Flooding

Stormwater network flooding happens if the amount of rainfall or melting snow is too much for drainage systems to handle. If this happens, storm sewers can backup, roadways and parks fill with water and water may seep into building walls, floors, and back up through sewer pipes. 

Design standards for stormwater management in Ontario have evolved over the years. Oakville's stormwater management network is designed to reduce the risk of flooding. However, communities have different design standards and levels of flooding risk depending on when the community was built.  

Pre-1970 drainage systems were designed to move rainfall runoff as quickly as possible. They focused on flooding of individual developments, but the impacts that resulted from development were generally ignored. As a result, natural drainage systems, such as creeks and lakes were affected by increased flooding, erosion and poorer water quality.  

In the late 1970’s to early 1980’s, a new approach focused on preventing downstream flooding and erosion problems. Stormwater management techniques, such as dry stormwater management ponds, were applied to reduce peak flow discharges from developments. 

In the early 1990's, the watershed planning approach emerged. The key principle being that overall watershed objectives should consider all physical, chemical, and biological criteria that are important to aquatic life and to human health. The use of wet stormwater management ponds became a primary stormwater management technique.

Learn more about stormwater management

• Stormwater management ponds
• Stormwater Management Master Plan

Creeks can flood when rain or melting snow causes the creek water levels to rise and spill over its banks into areas next to it. The areas next to the creeks that can be underwater for a period of time are called floodplains.  

If you would like to know if your property is next to a floodplain, or if you're considering construction within or next to a floodplain, you should contact to local regulatory authority.

Contact

Properties near the following creeks should contact Conservation Halton at 905-336-1158, ext. 2227 or envserv@hrca.on.ca:

• Sheldon Creek
• Bronte Creek
• Fourteen Mile Creek
• McCraney Creek
• Taplow and Glen Oaks Creeks
• Sixteen Mile Creek
• Shannon Creek
• Munn’s Creek
• Morrison and Wedgewood Creeks
• Joshua’s Creek

Properties near Clearview Creek should contact Credit Valley Conservation at 905-670-1615 or planning@creditvalleyca.ca.

Learn more about Oakville's creek flood mitigation studies

Visit the Environmental Projects & Studies page.

Lake Ontario collects water from precipitation, runoff from the surrounding basin, and water from the Niagara River. Lake Ontario flooding happens when high water levels from these water sources making the lake overflow along the shoreline. 

In 2017, this is what happened. 

• From January to June of 2017, the Niagara River swelled to higher than average levels. 
• April and May had record-breaking precipitation, including rain and snow, in the Lake Ontario basin.
• Precipitation added about three quarters of a metre to Lake Ontario through precipitation directly onto the lake surface as well as runoff from the rest of the basin.  
• Floodwaters along the shores of Lake Ontario closed roads, penetrated homes, destroyed break walls and eroded away shoreline. 
• Shore-bound residents watched the lake rise almost a meter above its normal levels.  
• Resulted in Oakville council having to approve $3.8 million to repair damage to its shoreline and harbours.

If you are considering construction on a shoreline property, check with Conservation Halton at 905-336-1158 ext. 2227 or envserv@hrca.on.ca.

Learn more about shoreline protection

Visit the Shoreline page.