Rethinking water drainage in a prairie landscape: Seine River Diversion
Loading...
Date
2021-08
Authors
Kumar, Kartik
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This practicum focuses on improving the ecological conditions
of the Seine River Diversion located near the city of Winnipeg.
The Diversion is one of Manitoba’s many engineered drainage
infrastructures with poor water quality, lacking in biodiversity and
habitat. The main objectives of the practicum are improving the
water quality in the Diversion, habitat and biodiversity restoration,
and providing recreational opportunities to create a new public space
adjacent to the Diversion.
After conducting a detailed investigation of the existing conditions,
historical context and the Diversion’s impact on the large-scale
landscape that emerged from under the glaciers, sites parallel to
the Diversion that possess a potential for meeting the practicum’s
objectives are identified.
One site is distilled from the many potential sites, and a prototype
design proposal that meets the goals and objectives of the practicum
is developed in detail. An examination of the projects that can act
as precedents for the prototype design is carried out to determine a
sustainable and resilient design strategy.
The prototype design utilizes green infrastructure to propose a self-sustainable
system that satisfies the practicum’s objectives. Wetlands
are proposed to collect, retain and treat the impure water from
many sources of pollution before its release into the Diversion.
The proposal improves the ecological conditions of the Seine River
Diversion and tackles the issues of loss of habitats and biodiversity
that are present globally.
Description
Keywords
Biodiversity, Green infrastructure, Wetland habitat, Sustainable, Prairie, Marsh, Meadow, Sewage treatment