Couchiching First Nation Stormwater Management Infrastructure Upgrades– Public Comments Invited

November 10, 2021 – Infrastructure Canada and Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Couchiching First Nation Stormwater Management Infrastructure Upgrades, located at Couchiching First Nation, Ontario, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Infrastructure Canada and Indigenous Services Canada are inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website (https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/50/evaluations/{rptection?culture=en-CA). 

Written comments must be submitted by December 10, 2021 to:

Claire Hughson, Environmental Review Officer, Infrastructure Canada (claire.hughson@infc.gc.ca).

The Proposed Project

The project will improve stormwater management in the Couchiching First Nation in Ontario. The work includes regrading approximately 10 kilometres of road for water diversion, clearing and expanding ditches, clearing or upsizing 150 culverts, and treating and improving the quality of stormwater effluent by introducing wetland plants and swales. The project will reduce or eliminate health and safety risks from pooling, sewage back-ups, basement flooding and residential mould, and improve the quality of stormwater runoff entering Rainy Lake.