Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain

Background

The Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain has served the area since 1894 and continues to be an important component of the community’s stormwater management system. The drain supports drainage for existing homes near Spratt Park, as well as future residential development upstream on the south side of Earl Armstrong Road. The City of Ottawa is entrusted with the maintenance of this watercourse under the Drainage Act R.S.O. 1990.

Project Information

The Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain improvement project is a provincially regulated municipal drainage project being undertaken in accordance with Ontario’s Drainage Act. The work is being carried out by a contractor on behalf of the City of Ottawa.

The project will improve drainage by widening and deepening portions of the existing municipal drain, which runs from Spratt Road to Rideau Road, increasing its capacity to convey stormwater. This will allow the drain to more effectively manage runoff from the surrounding area, help reduce the risk of localized flooding, and support the long-term function of the drainage system as the community continues to develop.

Location of the work is shown on figure 3.1 in the Engineer’s Report. The drain is indicated by a blue line and the drainage area boundary is indicated by a red line. The Engineers’ Report is provided as a separate document on this site.

Frequently asked questions

Why are trees and vegetation being removed?

To safely complete this work, the contractor requires sufficient access for construction equipment, including excavators and rock trucks that will be used during the excavation phase of the project.

Vegetation removal will be limited to the areas required to complete the municipal drainage improvement work.

Where feasible, the contractor is working around significant trees, and every effort is being made to preserve large, healthy trees.

Will construction be noisy?

This project is located in a residential area and the use of heavy equipment can be quite disruptive and noisy at times.

The contractor will conduct all work in compliance with the Noise By-law requirements.

What environmental protections are in place for this project?

Environmental protection has been a key consideration throughout the planning and design process.

Prior to construction, a qualified biologist conducted an assessment to identify and protect wildlife and sensitive habitat features including:

• Endangered species
• Nesting birds
• Turtles

A bird nest survey confirmed no active nests in the work zone. This survey is completed weekly, as it is only valid for 5 days.

Consultations were completed with the Conservation Authority, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and Fisheries and Oceans.

Project Timeline

The Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain rehabilitation project started May 2026 and is expected to be completed by Fall 2026.

Stages of construction

• Stage 1: Removal of vegetation for access to the ditch on one side of the drain. At the discretion of the contractor, large trees will be left in place where possible. The width of vegetation removal needs to accommodate an excavator and rock trucks. This is in addition to the new drain which will be widened and deepened from the existing drain. The work will begin at Spratt Road and continue along the drain to Rideau Road.
• Stage 2: An excavator will widen and deepen the existing Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain which is shown as a blue line on the attached drawing. The excavated material will be moved using rock trucks to a separate location within the project site for future use. The work will begin at Spratt Road and continue along the drain to Rideau Road.
• Stage 3: Upon completion of construction, all disturbed areas will be restored and allowed to re-naturalize over time. Restoration activities will include grading, stump grinding, hydroseeding, and the regrowth of natural vegetation.

Contact information

Any questions can be directed to: municipaldrains@ottawa.ca