Headwaters of Four Major Streams

As the highest point of land in the city, the proposed airport employment growth district falls within the jurisdiction of three separate conservation authorities – Hamilton, Niagara and Grand River. The area includes the headwaters of the Welland River, Twenty Mile Creek, Sulphur Spring (also known as Ancaster Creek) and Big Creek (that flows into the Grand River).

The consultant studies released in May say development will have to be controlled to prevent damage to fisheries and water quality in these streams. Their reports also admitted that “airport deicing operations and stormwater runoff” are already causing problems.

“It is our understanding that the airport currently lacks the necessary infrastructure to treat and store contaminated runoff and uncontaminated stormwater,” states the report. “Recent flow monitoring by the city indicates that significant quantities of stormwater and meltwater runoff generated at the airport are pumped to the sanitary sewer during both cold and warm weather. The city’s system also receives glycol discharges.”