Ward of the New Brunswick Department of the Environment.

Among other things, the letter sharply criticized the town for not submitting information on species that may be at risk during construction, including ground-nesting birds such as the common nighthawk and bobolink.

“Please be advised it is not possible to adequately evaluate the effects of the project on migratory birds, species at risk, and species of conservation concern, based on the limited information provided,” the letter said.

It also chided the town for not outlining steps to avoid or minimize harm to such species.

The review committee stopped short of requiring a full biological inventory of the area, a process that could take up to a year. It did, however, call for follow-up field surveys by professional biologists, with the results reported to the “appropriate regulatory agencies for review.”

Town responds

In its formal response on behalf of the town, Crandall Engineering promised to gather information on species at risk and to come up with a plan to mitigate any damage, but it did not promise further surveys by professional biologists, since it said construction won’t be happening during bird-nesting season.

That response will now be assessed by the federal-provincial, technical review committee to determine if it meets the necessary requirements.

The committee is also calling on the town and Crandall to fulfill a number of other requirements, including detailed mapping of all wetlands in the area, taking steps to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and preventing the release of hazardous materials during construction.

To read the technical review committee’s letter, click here.

To read Crandall’s responses on behalf of the town, click here.

Project revised

Drawing showing the scope of flood-control project with two large retention ponds outlined in purple: the first, south of St. James St. and the second, south of the CN rail line, east of Charles St.

As part of the environmental impact assessment, the town was required to hold a meeting last week to gather comments and questions from the public. A drawing showed the two large retention ponds that will be designed to store flood water during major storms until it can be discharged to the Tantramar River at low tide.

The project includes about 1.8 kilometres of channels to carry the stormwater such as major new ditches, concrete culverts under road and rail crossings, as well as a new aboiteau near the river that can carry four times more water than the present wooden one.

Town Engineer Dwayne Acton explained that the $2.9 million project no longer includes a wetland pond just east of Lorne Street and north of St. James. The town hopes that Ducks Unlimited will construct and pay for that smaller pond sometime next year as an extension of the Sackville Waterfowl Park.

Engineering experiment?

Sackville environmental consultant Sabine Dietz asked for an example of a similar scheme using large retention ponds to store stormwater on a low-lying flood plain rather than further up in the drainage basin.

“Has this been done somewhere where we can actually look at how it works?” Dietz asked. “Or are we looking at an experiment here?”

Crandall engineer Nathan LeBlanc said he didn’t have an immediate answer, but would get back with more information.

Later, Dwayne Acton said the town is well aware of the need to construct retention ponds closer to areas like the old quarry, where flood waters originate.

“We’re well aware of it,” he said. “If we could store water a little further up, that helps us down there and we’re looking at that…It is on our radar.”

To read more information about the flood-control project that the town filed as part of the environmental impact assessment, click here.

Note: Anyone who wishes to submit a comment or question on the flood-control project to the Town Engineer can do so by e-mailing d.acton@sackville.com before 3 p.m. on December 5th.