Woodlands Woodbine Community Drainage Improvements

The Community Drainage Improvements program was launched in 2010 to mitigate flooding in areas throughout the city. Drainage studies were undertaken to identify solutions for communities frequently hit by flooding due to extreme rainfall. Such solutions can include adding additional storm drainage pipes, increasing the size of pipes, and adding wet or dry storm ponds to help manage stormwater.

In recent years the communities of Woodlands, Woodbine, Cedarbrae and Braeside have experienced an unusually high number of high volume rainfall events. These communities currently have a storm level service of a one-in-five year rainfall event or less, which was the standard at the time these communities were first built. That means that there is now a 20 percent chance (or greater) that the storm system will not handle rainfall events causing local flooding in any given year.

Drainage improvements being looked at for these communities target a 1-in-50 year level of service. Once upgrades are in place there will be a two percent chance in any given year that rain events would overwhelm the storm system.

Installation of a dry pond

The City of Calgary will be constructing a new dry pond in the fields located east of the John Ware and St. Benedict schools. This dry pond will greatly reduce flooding during extreme rain events, specifically the flooding that occurs at the intersection of Southland Drive and Braeside Drive.Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2017 with completion by fall of 2018.The fields will remain inaccessible to the public for the entire duration of construction.

Construction impacts

Construction of the dry pond consists of earthworks (excavation and grading), underground piping and landscaping.Construction impacts will include:

• Increased traffic to site (construction crews, trucks hauling materials to and from site) on Southland Drive and on Palliser Drive
• Construction noise
• Fields will remain fenced off and closed to the public for the duration of construction
• Traffic and sidewalk detours

Chain link fencing will be installed at the location shown on the map above and inaccessible to the public for the duration of construction.Construction access will be off of Palliser Drive. Road and sidewalk detours will be in effect during different stages of construction.

Community benefits

The dry pond will significantly reduce flooding that occurs at Southland Drive and Palliser Drive, and along Braeside Drive. During heavy rainfall, overall vehicle and pedestrian safety will be improved, traffic congestion reduced and emergency vehicle access unimpeded by flooding. John Ware and St. Benedict schools will each receive a new soccer field (two in total) and a new baseball diamond will be built allowing for more recreational opportunities for the community.

Other projects being planned for this area include:

• 24 Street SW storm diversion
• Bebo Grove wet pond in Fish Creek Provincial Park
• Installation of inlet control devices, bio-retention areas, replacement or upgrade of catch basins and manholes, storm sewer diversions, and improvement of overland spill routes in various locations.

Specific timing of these projects is still being determined, however we expect construction to be ongoing through 2018 and 2019.

Project information

If you have any questions or concerns about this project contact 311.