The project was completed under the Drainage Act, to improve flood protection and ensure the safety of those farming and living on the Holland Marsh.
The Federal Environmental Assessment had Fisheries and Oceans Canada acting as the Responsible Authority. Approximately 30 km of fish habitat was directly impacted by creating a new canal and filling in the old. Fish habitat created as part of the project included a new, slightly larger canal with a littoral shelf, aquatic vegetation, spawning areas, log bundles, boulders, and deep pools. Over 40,000 fish were collected and relocated prior to construction.
RiverStone completed several additional environmental tasks including species at risk assessments and permitting (American Eel), water quality monitoring, and soil sampling.
This was a highly collaborative project with various levels of government including the Holland Marsh Drainage System Joint Municipal Services Board, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Ministry of Transportation Ontario, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.