Use the information on this page to help you understand and prepare for flooding if you live near Bolton in the Town of Caledon.
1. KNOW YOUR RISKS
The majority of downtown Bolton is within the floodplain of the Humber River, and is susceptible to flooding. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) ranks Bolton among the top 10 Flood Vulnerable Clusters (Read definition) in our jurisdiction.
The cluster is a designated SPA, or Special Policy Area. (Read definition.)
Do You Live in an Area at Risk of Riverine Flooding?
USE OUR MAP VIEWER TO FIND OUT
If you’re not sure whether your home is in a floodplain, use TRCA’s map viewer to find out. Just enter your address in the search bar. If your home lies within the shaded areas, you could be at risk of flooding.
Understanding Flood Risk in Bolton
KNOW THESE TERMS:
Flood Vulnerable Cluster: An area within the floodplain with a high concentration of buildings and roads that could be impacted by riverine flooding.
Special Policy Area (SPA): An area within a community that has historically existed in the floodplain and where site-specific Provincial policies are intended to provide for the continued viability of existing uses.
The downtown area of Bolton was historically developed around river-based mill industries, long before the advent of land use management practices designed to reduce flood risk.
Today, the downtown Bolton community is susceptible to flooding as a result of heavy rainfall events, the spring thaw, and — as experienced in early 2019 — ice jams.
The Bolton Flood Vulnerable Cluster is located in the vicinity of Highway 50 and King Street.
While the Bolton berm and channel have provided functional flood protection for most rainfall events, the flood event of March 2019 demonstrated the risk associated with ice jams in this area.
Historically, ice jams in Bolton have occurred in the river reaches of Hickman Street (west of Queen Street), King Street and Old King Road, and Sneath Road, downstream to Albion-Vaughan Road.
Learn more from TRCA about flood risk in general HERE.
What Types of Flooding Can Affect Bolton Residents?
Did you know that there are several types of flooding? Different levels of government are responsible for different types of flooding. To find out who to contact during a flood, see BE PREPARED.
- Riverine flooding, which occurs when the water levels of rivers rise, overflowing their banks. Reducing riverine flood risk is under the mandate of Conservation Authorities like TRCA.
- Urban or Pluvial flooding consists of street flooding, basement flooding, and flooding of other low-lying areas due to the overflow of local drainage systems. Municipalities are responsible for managing this type of flooding.
Flooding in Bolton Can Happen at Any Time of Year
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WINTER: Ice Jams. When temperatures and/or water levels rise, river ice breaks into large chunks. These chunks can become jammed at bridges or other obstructions. Rivers can become backed up and can overflow their banks. |
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SPRING: Spring Thaw. Accumulation of snow during the winter season can lead to flooding during the early spring if conditions are right. When temperatures rise, snow melts and turns to runoff. |
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SUMMER: Thunderstorms. Thunderstorms can bring large amounts of rain in a short period of time. These intense, localized downpours can lead to flash flooding. |
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FALL: Seasonal Weather Systems. Large wet weather systems, including tropical storms such as hurricane remnants (like Hurricane Hazel in 1954), can last for several days. This prolonged and heavy precipitation, on top of already saturated soils, can cause rivers to rise. |
Flood Protection in Downtown Bolton
Bolton Berm: How Flood Infrastructure in the Area Works
In the early 1980s, TRCA constructed a network of berms and a flood control channel in downtown Bolton from Highway 50 to King Road.
Berms were built along the south bank of the river to prevent flood water from entering the Bolton core. A flood control channel was constructed under Humber Lea Road to bypass the oxbow section of river.
A culvert was placed under King Road to help regulate the release of water to the oxbow (curved) section of the river.
When high water flows are present, most of the water flows through the flood control channel. This reduces the risk of flooding for the homes around the bends in the river.
Learn more about TRCA’s flood control infrastructure HERE.
Flood Protection Update
Bolton Berm Major Maintenance Project
TRCA is pleased to announce the completion of Phase II of the Bolton Berm project. Staff will continue to be on-site until the end of the year completing site restoration.
TRCA drone footage shows the progress of the Bolton Berm Major Maintenance Project:
Bolton Berm Major Maintenance Project – Photo Slideshow:
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is TRCA doing maintenance on the Bolton Berm?
In 2016, TRCA hired an engineer to investigate the Bolton Berm. The berm was found to be too small to protect against the 500-year flood.
This is because the information available when the berm was built in the 1980s was limited. Our ability to predict how floods maneuver through a river system has improved substantially over the past 40 years. In 2016, TRCA was able to apply digital mapping, updated rainfall data, and modern hydraulic modelling software to test the berm.
The engineer’s study determined that, in some areas, the water elevation of the 500-year flood is higher than the top of the berm, and that the berm would overtop during this storm event. The engineer also found that more erosion protection for the berm is required.
What work has TRCA been doing on the berm?
TRCA has increased the height of the berm by removing the topsoil and adding compacted, engineered fill. Stone has been added to the river side of the berm to protect it from erosion. The berm has been raised 20 to 70 centimetres, depending on the location along the crest.
Restoration has included seeding the berm with grasses and planting riparian shrubs along the riverbank.
Because the berm is very long, TRCA has conducted this work in phases:
- Phase I: the berm will be repaired between 181 King Street East and 211 King Street East
- Phase II: the section of berm between Queen Street and Humber Lea Road
When did this project start?
- TRCA started Phase I work on the berm in September 2020 and completed the work in December 2020.
- Phase II began in January 2021, and has included the sections of the berm between (A) Queen Street East and Mill Street, and (B) Mill Street and Humber Lea Road
Will this construction prevent ice jams?
This project addresses the flood risk associated with high flows in the river. It will not prevent ice jams. However, increasing the height of the berm will reduce the risk of overtopping due to ice.
Enhanced monitoring for ice jam potential is the most effective method for reducing risk. For more information, please refer to the presentation, panels, and Q&As from our January 2020 open house.
Why did all the trees on the berm need to be removed?
TRCA had to remove the trees on the berm to enable construction crews to raise the berm with new material. Once construction was completed, the berm was re-planted with new grass.
In the future, TRCA will remove any trees that start to grow on the berm, because their roots can weaken the berm. If a tree blows over, the root system can also rip up large areas of the berm.
To compensate for the removal of trees from the berm, TRCA will plant new trees in the surrounding area, particularly the north bank of the Humber River across from the berm. While most of the trees currently growing on the berm are invasive Manitoba maples, the new trees will be native species.
In addition, TRCA will plant shallow root shrubs on the river side of the berm to provide riparian habitat.
How Will I Know If Flooding In Bolton Is Forecasted?
- TRCA operates a Flood Forecasting and Warning Program. If flooding is possible or about to occur, TRCA issues flood messages to designated individuals within municipalities, local agencies, school boards, the media, and members of the public who self-subscribe. LEARN MORE
- TRCA maintains a network of river and rainfall gauges. You can get real-time gauging information HERE.
2. BE PREPARED
When it comes to flood preparedness, everyone — homeowners, landlords, renters, and condo owners — has a role to play. You can take steps to prepare; just select a category below to find out more.
Get more preparedness tips from TRCA HERE.
3. STAY INFORMED
Use the following sources to stay informed during a flood:
| • Check your local weather online, or on radio or television before you leave the house. |
| • Check Environment Canada’s public weather alerts |
| • Sign up to receive TRCA flood messages |
| • Check your local municipal and public transit social media links (below). |
Social Media Alerts and Notices
Additional Resources
TRCA Open House Information Session
In January 2020, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) hosted an open house information session to help residents and businesses in downtown Bolton become better prepared for flood risk. To learn more about riverine flooding in Bolton, just check out the resources from the open house below.
VIEW THE DISPLAY PANELS FROM THE OPEN HOUSE
You can download a PDF copy of the panels, or view the panels using the document reader below. Select Read Now for a full-screen view; select the arrow to the right to advance to the next page.
Useful Links
| • Emergency Management Ontario |
| • Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act: Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians |
• Public Safety Canada:
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| • Flood Smart Canada – Created in partnership with the Insurance Bureau of Canada, this resource is designed to help Canadians better prepare for flooding. |
| • Electrical Safety Authority: Flood Safety Information |
| • Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation: Flood Protection Resources |
| • Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction: Protect Your Home from Basement Flooding |
Information About Flood Insurance