TRACK 2, DAY 2
Reactive versus Proactive: Managing Legacy Infrastructure Risks in Floodplain and Riparian Zones
Peter De Carvalho and Andrew Doherty, Stantec Consulting
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. | Hall F
ABSTRACT
Over the last century, our industry’s approach to infrastructure development in proximity to watercourses and floodplains has undergone substantial evolution.
Today, respect for the dynamic nature of rivers and streams is incorporated into planning guidance and regulatory frameworks. However, infrastructure constructed in previous decades has left a legacy of assets that are threatened by the migration of watercourses and other changes to the floodplain.
This presentation explores the complex landscape of existing infrastructure near watercourses and within floodplains. Municipalities face the challenge of assessing, managing, and mitigating assets at risk, including roads, water, gas, and wastewater infrastructure.
Mitigating risks associated with assets near watercourses involves making informed decisions and prioritizing maintenance, channel rehabilitation, and replacement/decommissioning activities.
Defining and forecasting risk is a complex undertaking that is further complicated by the increasing frequency of high-magnitude flood events due to climate change and land-use modifications, such as the expansion of impervious surfaces and a decline in natural flood-attenuating features (e.g., vegetated floodplains, wetlands).
The presentation will include discussions and case studies exploring proactive versus reactive approaches for addressing at-risk infrastructure, as well as potential strategies and recommendations for prioritizing features in a riparian context.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Peter De Carvalho, Stantec Consulting
Peter De Carvalho is a water resources engineer and ecologist with ten years of experience in the environmental sector.
With his background in both environmental biology and engineering, Peter has been fortunate to work on a wide variety of projects with both private and public clients. He is able to contribute both ecological and technical expertise to project works where required and has a unique perspective that often provides valuable insight to tackling problems and inspiring innovation.
His most recent experience focuses on fluvial systems and natural channel design, with an emphasis on enhancing local habitat for terrestrial and aquatic organisms. He has also been involved with terrestrial and aquatic ecological field studies, ecological constraints reporting and management, residential and subdivision design, flood hazard, pre- post- development water balance, stormwater modelling, wetland evaluation/delineation, and field data collection.
He has experience coordinating and managing ecological teams for field surveys and reporting, as well as site inspections, topographic surveys, and construction oversight of channel restoration and municipal drain implementation. He has also worked extensively with ecological constraints pertaining to the Provincial Policy Statement, Endangered Species Act, Fisheries Act, official plans, and other federal, provincial, and municipal legislation.
Andrew Doherty, Stantec Consulting
Andrew Doherty is a water resources engineer with eleven years of consulting experience whose work focuses on stream restoration, channel design, watercourse crossings, and flood mitigation. His work is about protecting the natural environment and building vibrant, climate-resilient communities.
Andrew has served engineering and project management roles on a broad range of projects in these focus areas for private and public sector clients in Ontario and Alberta. He is involved in projects from conceptual and detailed design phases through to construction planning, regulatory permitting and approvals, and construction oversight.
Working on a range of engineering problems from concept to completion has allowed Andrew to cultivate a diverse skill set that he contributes to developing practical, technically sound engineering solutions.