1 Introduction

1.1 Background

Windsor is the one of the most important border crossing between

Canada and the United States. More than 16 million cars, trucks and

buses travel through the city each year, representing approximately 33

per cent of Canada-United States truck trade. In 2001 alone, this two-

way merchandise trade totaled at over $140 billion. Windsor's economy

is intricately linked with the international border crossing. As Canadian

and American trade and tourism increase through the years, projected

traffic volume is also predicted to increase. This has made it apparent to

government and commercial officials that there is a need for an

additional border crossing which will have the capacity to handle the

projected traffic volume. The privately owned Ambassador Bridge

currently spans across the Detroit River and links up Detroit and Windsor

traffic through the international border crossing facilities on each side of

the bridge. One of the main concerns associated to Ambassador Bridge

border crossing is that an urban road system links up with the

Ambassador Bridge as opposed to a Highways System. This means that

before a driver can reach the border crossing they need to cross several

street lights within the city core. This causes large traffic jams and

impede on the overall traffic ease of the city. This is why the new border

crossing is intended to be directly linked to the Canadian and American

 highway systems, such that traffic flow within Detroit and Windsor is

much more feasible.

The Detroit River International Crossing Project (DRIC) is a large scale

interdisciplinary engineering project currently valued at over one billion

dollars. Construction of the New Detroit-Windsor border crossing is

intended to begin in late 2009. This border crossing will be built in

stages such that the traffic flow matches the facility capacity. Once the

preliminary design is complete, the project will be ready for a

construction bid. The border crossing is intended to be built as a

showcase of leading edge innovation in: water resource engineering,

traffic engineering, environmental engineering, energy efficiency,

logistics and security.

1.2 Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to develop the design of a storm water

management system for the projected Windsor Detroit International

Border Crossing Plaza site. This report will contain two parts: Firstly, a

preliminary report developing and selecting alternatives identifying the

hydrological challenges of this project. Secondly, a detailed design

report dealing with the hydrological challenges of the preliminary

report .In addition to that the technical report should follow best

management practices (BMPs) meeting regulated design standards

 outlined in the 2003 Ministry of the Environment storm water

management guideline.

1.3 Preliminary Report Overview

2 Site Description

The western edge of the proposed site runs along the Detroit River. The

most Southern East point is located at the intersection of Ojebway

Parkway and Broadway Street. The site measures 0.534 km2. By looking

at geotechnical samples and grade pictures of surrounding site, the pre-

existing site terrain inclines towards the South Eastern edge of the

proposed site. At the same time, it is fairly flat, the elevation difference

over 1.45km is 3.5 m.

Morrison Hershfield provided design drawings which outlined our sites

borders and area. Our calculations and design specifications will be based

on these drawings. The Map below was obtained from Google EarthTM.
Figure 2.1 - Plaza Site Outlined

2.1 Existing Land Use and Vegetation

Since the percentage of the paved road is very small when compared to

the landscape area, the resulting runoff coefficient for the existing

condition is assumed to be cultivated land. So C = 0.34 and 0.47 for 5

year & 100 year storm event respectively.

2.2 Existing Soil and Groundwater Condition

2.3 Topography and Surface Water Drainage

3 Stormwater Management Design

3.1 Problem Definition

Water Quality:

The Canadian border crossing site is located in an industrial area which

is also connected two major highways. This means that chemical spills

can be expected in addition to that surrounding industrial building are

of a later generation and they are made with toxic chemicals such as

asbestos, lead and PCB’s. During a rainfall, theses chemicals can make

their way into the leachate and contaminate the water system i.e: the

Detroit River. This will ultimately endanger the ecosystem and

drinking water source.

Sediment Control:

Water is a highly abrasive medium and with enough time, water will

shape any material to its movement. Water abrasion of roads and

earth under the roads can compromise the structural integrity of any

driving surface. Earth abrasion can create pot-hole, earth vacancies

and landslides. For the safety of drivers these large driving surfaces

cannot afford to be structurally compromised, secondly it is also

important to mitigate the cost of repairing damaged driving surfaces.

 In addition to this, it is important to note that, storm water from the

North and the East sides of the site may contain large amounts of

sediments during the construction stage. This sediment laden runoff

can cause sewers to be filled with sediment and destroy fish habitat in

the river.

Road Safety:

The border crossing area is intended to be used as a high traffic area

for vehicles of all sizes, it is imperative that storm water be properly

drained such that driving surfaces are un-slippery safe condition to

drive on. In addition to that, we want to make sure that during a heavy

100 year rainfall, water is properly diverted from driving surfaces and

vehicle submersion in water is unlikely.

3.2 Considerations

The Canadian Plaza is approximately 54.3 ha, consisting primarily of

pavement and commercial buildings. Stormwater management for the

Plaza requires quality, quantity and erosion controls for the peak flows

from the Plaza, as the increase in impervious area will increase the

overall peak flows from the site, as well as the overall pollutant

loading. This would lead to erosion issues downstream of the site, as

well as impacts to the ecological condition of the Detroit River.

The Canadian Plaza consists mostly of asphalt pavement and building

rooftops. The principle concern for large sites with a high

imperiousness and vehicular traffic is providing stormwater treatment

for frequent vehicular pollutants (oil, gasoline, coolant, etc), roadside

grit and garbage (gravel, sand, and cigarette butts), infrequent

pollutant spills, and controlling increase of overland runoff to the

receiving watercourses. Enhance Quality treatment will also be

required in accordance to the MOE document “ Stormwater

Management Planning and Design Guidelines”, date 2003, Level 1

protection which states removal of a minimum of 80% total suspended

solids (TSS). It is to be designed based on a 100-year design flow and

be controlled for all storm events up to and including 100-year storm

event.

Based on the results and the site conditions, the solutions retained

were storage SWMP’s and oil/grit separators. The storage SWMP’s will

provide quality treatment, erosion control and quantity control for the

catchment area. Storage SWMP’s will be utilized to match existing

peak flow conditions to the receiving watercourses in an effort to

emulate existing conditions within the watersheds. Oil/grit separators

will provide quality treatment to the upstream catchment areas.

The stormwater management plan consists of creating one pond in the

green spaces south of the proposed plaza and a linear open

channel/wetland feature. These green spaces can be converted to

stormwater management facilities utilizing the existing drain to

connect the facilities, discharging to the Detroit River via an outlet

channel. The pond system provides closer outlets for the sewer

system, lowering the overall grading requirements of the Plaza. The

linear feature would be designed such that there would always be an

open portion to ensure that there is no restriction to the conveyance of

flow from one pond to the other. The pond system would control the

release rate to the Detroit River. In the event of a contaminant spill

with the Plaza, a shut off valve or alternative damming procedure will

be required within the pond.

4 Stormwater Management Ponds

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20

30

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4.1

4.2 Water Quantity Control

Rational method was used in determining for the peak flows of both

pre-development and post-development along with storage volume.

Qpeak = C*i*A

where Q - the peak flow (m3/s)

C - runoff coefficient

i - intensity of rainfalls (mm/hr)

A - the drainage area (ha)

The drainage area to be used in the design should include all those

areas which will reasonable or naturally drain to the storm system. The

area term in the Rational Method formula represents the total area
tributary under consideration. For this proposed site, the drainage area

is 63.8965 ha (see Figure X).

As noted in Section 2.1, the runoff coefficients used to determine pre-

developed flows are C = 0.34 for 5 year event, and C = 0.47 for 100

year event. For the post-development conditions, as depicted in

FigureX, approximately 29 ha of proposed site will be covered in

asphalt, with a further 1.7 ha of building area. The remaining 33.2 ha

of the site is proposed to be landscaped area. The proposed site has a

composite runoff coefficient value of 0.5472 for 5 year and 0.7009 for

100 year (please refer to calculation in Appendix X) and has an increase

runoff potential compared to existing conditions. The final drainage

area breakdown for the post-development condition, along with their

coefficients is shown in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1 – Drainage Areas, Land Covers and Runoff

Coefficients for Post-development

Runoff Coefficient
Description Area (m2) Area (ha)
5 year 100 year

Building 16629 1.6629 0.8 0.97

Paved Area 290083 29.0083 0.77 0.95

Landscape 332244 33.2244 0.34 0.47

Source: Water Resources Engineering by Larry Mays 2005

The rainfall intensity and time of concentration were determined from

intensity duration-frequency curve (IDF curve). The IDF curve for City

of Windsor were

Under the requirement of City of Windsor, 5-year and 100 year storm

events are needed to be taken into account. Time of concentration is

the time required for flow to reach the pond from the most remote part

of the drainage area. Upland method was used. As stated in the

“Water Resources Engineering” by Larry Mays 2005, upland method is

based on defining the time of concentration as a ratio of the hydraulic

flow length to the velocity.

Tc = L / (3600 * V)

where Tc - time of concentration (hrs)

L – hydraulic flow length (ft)

V – velocity (ft/s)

The velocity can be estimated by knowing the land use and the slope

(see Fig. 3.1 in appendix 1.)

 4.3 Water Quantity Control

4.3.1Design Criteria

The Esssex County Conservation Authority requires that post-

development peak flows from the proposed development will not

exceed their pre-development levels for rainfall events up to and

including the 1:100 year return period storm. Detention must

therefore be provided for any increase in post-development run-off.

The rational method was used in the determining pre- and post-

development flows along with storage volumes. Calculations are

enclosed in Appendix x. Table 3.3.1 provides a summary of flows and

storage volumes.

40

4.1

4.2Design Details of Proposed Pond

The proposed quantity control pond is indicated on Drawing X.

The tributary area of the pond will be 63.9 hectares of which 33.2

hectares will be undeveloped. Drainage will enter the pond via a

900mm diameter piped splitter storm sewer and via an overland flow

swale. Outlet control will be provided by means of a 650mm orifice

placed within the 875mm outlet pipe. The pond bottom will be graded
at 0.50% to reduce the possibility of ponding during low flow run-off

events. The pond invert (174.7 m) is above the level of the local water

table (173.5 m), and the side slope gradient has been reduced to 4:1 to

ensure slope stability during water level fluctuations.

The proposed pond was calculated into the 5 and 100 year post-

development and the results were compared to pre-development peak

flows. The pre-developed flows are 2.7759 m3/s and 6.2564 m3/s for 5

year and 100 year storm events respectively with an existing runoff

coefficient of 0.34 for 5 year and 0.47 for 100 year storm events and a

time of concentration of 35.3 mins. The post-development flows are

4.4675 m3/s and 9.3305 m3/s for 5 year and 100 year storm events

respectively with calculated post-development composite runoff

coefficient of 0.5472 for 5 year and 0.7009 for 100 year storm events

and a time of concentration of 35.3 mins.

Table 3.3.1 – Summary of Quantity Volume and Peak Flows

Design Parameters
 Pre-development Post-development
Items
5 yr 100 yr 5 yr 100 yr

Area (ha) 63.8956 63.8956 63.8956 63.8956

Runoff
0.34 0.47 0.5472 0.7009
Coefficient

The design events used in the analysis were as follows:

• 5 Year City of Windsor Storm
• 100 Year City of Windsor Storm

Time of Concentration : 35.3 mins

 Summary
Peak Flows (m3/s)
Storm
Storage Volume (m3) Pre- Post-
Events
development development

5 yr 4783.6521 2.7759 4.4675

100 yr 8693.129 6.2564 9.3305

The maximum water level during the 1:100 storm event will be

approximately 175.4 m. Maximum water depth will therefore be 2.05

m. The detention storage is 8693.13 m3. Detailed calculation can be

found in Appendix 1. An emergency overland outlet from the pond to

the adjacent Detroit River will be available at the downstream end of

the pond at an invert of 174.3 m. Existing topography at this location

will direct pond overflow to the Detroit River.

4 Water Quality Control

4.1Design Criteria

As indicated on Drawing X, the proposed development will discharge

into Detroit River. The report entitled “Practical Alternatives Evaluation

Working Paper, Natural Heritage” dated July 2007, was conducted to

determine potential impacts on vegetation, wildlife, and fish habitat, as

well as fishery habitat classification. Information on fish habitat for the

receiving watercourses is integrated with the design of stormwater

management facilities, as adequate stormwater quality treatment from

the proposed development will be required for watercourses with

sensitive fishery habitat. From this report, Detroit River is classified as

coldwater fish habitat.

Design criteria for water quality control features are included in

“Stormwater Management Practices Planning and Design Manual

2003” from Ministry of Environment. This manual presents a method

for determining the level of water quality. Level 1 protection is the

most stringent and involves the highest degree of stormwater quality

control, while Level 4 is least stringent. Due to the presence of a cold

water fishery, stormwater quality features for this project were

designed using the Level 1 criteria.

Based on the above information, and with reference to Table 3.2 in the

“Stormwater Management Practices Planning and Design Manual

2003”, the following criteria apply:

• 210 m3/ha of permanent storage (dead storage)

• 40 m3/ha of active storage (live storage)

 All storm runoff should be conveyed through an oil/grit separator prior

to discharge into the storm sewer system to remove suspended solids

and oils. (see Appendix X for sizing chart)

Data Collection

The data information was gathered from MNR, DRIC draft environmental

assessment reports and discussion with Morrison Hershfield engineers.

The subsurface conditions in the Windsor area are characterized by flat-lying soils

including:

• Native deposits of sand and silt

• Extensive deposits of clayey silt to silty clay beneath the sand

• Bedrock is encountered at depths of 20 to 35 metres.

Beneath the existing pavement structures, topsoil and / or surficial fill materials,

granular materials consisting of sand and gravel, sands and silty sands were

identified at a depth of approximately 0.3 metres below existing ground surface.

Groundwater levels are expected to be located about 3 metres below ground

surface in the clayey silt and silty clay materials. The silty clay, clayey silt, sand

and gravel and sands are considered to be slightly erodible and the silty sands are

considered to be moderately erodible.

Flow
Sewe
Major
Detoit
Wet
2:100
Pond
River
Slope
Channel
Direction
r
Qpre = Cpre * I * A

Qpost = Cpost * I * A

S = 0.5(Qpost * Tbase) – 0.5 (Qpre* Tbase)

Flow

Post-
development
Peak Flow, Qpost

Storage
Pre-
Required,
development
S
Peak Flow, Qpre

Time
Tbase = 2tc or 2.67 tc

Pre-development (100 years)

Area : 52.97 ha
Coefficient: 0.5 (assumption)
Tc : 10 mins
Intensity: 161.5 mm/hr
Qpre100 = 1/360 * 52.97 * 0.5 * 161.5 = 11.88 m3 /sec

Post-development (100 years)

Area Coefficient
Commercial Buildings: 1.66 ha 0.95
Paved Area: 33.67 ha 0.90
Landscape Area: 17.64 ha 0.25

Coefficient got from Water Resources Engineering by L. Mays

Cpost = (1.66 * 0.95) + (33.67 * 0.90) + (17.64 * 0.25)
52.97
= 0.6851
Qpost100 = 1/360 * 52.97 * 0.6851 * 161.5 = 16.28 m3/sec

5 years storm

Area : 52.97 ha
Coefficient: 0.5 (assumption)
Tc : 10 mins
Intensity: 102.8 mm/hr
Qpre5 = 1/360 * 52.97 * 0.5 * 102.8 = 7.563 m3 /sec
Qpost5= 1/360 * 52.97 * 0.6851 * 102.8 = 10.363 m3/sec

Orifice
Qo = c * A * sqrt(2 * g * H)
The smallest diameter orifice to ensure that clogging does not occur in a
stormwater system is 75 mm. The preferred minimum orifice size is 100mm where
the effects of freezing are a concern. 5 year storm was used to control the size of
the orifice. Therefore,
Qo = Qpre5
Pond Design
Water table: 3 m below surface
Length to width ratio: 4 to 1
Permanent Pool Depth: Max. depth 2.5m mean depth: 1 – 2 m
Active Storage Depth: Water Quality and erosion control max 1.0m total
2m