Stormwater, Ponds, Vegetation and Wildlife Study
In Aurora, stormwater ponds have become a permanent feature in the landscape. All recent subdivisions contain one or more of these ponds, which are designed to control floodwater and improve water quality by removing toxic contaminants from the water before it flows back into the watershed. These stormwater ponds also have indirectly become valuable wetland habitats utilized by many local wildlife species.
There is now a growing concern that, as these stormwater ponds age, contaminants build-up in the sediment will have a detrimental effect on the wildlife using the ponds. This has resulted in a number of Government studies which have reviewed the scientific knowledge and current research on the effect stormwater ponds are having on wildlife. This Report reviews those Government studies and the findings of a Study carried out by the Town of Aurora Environmental Advisory Committee Working Group on Naturalization and Wildlife. It recommends a policy to the Aurora Town Council that the Environmental Advisory Committee believes will best protect the quality of Aurora stormwater, the health of its citizens and the health of the wildlife using these facilities.