Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority is completing floodplain mapping jointly with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. This project will carry out a detailed study to address flooding in the community of Chatham, and adjacent rural areas, of the McGregor Creek, Indian Creek and the Doyle Drain. The study will define floodplain areas, which will allow future flood risk analysis and recommendation of actions to reduce potential safety risks and economic loss that could occur during regional flooding.

Urbanization continues to increase in and around the community of Chatham and the pressure to provide commercial and living space grows.  These areas of development continue to produce higher runoff thereby increasing downstream natural hazards particularly during periods of high water in spring runoff and flooding events.  Moreover, the floodplains of South Chatham are also in a region where floodplain mapping is not available.  A Special Policy Area was designated in the mid-1980s within the pre-amalgamated city limits, but it does not extend further out towards Highway 401 where there continues to be development pressures. With up to date floodplain mapping and new policies, there is a significant opportunity for safe growth and development in areas along the watercourses to be studied.  Existing and new development/infrastructure will be properly protected and will be designed to ensure maximum life cycling. 

The purpose of this project is to undertake floodplain mapping with LIDAR technology (2025 Lidar acquisition by MNR) of the main branch of the McGregor Creek downstream of Hwy 401 (an area which includes the McGregor Creek Diversion Channel) and Indian Creek including the Doyle Drain tributary upstream to Hwy 401. This area includes rural areas and a continuous floodplain of the South Chatham. Recommendations will be created that will lead to addressing risk management issues and potential for growth adjacent flood prone areas. The latest technology will be used to create a high-resolution map of the area that will permit communities to plan with updated floodplain information.  The data captured can additionally then be used as an important data set for the communities’ Geographic Information Systems.