What is a Flood Plain and Shoreline Erosion?

What is a Flood Plain and Shoreline Erosion?

Do you know what a floodplain is? More importantly do you know what a floodplain is before you purchase a waterfront property? Well, if you don’t know, stay with me here for a minute.

My name is Brad Sinclair, and let me help you buy or sell your waterfront property. So what is a floodplain and why should you care?

Floodplains are the flat, barren or vegetated areas at the edge of lakes, streams and rivers. Floodplains are usually at or near the same elevation as for example the top of the river bank or the high water mark of a lake. Some flooding can be expected every year. All rivers, lakes and streams flood at one time or another. Usually flooding occurs during the spring run off or after an extreme rain fall.

Building on Flood Plains is now extremely restricted. No one wants to have their basement turn into a swimming pool every spring. But many older builds were built on flood plains, something your Realtor should warn you about before you purchase a waterfront property. You can assess the danger zone yourself by keeping an eye out for evidence of high water marks, past basement damage or the most obvious the central air conditioner on a four foot stand, don’t laugh, I have seen it!

In todays codes in Ontario there is a minimum distance, called a setback that a building now can be built from a lake or river. The setbacks are regulated by the local municipality but only have been enforced in the last 20 years or so.  Also, for septic tanks every municipality has guidelines on minimum setbacks and clearances for septic system absorption areas. Again, these are things you should be looking into before purchasing.

Floodplains are prone to shoreline erosion. To help prevent erosions from flooding, leave your shoreline as natural as possible. There is a natural price to pay if you want to remove vegetation or trees. Vegetation and trees are essential for maintaining the integrity of the shoreline and help stop erosion. I have seen limestone break walls used as a natural looking way to stop erosion. Just be sure before you start the work proper permits in place!

Brad Sinclair

Team Lead “The Brad Sinclair Team”

Sales Representative

Royal Heritage Realty, Brokerage

Visit my website! www.bradsinclair.ca

Call Or Text me 705-927-6236

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