Abstract

The future Rocky Ridge Subdivision is located in northwest Calgary, Alberta. The area for the new subdivision is considered prime real estate as most of it has unobstructed views over the foothills to the peaks of the Rocky mountains to the west. The area also has excellent access to the downtown area via Crowchild Trail, one of the main traffic corridors in Calgary, and to the Trans Canada Highway that runs west to Banff and Lake Louise.

The Rocky Ridge area is characterized by a steep, rolling topography with valleys and numerous depressions, many of which hold water most of the time. These wet depressions, or wetlands, provide important wildlife habitat in a regional context. Many of these wetland basins will be retained and incorporated into an integrated stormwater management system for the subdivision as a whole. As such, it is the first of its kind within Calgary to retain the natural features of the existing landscape.

The following sections describe the Stormwater Management concept for the Rocky Ridge Subdivision and how it is unique compared to most of the stormwater management facilities presently existing in Calgary. Also included is a brief discussion of the background, and some of the latest developments in Stormwater Management in the Calgary area..

In addition, a description is presented of a wetland that has been incorporated in the development of the first phase of the subdivision. Subsequent sections describe the measures taken to protect the integrity of the wetland during and after construction of the subdivision including a multi-year monitoring a first of its program which also addresses the benefits for designing and monitoring future stormwater management facilities in the Calgary area. A summary of the benefits to the developer and community at large concludes this chapter.

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