Thames River Slope Stabilization – Riverview Line

Consultation has concluded

The Study

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has initiated a Schedule ‘B’ Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) to address erosion and slope stability issues along the Thames River. Ecosystem Recovery Inc. has been retained by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to complete the study in compliance with the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.

The Thames River is experiencing erosion and slope instability of its south bank at approximately 7121-7146 Riverview Line in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. This erosion and bank instability is threating the integrity of Riverview Line and causing loss of vegetation and private tableland along the bank and degradation of potential burial sites within the Dolsen Cemetery. A suitable slope stabilization method is needed to provide erosion protection and limit the extent of the impacted footprint.

The Municipal Class EA evaluated a set of alternatives that included: do nothing, close Riverview Line, re-align Riverview Line, hard armouring of the riverbank, bendway weirs and slope cutback. Through an evaluation of alternatives, the study identified the preferred slope stabilization strategy to be hard armouring of the riverbank.

A key component of the study is consultation with interested stakeholders (public, Indigenous communities, landowners, and agencies). A Public Information Centre was held online on the Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent website from March 21, 2022 to April 20, 2022.

Project Report for Public Review

The Project File Report will be available on public record for a public and agency review period from June 27 to July 27, 2022. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, hard copies of the Project File Report will not be available at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent offices. Instead, an electronic copy of this report will be accessible online through the Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent website (www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca). Interested persons may provide written comments to our project team by July 27, 2022. All comments and concerns should be sent directly to Matthew Link at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, per contact details below.

In addition, a request may be made to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for an order requiring a higher level of study (i.e. requiring an individual/comprehensive EA approval before being able to proceed), or that conditions be imposed (e.g. require further studies), only on the grounds that the requested order may prevent, mitigate or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. Requests on other grounds will not be considered. Requests should include the requester contact information and full name.

Requests should specify what kind of order is being requested (request for conditions or a request for an individual/comprehensive environmental assessment), how an order may prevent, mitigate or remedy potential adverse impacts on Aboriginal and treaty rights, and any information in support of the statements in the request. This will ensure that the ministry is able to efficiently begin reviewing the request. Please visit the ministry’s website for more information on requests for orders under section 16 of the Environmental Assessment Act at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/classenvironmental-assessments-part-ii-order.

The request should be sent in writing or by email to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks per contact details below, and also copied to Matthew Link at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent:

  • Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Ministry of Environment,
    • Conservation and Parks
    • 777 Bay Street, 5th Floor
    • Toronto ON M7A 2J3
    • minister.mecp@ontario.ca
  • Director, Environmental
    • Assessment Branch
    • Ministry of Environment,
    • Conservation and Parks
    • 135 St. Clair Ave. W, 1st Floor
    • Toronto ON, M4V 1P5
    • EABDirector@ontario.ca

Study Area


The Study

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has initiated a Schedule ‘B’ Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) to address erosion and slope stability issues along the Thames River. Ecosystem Recovery Inc. has been retained by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to complete the study in compliance with the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.

The Thames River is experiencing erosion and slope instability of its south bank at approximately 7121-7146 Riverview Line in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. This erosion and bank instability is threating the integrity of Riverview Line and causing loss of vegetation and private tableland along the bank and degradation of potential burial sites within the Dolsen Cemetery. A suitable slope stabilization method is needed to provide erosion protection and limit the extent of the impacted footprint.

The Municipal Class EA evaluated a set of alternatives that included: do nothing, close Riverview Line, re-align Riverview Line, hard armouring of the riverbank, bendway weirs and slope cutback. Through an evaluation of alternatives, the study identified the preferred slope stabilization strategy to be hard armouring of the riverbank.

A key component of the study is consultation with interested stakeholders (public, Indigenous communities, landowners, and agencies). A Public Information Centre was held online on the Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent website from March 21, 2022 to April 20, 2022.

Project Report for Public Review

The Project File Report will be available on public record for a public and agency review period from June 27 to July 27, 2022. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, hard copies of the Project File Report will not be available at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent offices. Instead, an electronic copy of this report will be accessible online through the Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent website (www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca). Interested persons may provide written comments to our project team by July 27, 2022. All comments and concerns should be sent directly to Matthew Link at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, per contact details below.

In addition, a request may be made to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for an order requiring a higher level of study (i.e. requiring an individual/comprehensive EA approval before being able to proceed), or that conditions be imposed (e.g. require further studies), only on the grounds that the requested order may prevent, mitigate or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. Requests on other grounds will not be considered. Requests should include the requester contact information and full name.

Requests should specify what kind of order is being requested (request for conditions or a request for an individual/comprehensive environmental assessment), how an order may prevent, mitigate or remedy potential adverse impacts on Aboriginal and treaty rights, and any information in support of the statements in the request. This will ensure that the ministry is able to efficiently begin reviewing the request. Please visit the ministry’s website for more information on requests for orders under section 16 of the Environmental Assessment Act at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/classenvironmental-assessments-part-ii-order.

The request should be sent in writing or by email to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks per contact details below, and also copied to Matthew Link at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent:

  • Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Ministry of Environment,
    • Conservation and Parks
    • 777 Bay Street, 5th Floor
    • Toronto ON M7A 2J3
    • minister.mecp@ontario.ca
  • Director, Environmental
    • Assessment Branch
    • Ministry of Environment,
    • Conservation and Parks
    • 135 St. Clair Ave. W, 1st Floor
    • Toronto ON, M4V 1P5
    • EABDirector@ontario.ca

Study Area