OPWA Booklet I Design 2025 (4) - Flipbook - Page 22
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY CLIMATE RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE
$2M-$10M
CITY OF KITCHENER | STANTEC CONSULTING LTD.| R&M
CONSTRUCTION|REEP GREEN SOLUTIONS | SHIFT LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE
Montgomery Creek Restoration
The Montgomery Creek naturalization project is an exemplary initiative
demonstrating how municipalities can address climate change impacts on
infrastructure, community, and the environment. Unlike traditional grey
infrastructure, which weakens over time, nature-based solutions used in this project
become more resilient as native vegetation establishes and matures.
The project created a wider, meandering riffle/pool sequence that absorbs and slows
stormwater flows, mitigating flood risks. Natural channel design principles also
established fish habitat, providing shelter, breeding grounds, and food sources for
various species.
Native vegetation stabilizes soil, prevents erosion, and enhances ecosystem
resilience. Culturally important species identified by Indigenous partners were
planted, promoting local opportunities for connection to the land and foraging. The
project achieved a 10:1 tree planting ratio, along with 4,000 native shrubs, mitigating
the urban heat island effect, attenuating rainwater, and sequestering carbon dioxide.
Construction materials were sourced within 20 km of the project site, and on-site materials like existing benthic
material were reused. Sod mats with native flora and root mass were stockpiled and placed on the banks of the
constructed natural channel, accelerating the re-establishment of native flora by approximately three years. The
naturalization work included a new trail and footbridge, connecting neighbourhoods and providing easy access to
sports fields and community centers, fostering local place-making and enhancing community engagement.
Overall, the Montgomery Creek project significantly contributes to social and economic co-benefits, improving
flood resiliency, enhancing green spaces, and fostering community engagement and environmental stewardship.
The project was completed without safety incidents, earning community praise for the caring approach and
thoughtful integration of natural materials.
22 | OPWA AWARDS LUNCHEON
