Use the information on this page to help you understand and prepare for flooding if you live in Bramalea near Spring Creek.
1. KNOW YOUR RISKS
The flood vulnerable cluster is located on Spring Creek within the Etobicoke Creek watershed. It lies in the Bramalea City Centre of Brampton, near Highway 407 and Bramalea Road. It is a designated Special Policy Area (see definition below).
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 Spring Creek
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 Spring Creek cluster is subject to flooding because the stream is not fully able to carry all flows through the openings of multiple culvert crossings. Constrained channels (on both Spring Creek and Dixie tributary) also contribute to the problem.
This cluster could receive significant spills from the river, particularly through the Peel Centre Drive area and the Avondale Special Policy Area, or SPA (see SPA definition above).
The known flood locations are:
- Bramalea City Centre is subject to flooding because the exiting culverts and watercourse don’t have adequate conveyance capacity. The culvert under Clark Boulevard creates significant backwater* upstream, which also contributes to flooding in the area.
*NOTE: Backwater is the term for water that has been backed up in its course by some form of obstruction.
- Birchbank Public School. Flooding in this area typically occurs when flow exceeds culvert capacity and becomes backed up — in particular, at the culvert under the Birchbank P.S. entrance road.
- Flooding may occur upstream of Central Park Drive (Spring Creek). A restricted culvert in this area can lead to backwater* upstream of the Central Park Drive and Hilldale Crescent culverts.
- There is risk of flooding in the vicinity of Chinguacousy Park due to channel capacity issues and the storage capacity of the park’s ponds. The Queen Street culvert also causes backwater* issues.
- The Avondale Boulevard area can be prone to flooding. The Avondale Boulevard culvert creates a backwater* effect and can cause flow to spill in the vicinity of the culvert crossing.
- High-risk flood zones appear just north of Highway 407 along Spring Creek. Insufficient channel capacity can cause issues all the way from downstream of Alfred Kuehne Boulevard to upstream of the Highway 407 Bridge.
What Types of Flooding* Can Affect Residents?
- River 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 Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (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.
*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.
Flooding Can Happen at Any Time of Year
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WINTER: A rise in the water level or a thaw can break winter ice into large chunks, which can lead to jams due to blocked culverts in this area. |
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SPRING: Spring Creek can experience high flows in the early spring, as rising temperatures melt the winter’s accumulation of snow, causing water levels to rise. |
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SUMMER: Intense, localized downpours from thunderstorms can quickly lead to flooding in smaller locales such as Spring Creek. |
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FALL: Large wet weather systems, including tropical storms such as Hurricane remnants (like Hurricane Hazel in 1954), can last for several days. Prolonged and heavy precipitation, on top of already saturated soils, can cause rivers to rise. |
How Will I Know If Flooding 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, 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
| • TRCA Flood Risk Management | |
| • City of Brampton | |
| • Region of Peel | |
| • Peel Regional Police | |
| • Brampton Transit |
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 located in Bramalea near Spring Creek become better prepared for flood risk. To learn more about riverine flooding in this area, 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: Flood Ready – Tips for overland flooding and first steps to prepare your home |
| • Flood Smart Canada – Created in partnership with the Insurance Bureau of Canada, this resource is designed to help Canadians better prepare for flooding. |
| • Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation: Flood Protection Resources |
| • Electrical Safety Authority: Flood Safety Information |
Information About Flood Insurance