Context

  • Abundant precipitation and subsequent flooding in southern Quebec have shown the limits of urban infrastructure with respect to managing run-off.
  • Natural infrastructure, especially wetlands,  buffer against run-off and play an important role in reducing water treatment costs and in preventing flooding.
  • However, little information is available on hydraulic fluxes and an ecosystem’s capacity for water retention.
  • This information is essential for planning and developing a region’s green and blue corridors, as well as prioritizing conservation and restoration efforts that improve water retention and flood prevention.

Objective

  • Model hydraulic fluxes in the Greater Montreal region and evaluate the buffering effect of different ecosystems against run-off.

Deliverables

  • Modeling of water retention at the site level (wetlands and woodlands).
  • Create a map of the importance of each ecosystem for water retention and flood prevention to establish conservation and restoration priorities.