Port Lands Flood Protection

The Port Lands Flood Protection project has re-naturalized the Don Valley River to safeguard Downtown Toronto from increasing risks of flood, help spur economic growth and strengthen biodiversity.

Location

Ontario, Canada

Client

Waterfront Toronto

Project Value

$1.25B

Project Status

Completed

Protecting people, creating opportunities, fostering biodiversity—that’s our promise to Toronto

The Port Lands in Toronto was once one of the largest wetlands on Lake Ontario. However, beginning in the late 1800s, the area was gradually infilled to increase land availability for industry and shipping. Today, the Port Lands area sits within a designated floodplain, and all three levels of the Canadian government identified flood protection for the area as a top priority.

A challenging redevelopment of Toronto’s lakeshore

WSP is proud to have supported the Port Lands Flood project (PLFP) since 2017, where we delivered a robust Master Stormwater Management Strategy that showcases Future Ready® thinking and entails leading-edge approaches to surface water management that avoids the pitfalls of traditional stormwater management approaches. Cognizant of the complexities of this highly ambitious, publicly funded project to transform Toronto’s Waterfront and economy, WSP provided due diligence investigation and conceptual design development of municipal infrastructure and stormwater management for the Lower Don Lands Precinct. Upholding the importance of minimizing the project’s adverse environmental impacts, WSP designed air quality, weather, noise, vibration, and surface water monitoring plans that allowed continuous environmental surveillance through the full project life cycle. We also designed and implemented several web-based applications to facilitate remote, real-time monitoring 24/7, ensuring immediate mitigation of environmental impacts ad hoc.

Remote real-time monitoring and alert system developed and implemented to mitigate environmental impact

24/7

City’s waterfront investigated to confer flood protection program

125 ha

m³ of contaminated soil re-used, remediated or removed

1,000,000

Shaping our communities to thrive sustainably

It was an honour to take sustainable steps to revitalize the Waterfront landscapes and deliver many benefits for the City of Toronto.

The Port Lands Flood Protection project embodied principles aligned with WSP’s vision and mission to future-proof communities and shape them to thrive sustainably. In support of the project’s objectives, which included revitalizing the underutilized environment, mitigating the ever-increasing risks of floods, enhancing the quality of life, safeguarding the natural environment, and strengthening biodiversity, WSP provided a breadth of environmental, sustainability and advisory services.

Climate-positive design

Toronto’s Waterfront epitomizes sustainability, resilience and innovation with its future-ready designs that account for evolving climate change impacts, positioning the City as a climate leader and champion of innovation.

Strengthened biodiversity

The PLFP delivers an enhanced environment for Toronto’s residents, as well as wildlife on the Waterfront. Further, it will promote the return of different aquatic species.

Job creation

The Port Lands Flood Protection project brings added flood protection and renders a safer environment for residents and neighbourhoods of Downtown Toronto, enabling economic development and increased job opportunities.