Floodplains are low lying areas near a watercourse that are subjected to flooding and unstable slopes due to erosion. In eastern Ontario, the 1:100-year floodplain is the regulatory standard used to identify lands that are vulnerable to flooding. Conservation Authorities (CA) have been delegated floodplain management responsibilities by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), achieved primarily through the requisition and administration of accurately engineered floodplain mapping data and documentation.

Project Background

With support and cooperation from the City of Ottawa, MVCA initiated the Carp Tributaries Floodplain Mapping project in the Summer of 2024. The project studies and maps the flood and erosion hazards along Carp Tributaries in accordance with Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act for the identification and mitigation of natural hazards.

Carp Tributaries Hazard Mapping Study Area

The Carp River Tributaries have not been previously mapped, leading to an incomplete understanding of flood risks. Developing regulatory floodplain mapping is required to support municipal planning, emergency preparedness, flood forecasting, infrastructure projects, erosion hazards and climate resilience planning.

Floodplain mapping involves many components, including data collection, hydrological and hydraulic analyses, public consultations, and floodplain and regulatory limit mapping.

Project Update

Data collection was conducted through 2024 and 2025. Hydrologic and hydraulic models underwent third-party technical peer review in the Fall/Winter of 2025 and draft regulatory flood and erosion hazard maps are currently being developed. Draft maps will be posted to MVCA’s website in the coming weeks.

A Public Open House is scheduled for Monday March 16^th at the Mess Hall in Carp. At the Public Open House, community members and stakeholders will be able to review the draft regulatory floodplain maps and talk 1:1 with CA staff regarding any specific or general questions they may have regarding the updated floodplain, the mapping process, and how it will affect them.

Links on the righthand side of this page provide additional information on the Carp Tributaries Hazard Mapping project including answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Draft floodplain maps and details of the Public Open House will be available through the links on this page, through our social media sites, and advertised in local news outlets.