TRACK 1, DAY 2
A Real-World Test Case For Subwatershed Systems-Based Stormwater Management Planning
Thursday, March 27, 2025 | 1:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. | Hall A
ABSTRACT
Over the past 20 years, the Town of Milton has experienced significant growth, earning the distinction of one of the fastest growing communities in North America.
Throughout that time, the Town has planned and assessed its stormwater management and Water Resources systems using a Systems-Based Approach, guided by Subwatershed Studies in collaboration with Conservation Authority partners. This has involved refinements and updates to the numerical modelling and governing criteria at key stages, integrated with the Town’s Land Use Planning process.
This has resulted in some 65 stormwater management facilities (wet ponds) providing water quality, erosion, and quantity control for the Sixteen Mile Creek Watershed.
On July 16, 2024, the Town experienced a 100 year storm event, which tested the performance and resilience of the system. The stormwater infrastructure withstood the event, and provided the requisite quantity control throughout the Sixteen Mile Creek Watershed.
The success of the Town’s stormwater management system during that event demonstrates the value of the Town’s Systems-Based approach to planning and approving its stormwater management infrastructure through the Subwatershed Study process.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Aaron Farrell, HDR
Aaron Farrell is the Business Class and Sector Lead for HDR’s Transportation Hydraulics and Water Resources operations in Canada.
Aaron is a recognized leader in Water Resources Engineering with extensive experience providing his technical and project management expertise on numerous assessments for water resources, including hydrologic and hydraulic modelling, subwatershed studies, stormwater management planning and design, multi-year monitoring, and developing policies and guidelines.
Aaron is highly skilled and experienced in the use of sophisticated analytical tools in hydrology and hydraulics to assess the performance of complex drainage systems and has applied this understanding to a vast array of problems, resulting in innovative and award-winning technical solutions.
Aaron’s project experience encompasses Secondary Planning Studies and Master Drainage Plans, as well as functional and detailed stormwater management system and drainage designs for site plans and transportation systems, review and development of stormwater management and drainage policies, completing peer reviews, developing and conducting environmental monitoring programs, designing stormwater management facilities and drainage systems, and completing conditions assessments of stormwater management infrastructure to determine operations and maintenance requirements.
Aaron has served the Town of Milton throughout his 26 year career, and has a unique understanding of the Town’s practices and processes. He has completed the Subwatershed Studies and Environmental Studies for all of the Secondary Plans completed by the Town of Milton, serving as Water Resources Engineering Lead, Project Engineer, and Project Manager.
Similarly, he has served as Peer Reviewer for the Town of Milton for all Subwatershed Impact Studies (SISs), and developed the Hydrologic Verification process which is still applied today.
Rachel Ellerman, Town of Milton
Rachel Ellerman started her career in private consulting where she focused on water and wastewater treatment. She has since worked in municipal government for over 15 years where her focus has been solely on stormwater and water resources.
In her current role, as Stormwater Manager at the Town of Milton, Rachel is involved in many different areas of stormwater management, including Development Engineering, Environmental Compliance and Operations/Maintenance.
She is a graduate of Conestoga College in both Civil Engineering Technology and Environmental Engineering Applications.