Partnering in Research to Improve the Future of Stormwater Management

University of Waterloo

Crozier partnered with the University of Waterloo and other researchers on the Stormwater Greenhouse Gas Emissions Project in 2023. This project aims to assemble and propose solutions for urban stormwater infrastructure that reduces the production of greenhouse gas emissions. It focuses on urban watersheds in the City of Kitchener to characterize the emissions from stormwater management ponds. More about this project can be found here: Stormwater management infrastructure greenhouse gas emissions project | Ecohydrology Research Group | University of Waterloo

In April 2024, Crozier accompanied researchers from the University of Waterloo on a site visit to the Wabanaki Pond in Kitchener. Vegetation flux measurements and open water flux measurements were taken along with other data, such as pH, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen. Crozier assisted with the flux measurement sampling and provided feedback to the team on future measures to implement based on site observations.

Crozier also attends an annual project meeting with the team to discuss the status of the work, results to date, and next steps. The first meeting was held in May 2024, where Crozier presented current samples of our projects to showcase the stormwater management facilities that we design. We emphasized the importance of this research in guiding future design regulations for stormwater management and the impact it could have on the industry.

In April 2025, the project team reconvened to discuss new findings, including advancements in methodologies for measuring greenhouse gas fluxes in stormwater ponds and preliminary results for the overall carbon budget. Although the surface of stormwater management ponds act as carbon sources, the surrounding vegetation was found to be a carbon sink, allowing for variability in the carbon budget surrounding these facilities. Crozier provided an overview of potential stormwater management ponds in Milton that this research could be expanded to and engaged in conversations about the future of the project in the years to come. We look forward to continuing this exciting partnership!

Researchers, students, and collaborating partners at the second annual meeting of the “Adaptive management of green stormwater infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from urban watersheds” project

Research Team Leads

For more information on this research project, connect with Amanda Pinto on LinkedIn, or call our Guelph office at 548-708-0022.

Wilfrid Laurier University

In June 2024, Amanda Pinto and Brendan Hummelen represented Crozier at the Canadian Water Resources Association National Conference in Saskatchewan, where they presented the findings from our stormwater management facilities research with Wilfrid Laurier University. The presentation focused on two research ponds in the City of Waterloo; the Dorwood Pond and the Yarmouth Pond. Water quality had been measured at the inlet and outlet of these facilities over a period of one year. Under existing monitoring requirements, continuous monitoring of these facilities was not required. As such, their year-round performance was often unknown.

Based on the results from the findings, we came to the conclusion that seasonality had an impact on the water quality in the pond and downstream. We also observed incredibly high concentrations of chloride entering these facilities indicating the need for source control. High concentrations of contaminants could cause biotic effects downstream of these ponds and impact aquatic life.

Click here to read previous updates from our research with Wilfrid Laurier University.

Research Team Leads

For more information on this research project, connect with Amanda Pinto on LinkedIn, or call our Guelph office at 548-708-0022.

University of Western Ontario

Explore the findings from our low impact development techniques research project that we completed with Western University.