Chedoke Creek clean up resumes after months-long delay

City contractors have resumed dredging up biohazardous sediment at the bottom of Chedoke Creek after the city says environmental monitoring agreements have been reached with local First Nations groups. 

The work is now set to be done by the end of October, the city says.

It was supposed to be done by the end of last year, but the project faced months-long delays due to a dispute with the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI), which had asked to be more closely involved and consulted over the work being done.

The province had ordered the clean up after 24 billion litres of sewage and stormwater spilled into the creek.

A valve on the city's combined sewer overflow system was left open between 2014 and 2018, causing a layer of biohazardous sediment to settle at the bottom of the creek.

Chedoke Creek flows into Cootes Paradise and into Hamilton Harbour.

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks ordered the clean up and the city hired Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc. to complete the work for just under $6 million.

Why there was a delay and what's next

The city paused the work to prepare targeted dredging in late August 2022 after HDI demanded meaningful consultation and had environmental monitors on site watching the work.

HDI said the dredging is taking place on treaty lands and the group is acting on behalf of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council, the traditional leaders of the Haudenosaunee people.

In a communication update to councillors on Monday, the city said there are now environmental monitoring agreements in place with the Huron-Wendat Nation, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Six Nations of the Grand River and HDI.

The update says orientation training for the monitors is taking place.

The update says the contractors are starting to remove debris from the creek between the Desjardins Recreation Trail bridge and the Kay Drage Park bridge.

From there, they will dredge some 100 meters north of the Desjardins Recreation Trail bridge. The city said the Waterfront Trail in the area will remain open but said access points near Desjardins Recreation Trail bridge will close for one or two days of work. Dates for those closures have not been confirmed, however. 

The city says the work will be done by the end of October, which is the provincially imposed deadline they must meet.